[Interview] Auto Open Door Brings Everyday Convenience to Home Appliances

Anyone who has stood in front of a refrigerator with arms full of groceries or tried to pull out damp laundry long after a wash cycle has likely wished for a helping hand to open the door. In response, Samsung Electronics introduced the Auto Open Door feature in 2021 — starting with simple touch-to-open functionality for refrigerators.

Today, Auto Open Door is available across a range of appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers.[1]

Select washers, dryers, washer-dryer combos, and dishwashers automatically open their doors at the end of a cycle, helping to promote better drying and hygiene by reducing leftover moisture.

Samsung Newsroom spoke with Nae-young Park from the Washing Machine Module Lab, Digital Appliances (DA) Business, and Chang-Woo Han from the AI Solution Team, Samsung Research at Samsung Electronics to learn how the feature came to life.

Q. What inspired the development of Auto Open Door?

Park: When putting groceries into the refrigerator or loading laundry into the washing machine, users often had to set down what they were carrying just to open the door. With washing machines, leaving laundry inside after a cycle could lead to lingering moisture and musty odours. We developed this feature to ease those inconveniences while also considering hygiene.

Q. What aspects did you focus on most during development?

Park: We considered several factors, including opening angle and speed, to make sure the door opened in a stable, natural way. Angles were tested in one-degree increments, and the structure was fine-tuned to create an experience that didn’t feel too slow or too fast. For washing machines, we even measured at the door at different door angles to find the optimal setting for smooth air circulation.

Q. What is the future development direction for Auto Open Door?

Park: Looking ahead, Auto Open Door will be expanded to more products. We want to equip a broader range of appliances with this technology so users can interact with any Samsung appliance naturally. Our goal is to create solutions that make life easier for everyone.

Han: This year, we introduced new voice recognition capabilities such as Voice ID[2] — which distinguishes between family members. Moving forward, we will keep improving core performance while developing more personalised services for users.

With Auto Open Door, Samsung has turned user-centered innovation into everyday convenience. Going forward, Samsung plans to continue making this feature available on more of its products. As the company continues to deliver differentiated technologies and new appliance experiences, consumers can look forward to even greater ease and comfort at home.

[1]  Auto Open Door applies to the following products in Australia: 809L Bespoke French Door Fridge with Family Hub, 615L Family Hubᵀᴹ Side By Side Fridge, 615L AI Home Side By Side Fridge, 634L Smart Side-by-Side Fridge, 18.5kg/10kg BESPOKE AI Heat Pump Combo, 18kg BESPOKE AI Grande Smart Washer, 10kg Bespoke AI Grande Hybrid Heat Pump Dryer with AI Dry, 60cm Smart Dishwasher – Black, 60cm Smart Dishwasher – Beige, 60cm Freestanding Smart Dishwasher – Silver

[2] Availability varies by region. This feature is available in Australia on the following models RS90F64A4FSA and RS90F64D4FSA.