Unilever has unveiled a laundry product range developed using artificial intelligence and robotics, engineered specifically for auto-dose washing machines.
The new Persil Advanced Clean Non-Bio and Comfort Smart Series Azure Bliss are a detergent and conditioner designed to work in sync with smart washing machines that automatically dispense laundry products into a wash cycle.
The formulas were developed using what Unilever calls PRO-Cision technology, a process in which AI modeled thousands of simulated scenarios using data drawn from consumer usage patterns, machine behavior, performance testing and formulation variables.
The goal was to identify the specific fluid dynamics required for a detergent to function reliably inside an auto-dose reservoir system, rather than being manually poured into a drum or door compartment.
“Using a regular liquid in an automated machine is a little bit like using a thick syrup in an espresso machine,” said Andrea Parra-Vera, a Unilever home care R&D specialist. “The espresso machine is built for precision liquid and the right flow, not a liquid that thickens in the tank.”
Most existing detergents were formulated for manual dosing, Parra-Vera explained, meaning their viscosity and stability characteristics are mismatched with the narrower pipes and reservoir systems found in smart machines.
When a conventional liquid sits in a heated reservoir over multiple wash cycles, it can thicken, leave residue and cause blockages that degrade machine performance over time.
The Smart Series formula was engineered to remain stable under those conditions, flowing cleanly through dosing mechanisms without leaving buildup, while still delivering what Unilever describes as strong stain removal at the precise doses set by the machine.
Fragrance stability presented a separate engineering challenge. Auto-dose machines hold product in a reservoir for extended periods and subject it to repeated heating cycles, which can cause volatile fragrance compounds to degrade before they reach the wash.
Unilever said it redesigned the fragrance system to remain chemically stable under those stresses, with the aim of delivering a consistent scent experience across the life of the product in the machine.
The development process was conducted in collaboration with Samsung, whose washing machine performance and cycle data informed how the formula behaved under real-world conditions.
Samsung’s AI wash systems use sensors to assess load weight, fabric type and soil level, then auto-dispense detergent accordingly, a process that places new demands on the chemical properties of the product being dispensed.
Unilever said the partnership was technical as well as commercial, with machine cycle data directly shaping both the formulation and the packaging, which was redesigned to make reservoir refilling less prone to spillage.
Auto-dose washing machines currently account for around 14% of US households. Unilever projects that figure will rise to approximately 20% by 2030.
The Smart Series range will initially be available exclusively in the U.K.