For HomeBot co-founder Clara Mulligan, everyday on the job, in a dynamic space like hers, is a learning experience.
Clara Mulligan is the co-founder of HomeBot Ireland, a robotics company in west Cork that develops robotic vacuums, mops and lawnmowers. Her business idea, like many solid entrepreneurial ventures, was founded on the idea that simple everyday problems can have elegant and practical solutions.
“I’ve always been someone who likes to solve problems”, Mulligan told SiliconRepublic.com. “Even when I was younger, if I saw something that wasn’t working, whether at home or at work, I felt the need to figure out a better way of doing it. I had to find a solution.”
The problem at hand? She explained her father-in-law had previously struggled to mow his lawn as it was split level and he would often mow lawns for his neighbours, which required moving a machine into a van. An action that resulted in a broken ankle.
She said, “HomeBot exists because there was a real problem in front of me that needed solving. I think when products are built from genuine need, they tend to work better because they are grounded in real life rather than theory.”
On the topic of theory versus real life, there are many myths circulating on the subject of robotics that Mulligan is keen to deconstruct. Primarily, that robotics are by their nature, extremely expensive, complicated, or only for technology enthusiasts.
She joked, “I haven’t yet been able to come up with a robot that both washes, dries and folds my laundry, contrary to rumours, but I am working on it,” adding, that while people are quick to assume that robotics is inaccessible to them for the reasons listed previously, the landscape is changing. “Technology has become much more accessible these days and it is enabling regular families to access it.”
Everyday robotics
To that point, Mulligan is of the opinion that robotics are becoming far more integrated into regular households and are a part of everyday operations, no longer limited to early adopters. A change that makes sense to the robotics expert as she explained, there is huge demand in this area.
“I am particularly interested, for example, in how robotics can support people who genuinely need it, older adults, people with mobility challenges, or busy families. For me, it’s never been about tech for the sake of it, it’s about practical solutions that make life easier.”
She predicts that more change is to come as people continue to prioritise time and independence, looking to advanced technologies to eliminate the burden of everyday, manual or mundane tasks. In much the same way as HomeBot altered how Mulligan’s father-in-law maintains his garden.
“Technology that handles repetitive household tasks gives people back hours in their week and reduces physical strain, which can be huge for busy families, think children and pets, people with mobility challenges or the elderly. What’s interesting is how quickly these robots become normal once people start using them.
“We hear that all the time from our clients. Something that feels very new at first often becomes something you wouldn’t want to live without. Chores that simply don’t get on the to-do list anymore because the robot will handle them for you. And the robot becomes part of the family.”
Describing HomeBot as in the early stages, Mulligan is excited for the future, as her company, which is entering into its second year of operations, looks to scale.
She said, “I am focused on continuing to grow the product range and expanding our smart home robots line to window cleaners and solar panel cleaners over the next few months. For me, the goal remains the same as it was at the start, keep things simple, listen to consumers and build technology that genuinely helps people.
“Watch this space as we’re only just getting started. It’s been an incredible almost two years and I am very excited to see how the space evolves over the next few years. There’s huge potential for technology to improve everyday life, and I am proud to be playing a small part in that.”
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