By investing $15 million into supporting battery technology research, a company known for making high-end vacuum cleaners is positioning itself to expand into other products, including robotics.

Dyson Inc., a British-based technology company most known for its vacuum cleaners, announced earlier this week that it is making a multimillion-dollar investment in Michigan-based battery-tech startup Sakti3.

Dyson executives hope the batteries that come out of the investment will help the company develop 100 new products over the next four years.

"With this new technology, the possibilities go far beyond vacuums. Anything that runs on cordless power will need powerful battery technology," said Mark Taylor, Dyson's chief of research and development. "We can't give away too much just yet, but we are looking at multiple applications as we develop our 25-year pipeline of technology."