Haier X Series 11: from IoT to AI, smart technologies for greener washing

Sensors and algorithms, algorithms and sensors. And then software, cloud applications, connectivity and other cutting-edge technical details to give life to an ecosystem in which the central concept, as Haier defines it, is the "Internet of Beings", i.e. a physical and virtual place at the same time, which focuses on people's wellbeing under the banner of sustainability. Proclamations aside, the Chinese multinational company's vision of the smart home necessarily follows that of other manufacturers focused on the smart home market (Samsung in the lead) and focuses on the digital management of all connected appliances (which in turn interact with each other in total autonomy) and on the contribution of artificial intelligence to improve the appliance's functional cycle. The basic idea, in short, is to arrive in a few years' time (the target set by the manufacturer is 2030) at household appliances designed on the basis of consumers' needs and tastes, taking advantage of one of the key prerogatives of this ecosystem, namely that of continually evolving technologically, like a smartphone. And it is through the smartphone, and more specifically through the hOn app, that washing programmes can be customised according to the load in order to optimise the consumption of appliances that already espouse the dogma of increasingly virtuous energy classes, see the A-50% of the new X Series 11 washing machines.

The new Haier family of appliances, which we saw up close at an event held in Paris and which are on the launch ramp for the Italian market in selected sales outlets and online, is aimed at high-end customers and has the declared ambition of completely changing the rules of washing and drying, exploiting the capabilities of artificial intelligence and a particular use of air to ensure maximum care for garments. In fact, the X Series 11 washing machine (€1,099 list price) has among its main virtues Ultra Fresh Air technology, which feeds a continuous flow of air into the drum to refresh garments, removing residual moisture from the wash and preventing the spread of bacteria and unpleasant odours for up to 12 hours after the end of the cycle (the system is activated automatically or can be programmed and managed via app). AI, for its part, comes into play to automatically detect the quantity and type of fabrics in the laundry and consequently dose the detergent from among over 2,500 possible combinations (and in the same way set the perfect dryer work cycle) and also allows you to scan and archive wash labels to create a virtual wardrobe and always know how best to treat each individual garment. The dryer's tech highlight in energy class A++ -10% (€1,299), on the other hand, is the Twin Motor system with Ultra Reverse Drum that powers the drum rotation clockwise and anticlockwise and whose job is to prevent garments from twisting thanks to the bi-directional movement of equal duration. The Flexy Air function, on the other hand, allows you to adjust the airflow to the desired intensity, choosing from five levels depending on the time and type of fabric being dried.

For both, the added value of a truly made-to-measure experience based on personal user preferences stems from the connection (directly via the app or by exploiting its compatibility with Alexa and Google Home smart speakers) to the hOn platform, while the TFT touch screen allows the user to select the language in just a few moments and keep the parameters of the washing and drying cycle under control at all times. What is not in the pipeline, at least for the moment, is the integration of the Washpass service on the new X Series 11, i.e. the intelligent washing machine offered as a subscription with integrated detergents created ad hoc by Nuncas and capable of automatically dosing itself once it runs out, with artificial intelligence providing for their reordering.