washing machine
Enable an AI agent to recognise a washing machine, assess its readiness and condition, and determine which laundry operations or interventions its capabilities and current state permit.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
5 bundles · 10 layers · 10 findings · 24 questions
Washing identity and configuration Establishes what washing appliance is present and how its washing functions are arranged.
Appliance identification
Connects the physical machine to reliable identification and operating documentation.
Identifiable washing function
Record evidence that the appliance washes textiles and identify the variant to which capability claims apply.
- What label, manual or observed supported operation establishes that this appliance washes textiles? definition
- Which model and variant identifiers connect this machine to the instructions being used? provenance
Washing configuration
Describes loading, washing chambers and the relationship between washing and extraction or drying.
Chambers and function boundaries
Record how laundry enters the machine, which chamber performs each function and whether transfers are required.
- What loading arrangement and washing mechanism does this machine use? definition
- Which washing, extraction and drying functions share a chamber, and which require moving the load? boundary
Laundry load and treatment Relates a proposed textile load to the machine's programme, capacity and dosing constraints.
Load eligibility
Establishes whether the proposed laundry fits the selected washing operation.
Programme-specific load fit
Record load quantity and relevant textile properties against limits for the intended programme.
- What is the proposed dry load mass, and what capacity applies to this programme and textile category? measurement
- Which garment care requirements, bulky-item restrictions or load-combination rules prevent using the proposed programme? boundary
Wash treatment selection
Records the supported treatment settings and cleaning-agent delivery for the eligible load.
Settings and dosing fit
Connect programme choices and dosing instructions to this machine and load without treating selected settings as measured outcomes.
- Which temperature, spin and rinse options are supported for the selected programme and compatible with the load? action
- Which detergent type, quantity and delivery location are prescribed for this load and dosing arrangement? action
- Which treatment values are user selections, documented targets or actual measurements? measurement
Installation and water path Establishes whether the machine can receive power and water, discharge wash water and operate in its installed position.
Supply and discharge
Records the machine's service requirements and the connections intended to satisfy them.
Compatible utility connections
Keep required connection conditions separate from evidence about the actual installation.
- What power, water-inlet and drain conditions do the instructions specify for this variant? provenance
- What inspection or measurement establishes that the installed connections satisfy those conditions? measurement
Positioning and commissioning
Captures preparation of the machine and its immediate operating space.
Installation readiness evidence
Record completion of applicable positioning, transport-restraint and commissioning requirements.
- Which checks for transport restraints, support, levelling, hose routing and access apply according to this machine's installation instructions? provenance
- Which checks remain incomplete or failed, and what must be resolved before a wash may start? action
Cycle control and access Represents the current washing operation and the conditions governing control and laundry access.
Cycle observation
Tracks the active programme, execution phase and reliability of available observations.
Observable cycle state
Record the latest evidence of programme progress, distinguishing displayed estimates from confirmed completion.
- Which programme and phase are active, and when and through what interface was that state observed? provenance
- What evidence distinguishes a running, paused, completed or faulted cycle from a stale display or disconnected interface? definition
Commands and access conditions
Connects supported control actions and door or lid access to their prerequisites.
Permitted cycle interventions
Record what the current state permits, including documented responses to interruption and conditions for unloading.
- Which start, pause, cancel, drain or resume actions are supported now, and what prerequisites and authority does each require? action
- What documented conditions and observed indications establish that the door or lid may be opened? action
- How does this machine handle power or water interruption, and what must be checked before resuming? action
Wash performance and maintenance Connects wash outcomes and machine symptoms to supported maintenance and service decisions.
Outcomes and fault evidence
Records observed performance and symptoms without treating them as confirmed causes.
Symptoms in cycle context
Associate error indications, leakage, unusual motion and laundry outcomes with the load, settings and cycle phase.
- What symptom or error indication occurred, during which phase, and with what load and settings? measurement
- What model-specific documentation or diagnostic evidence supports the interpretation, and which causes remain unconfirmed? provenance
- Does the documented response permit another cycle, require user checks or call for stopping use and obtaining service? action
Care and service boundaries
Distinguishes supported user care from service work and records evidence for returning the machine to use.
Documented maintenance and release
Record applicable cleaning and maintenance tasks, their prerequisites, completion and required follow-up checks.
- Which drum, dispenser, seal or filter care tasks are documented for this machine, and what preparation does each require? action
- Which interventions exceed documented user maintenance and require an appropriately qualified service provider? boundary
- What completed work and verification support returning the machine to operation after the reported problem? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.OBJ
- Other names and narrower kinds
- Otsein, top-loader, Turna, smart washing machine, tunnel washer
What it is Filled
This model owns the identity, laundry-washing capabilities, installation dependencies, load compatibility, operating state and maintenance needs of a washing machine, including its washing subsystem when integrated with drying.
In scope
- Machine configuration and evidence identifying its washing capabilities
- Supported laundry loads, programmes and washing limits
- Water, drainage, power and installation dependencies
- Cycle progress, controls, access restrictions and interruption behaviour
- Cleaning, fault symptoms, service history and return-to-use conditions
Out of scope
- Garment composition, care requirements and ownership as maintained by textile or garment models
- Building plumbing, electrical circuits and room infrastructure beyond their interfaces with the machine
- Detergent formulation and chemical hazard assessment beyond machine compatibility and dosing requirements
- Standalone tumble dryers and the detailed drying behaviour of an integrated washer-dryer
- Laundry-service scheduling, customer orders and commercial operations
Why it exists Filled
Enable an AI agent to recognise a washing machine, assess its readiness and condition, and determine which laundry operations or interventions its capabilities and current state permit.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Can the device perform a laundry-washing operation involving water or wash liquor and a supported washing mechanism, rather than only dry, refresh or extract water?
- Is its intended load clothing or other textiles, rather than dishes, utensils or general equipment?
- Does it provide a mechanism that washes textiles beyond simply containing water, distinguishing it from a laundry sink or soaking tub?
- Does identification or operating evidence establish a washing function even when the appliance also dries, distinguishing a washer-dryer from a dryer-only appliance?
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Run a machine with its door interlock, earthing or leak protection disabled.
- Leave a machine running where a leak can flood other homes without supervision.
- Wash items with solvents or flammable residues that can catch fire.
- Leave the door open where children or pets can climb inside.
Only with a human decision
- Changing installation, plumbing or electrical connections.
- Remote operation of a machine in a home where nobody is present.
May
- Start, pause and monitor wash cycles on machines it is authorized to control.
- Report faults, leaks and maintenance needs to the household or operator.
Moral aspects Filled
- Washing machines save heavy labour but use water and energy that cost households and the environment.
- Connected appliances can reveal when people are at home.
Who is affected
- Household members, especially children
- Neighbours below
- Laundry workers
Owners Filled
Steward
The person or household that owns it; the landlord where it is supplied with a rental.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q12269769 - registry parent class
- Q20076681 - registry parent class
- Q212920 - registry parent class
- Q26270576 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.washing-machine
- Wikidata: Q124441 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124441)
Direct properties required Filled
- Appliance configuration: Front-loading, top-loading, twin-tub or other documented configuration; standalone washer or integrated washer-dryer
- Washing mechanism: Documented mechanism, such as rotating drum, agitator or impeller; unknown
- Programme-specific load capacity: kg of dry laundry, with programme and textile conditions recorded
- Laundry compatibility: Proposed load linked to garment care constraints, machine instructions and programme limits
- Wash temperature capability: °C by programme; distinguish selected setting, documented target and measured temperature
- Spin capability: rpm by programme, including reduced-spin or no-spin options where supported
- Utility connections: Documented water supply, drain and power interfaces, each linked to its installed connection
- Installation readiness: Verified ready, incomplete, failed check or unknown, with evidence for applicable installation checks
- Cycle phase: Idle, scheduled, filling, washing, rinsing, draining, spinning, paused, complete, faulted or unknown
- Access condition: Door or lid position, lock indication, and evidence of whether opening is permitted
- Dosing arrangement: Manual compartments, automatic dosing or other documented arrangement, with supported products and limits
- Condition assessment: Ready, maintenance due, degraded, operation blocked or unknown, supported by observations and documentation
Recognition required Filled
- Box-shaped appliance with a front-loading round door or a top lid.
- Rotating drum inside, with a control panel and detergent drawer.
- Connected to water supply, drain hose and mains power.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Identify the machine and retrieve instructions applicable to its exact variant.
- Assess a proposed laundry load and select a supported programme, load size and dosing approach.
- Check installation and utility readiness before operation.
- Start, monitor, pause or cancel a cycle through supported controls when prerequisites and authority are established.
- Determine when laundry may be accessed or unloaded using documented access conditions.
- Record symptoms, perform documented user maintenance and escalate faults requiring qualified service.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Floods from burst hoses or failed seals.
- Children trapped inside the drum.
- Electric shock or fire from faults.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- IEC 60335-2-7, Household and similar electrical appliances, Safety, Particular requirements for washing machines, International Electrotechnical Commission.
Context of use required Filled
- Washing machines are used in homes, shared laundry rooms, laundries and institutions to clean clothing and other washable textiles.
- They automate washing and usually rinsing and water extraction through selectable cycles suited to different fabrics and loads.
- Their use depends on suitable utility connections, compatible laundry products and the care requirements of the items being washed.
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q124441: washing machine - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Washing machine - general description of the item
Open questions
- Does the registry intend this entry to include manually powered, portable, semi-automatic and industrial textile washers, or only a narrower appliance class?
- Does an existing Vercy world model already own this concept or part of its washing behaviour, requiring reuse rather than a separate publication?
- How should shared controls, load chambers and differing wash-versus-dry capacities be divided between washing-machine and integrated washer-dryer models?
- Which authoritative sources can support programme limits, installation requirements, interruption behaviour and maintenance boundaries across the intended machine classes?
- What evidence is sufficient to judge washing effectiveness when cycle completion is observable but soil removal, rinsing quality or hygienic outcomes are not directly measured?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q124441/spec.json