Skip to main content

Charmin’s new toilet paper robot is just as odd as those bears

Charmin is known for its hilarious commercials, but now the toilet paper company is introducing an entirely new field of bathroom-betterment: Robots. When was the last time you found yourself on the can, only to realize you had no toilet paper available and no one around to bring you any? Thanks to Charmin’s new RollBot, that’s not a problem. On display at CES 2020, RollBot connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and can be summoned with the tap of a button. It makes use of a balancing mechanism that allows it to stay upright and on the move, even if loaded down with one of Charmin’s Forever Rolls.

But the RollBot isn’t the only inventive item Charmin plans to bring to the field. Running out of toilet paper is one thing, but walking into a bathroom only to be laid flat by an odiferous wall is something everyone is familiar with — and that no one enjoys. To combat this, Charmin has introduced the SmellSense. This sensor is calibrated to pick up on carbon dioxide emitted from a toot and will display a “Go” or “No Go” status on the sensor. You can find out whether a bathroom is safe for occupancy without using your nose as the testing device.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Now, RollBot and SmellSense both focus on convenience and ease of use, but what about a tool built to enhance the bathroom experience beyond anything you’ve ever dreamed of? Enter the V.I. Pee. Charmin imagines a world where you never miss out on an experience just because you have to answer the call of nature. The V.I. Pee is described as a “premium porta-potty experience.” You sit down and slide the Oculus Rift S VR Helmet over your head so that you can resume your concert, sporting event, or whatever else you were previously doing before you succumbed to biological impulses.

Charmin is demonstrating these products at the Proctor and Gamble LifeLab Booth at CES, but sadly, none of the three will be available for retail sale. On the other hand, Charmin’s creations hint at the future of smart bathrooms. After all, what more do you need than a toilet paper bot?

Follow our live blog for more CES news and announcements.

Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
Eufy shows off four security cameras and an upcoming robot vacuum
The Eufy X10 Pro Omni in a living room.

Eufy is a big name in the smart home space, and it had plenty of cool gadgets to show off at CES 2024. Along with giving consumers a closer look at four recently launched security cameras, Eufy revealed the X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum and mop, which looks to be an affordable alternative to flagships from Roborock and Ecovacs.

The X10 Pro Omni doesn't make any huge innovations in the world of robot vacuums. Most of its features we've already seen on other robots, such as its ability to empty its dustbin, clean its mop, then dry it to prevent the accumulation of mildew. It also boasts an avoidance system to ensure it's not bumping into any shoes, toys, or other items that have accidentally been left in its path. And while its 8,000 Pa of suction is impressive, it's a number a handful of other robots have already hit.

Read more
Samsung SmartThings learns a bunch of useful new tricks at CES 2024
A person sitting on a couch with SmartThings products in the foreground.

Samsung SmartThings -- an application designed to connect and control your smart home devices -- doesn't quite get the same attention as platforms like Google Home or Apple HomeKit. However, it made some big announcements at CES 2024, and it's shaping up to be a big year for Samsung's first-party platform. Along with enhanced support for TVs and new uses for QR codes, SmartThings is rolling out a brilliant Map View feature, which creates a digital map of your home and shows you exactly where all your connected devices are located.

Here's how it works. Instead of scrolling through a list of all your devices or jumping between groups in your smartphone app, Map View lets you see a 3D representation of your home on your smartphone. Inside this map, you'll find icons for all your smart home gadgets corresponding to their actual physical location. That means you can quickly find exactly which device you want to control without needing to scroll through a long list.

Read more
Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit and Blinds Collection join the Matter lineup
The Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit being installed.

Eve is a prominent name in the smart home world, with the company responsible for a variety of devices covering everything from smart plugs and security cameras to smart light switches and motion sensors. Its catalog is growing even more enticing today, with the Eve Blinds Collection and MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit gaining Matter support.

The MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit will likely appeal to more customers, as it costs just $200 and works with most existing setups. Installation is as simple as removing your shades, placing the MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit through the roller rod, then reinstalling the unit on your windows. Blinds with a roller between 1.5 inches and 2.0 inches are compatible with the upgrade kit.

Read more