Home automation just got ridiculous

In the age of increasing automation around the home, the yet-to-be-commercially-available ThreadRobe is taking things to new heights. Billed as ‘a specially-designed piece of furniture (a wardrobe) that automatically stores your clean clothes’, the ThreadRobe promises to simplify the drudgery associated with laundry, shopping, packing and more.

According to the maker’s website, users simply wash and dry laundry as normal, then throw the whole lot into the robe. Once they’ve decided what to wear, they use the custom app to select the desired items and ThreadRobe will select, steam (to specification) and deliver back the finished items.

The wardrobe initially uses moisture sensors to ensure that clothing is dry enough for storage. Once it’s determined to be okay the product uses an RFID reader to identify each article, then places it on a specially designed, rubber-coated hanger that grips and separates individual items. Once identified, the hanger is placed on a cradle, where it remains until the user calls it forth.

The app features search and filter tools, allowing users to pick individual items, view complete outfits or select from a list of favourites. It can dispense immediately on request or be scheduled for a specific date and time. Items that have been tried on can be placed back in the bin for automatic rehanging.

But it doesn’t stop there. The manufacturer says that users can take a picture of a new item while out shopping and the app will match it to current clothes and accessories stored in the ‘digital closet’, showing how many ways it can be worn with existing items. It uses algorithms to ‘choregraph complete matching outfits’.

It’ll set users back about US$3750 for the wardrobe, a bunch of RFID tags and an applicator tool. Unfortunately, it won’t be available till mid-2018 and also isn’t available for sale outside the United States.