|
Links to robotics sites |
|
IRobot, founded in 1990, is a public corporation, based in Burlington, Massachusetts. It's innovative robots are powered by proprietary AWARE Robot Intelligence Systems, a technology that incorporates advanced navigation, mobility, manipulation and artificial intelligence.
iRobot's best known product is the Roomba. It was first released in 2002 with updates and new models released in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. The company announced in May 2006 that it has sold 2 million Roombas, making it the most successful household robot of all time. The device is affordable enough to compete with conventional vacuum cleaners.
Roombas do not map out the rooms they are cleaning. Instead, they rely on a few simple algorithms. This design is based on the philosophy that robots should be like insects, equipped with simple control mechanisms tuned to their environments. The result is that although Roombas are effective at cleaning rooms, they take several times as long to do the job as a person would, usually covering some areas many times and others only once or occasionally not at all.
Roombas manufactured after October 2005 or upgraded with the Roomba OSMO//hacker contain an electronic and software interface that allows you to control or modify Roomba's behavior and remotely monitor its sensors. The iRobot Roomba Open Interface, previously known as the Roomba Serial Command Interface, is intended for software programmers and roboticists to create their own enhancements to Roomba.
IRobot also manufactures Scooba - a robot similar to Roomba that scrubs and cleans hard floors and a line of PackBots robots for use with bomb squads or the Military.
In 2007 iRobot released several new products: improved robotic vacuum cleaners Roomba 500 series, new version of the floor washing robot scooba and a new line of robotic pool cleaners - verro.
|
|
|
|
The new iRobot Roomba 560 has twice the cleaning power of the Roomba Scheduler, improved navigation, anti-tangle technology, cleaning of edges and corners, larger dustbin and improved filtration of dust and allergens. The dramatically increased reliability makes this robotic vacuum cleaner a real breakthrough. It will even tell you how to set it up or when something is wrong.
Released in 2007 |
$350 |
|
|
The new iRobot Roomba 570 has twice the cleaning power of the Roomba Discovery and dramatically increased reliability. Improved navigation, anti-tangle technology, cleaning of edges and corners, larger dustbin, and improved filtration of dust and allergens make this robotic vacuum cleaner a real breakthrough. It will even tell you how to set it up or when something is wrong.
Released in 2007 |
$400 |
|
|
iRobot Create is a programmable robot base for entertainment and education. The platform allows you to use the robust Roomba-like chassis to create your own robotic creations. It comes fully assembled with 2 powered wheels, 32 built-in sensors, a 25-pin expansion port for connecting an optional command module and other electronics, a spacious cargo bay with plenty of holes for mounting hardware and 10 pre-programmed behaviors.
Released in 2007 |
$130 |
|
discontinued |
This vacuum cleaner will adjust the cleaning time for a particular area, seek out dirt particles the size of finely ground pepper, plot the best cleaning pattern for a given room, vacuum carpet, wood and vinyl floors. It will clean up to 1000 square feet and then charge itself at a docking station.
Released in 2004 |
$280 |
|
discontinued |
This vacuum cleaner will adjust the cleaning time for a particular area, seek out dirt particles the size of finely ground pepper, plot the best cleaning pattern for a given room, vacuum carpet, wood and vinyl floors. It will clean up to 1000 square feet and then charge itself at a docking station. What makes it different and better from the previous Roomba models is the scheduler: Scheduler programs Roomba to clean at anytime making it more autonomous than ever. At night or when you are not at home, Roomba will clean around your schedule!
Released in 2004 |
$330 |
|
|
This cleaning robot was designed to sweep up dirt and debris that clings to rough surfaces in your garage or basement. Cleans under workbenches, cars and other hard-to-reach places. It picks up the nuts, bolts, dirt, and other debris from your shop floor. You can use it on hard floors, shop carpets or industrial floor surfaces only.
Released in 2006 |
$130 |
|
|
ConnectR is a mobile webcam with microphone, speakers and headlight.
Released in 2008 |
$500 |
|
|
The new iRobot Roomba 530 has improved navigation, anti-tangle technology, cleaning of edges and corners, larger dustbin and improved filtration of dust and allergens. It returns to its Home Base to recharge between cleanings.
Released in 2007 |
$300 |
|
|
The iRobot Verro 600 hands-free, self-contained vacuum cleaning and water filtering robot get pools deep-down clean from floor to waterline with the touch of a button.
Released in 2007 |
$1200 |
|
|
iRobot Scooba 380 vacuums, soaks, scrubs and dries tile, linoleum and sealed hardwood floors and does it by cleaning faster and more efficiently than the previous model. It cleans up to four average size rooms on a single battery charge and washes an average size kitchen using one tank of cleaning solution.
Released in 2007 |
$500 |
|
|
The iRobot Verro 300 hands-free, self-contained vacuum cleaning and water filtering robot get pools deep-down clean from floor to waterline with the touch of a button.
Released in 2007 |
$800 |
|
|
Scooba is a robotic household cleaner designed and manufactured by iRobot. It uses AWARE - robotic intelligence system to clean your entire floor efficiently, automatically and without missing a spot. It has been carefully designed to use on all sealed hard floor surfaces such as tile, linoleum, vinyl, marble, slate or wood. Its cleaning process consists of five steps: vacuum, soak, spread, scrub and dry.
Released in 2006 |
$350 |
|
|
|
|
