Gizmodo
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roomba
iRobot Patents Call For Potty-Trained Roomba
The Roomba autonomous vacuum / kitten transportation vehicle may be able to go potty all by itself like its cuddly counterparts if these patent applications from iRobot ever come to fruition. More »
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By Sean FallonComment by TaitRT: The brushes on my roomba always get clogged up WAY before the bin gets full... wtb autonomous brush switching. 4 Responses | Other threads
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roombas
Roomba Patent Solves Pesky Corner-Cleaning Problem With Simple Geometry
Roombas have evolved over the years into a fairlyimpressive product, except when it comes to corners. Apparently bothered by this, iRobot's engineers have patented a Roomba with a corner specialty. The secret trick: it's square. More »
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By John HerrmanComment by Troy Foster: why not just make a roomba in the shape of a Reuleaux triangle. Put the little sweeper thing in... 4 Responses | Other threads
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roomba
Punk iRobot Tags Floors With Its Powder Graffiti
This is what happens when a Roomba gets kicked around by abusive parents—it rebels against society, joins a gang and vandalizes our communities. More »
8,915
By Sean FallonComment by OMG! DEITY!: I saw something like this at the Esat BT young scientist exhibition in Dublin about 5 years back, except it... 1 Responses | Other threads
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robots
Hamster-Controlled Roomba Lets Your Hamster Decide What Gets Cleaned
Sure, a Roomba will methodically and accurately clean your floors, but wouldn't it be more fun to let chaos reign by throwing the controls of your robotic vacuum over to a hamster? More »
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By Adam FrucciComment by Pito Bonilla: he looks a bit scared....poor guy 4 Responses | Other threads
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review
iRobot Roomba 610 Professional Series Review
The Gadget: The Roomba Professional 610—the most powerful Roomba EVER—is made for large areas like offices, businesses, and big homes. It comes with two interchangeable bins, extra brushes and filters, and two virtual walls. More »
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By Andi WangComment by bandit: Honestly, has anyone really been satisfied with a Roomba purchase? I keep thinking it's a cool thing but when the... 12 Responses | Other threads
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dealzmodo
Gadget Deals of the Day
You could go out tonight, spend lots of money, get super drunk and hook up with a really attractive member of the opposite sex. Or you could stay in, make Easy Mac and shop. More » -
ces 2009
iRobot Looj V.2 Cleans Gutters, Probably Has Other Unspeakable Uses
Here's Looj, iRobot's second generation of—get this—The World's Only Gutter Cleaning Robot. Just put Looj in the gutter and operate it via remote controller. According to them, it is more efficient than the previous. More »
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By Jesus DiazComment by The Analrapist: Doesn't anybody just use a power washer to clean their gutters 5 Responses | Other threads
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robots
Unreal Snooping Bot Can Grow from 25 Inches to 20 Feet
So weird. This iRobot Packbot has a Situational Awareness Mast built-in, a surveillance system which can grow from 25 inches to 20 feet lifting 200 pounds, on its top configuration. The mechanism is very ingenious:
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By Jesus DiazComment by LyleHapjo: Hey I think i got first review :D! Anyway this machine is very innovative and quite the creation! Though... 8 Responses | Other threads
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dealzmodo
Gadget Deals of the Day
Sure, we can't top the excitement of a presidential election, but a deal on an iRobot Scooba has to come in a close second, right? OK, we'll do one better. We have a 4GB SDHC card for $0 after rebate. How are you going to beat free? Even going to the polls costs gas money. More » -
dealzmodo
Dealzmodo: Buy 2 Get 1 Free for Three-Pronged iRobot House Cleaning Team
iRobot is offering up a few new combo discounts on several of their dutiful house-cleaning 'bots. If you're buying a Roomba 580 vacuum and Scooba 380 floor-mopper tandem for around $1,000 total, they'll throw in either a Dirt Dog heavy-duty shop-vac bot or a Looj gutter cleaner for free. Both of those go for around $130 on their own. Ultrasonic whistle for controlling your new robo-brigade not included. [iRobot Store via CNET] -
irobot
New iRobot Roombas Aimed at Pets and Very Dirty People
iRobot is expanding their Roomba line with three new models intended for more industrial of use. The Roomba 532 and 562 Pet Series Robots ($350 and $400) are meant for animal owners—or anyone sucking up massive amounts of floor hair—and equipped with larger sweeping bins to accommodate copious amounts of fur. The Roomba 610 Professional Series ($600) is similar, sporting a larger bin as well, but also comes with an extra, interchangeable bin and a Max Mode that will burn the batteries lower to finish big rooms. All three units are available now. Here are the full specifics: More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by XSteveMurphy: It's all lies. I have a Roomba from the last generation that was specifically for pet hair. Every single time... 3 Responses | Other threads
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suck it ahed
iRobot Gets Revenge On Former Employee By Selling His Stolen Robot Design
The story between iRobot and former employee Jameel Ahed has everything: military robots, betrayal, lies, stolen plans, lawsuits, big money, private investigators and destroyed evidence. But up until now there was one critical element missing...revenge. iRobot has completed that final act in this real-life drama by stealing back the "Negotiator" robot that Ahed made with their stolen plans and marketing it to police forces and other safety organizations around the country. More »
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By Sean FallonComment by KeepingTheForeName_GitEmSteveDave: @Barcard: It waits until you drop stuff. It's a passive thief/collector, like Wall*E. more » | Other threads
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irobot
iRobot Patent Filing Hints at Lawn Mowing Robot Update
The folks behind the Roomba robot vacuum appear to have another robotic helper up their sleeves. In this case, it's of the lawn mowing variety, but the final design is anything but final if the wide variety of shapes, configurations and features are any indication. A lawn-mowing Roomba-like robot... Lawmba? Loomba? Mowba. More »
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By Jack LoftusComment by MikeTy: Interesting... I guess it's not that far off their original Roomba. Here's an interesting article about robots that develop emotional bonding... more » | Other threads
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clips
iPhone App Runs iRobot's Military Packbot
While many of us may ooh and ahh at the new iPhone apps reaching the consumer level, a pair from the University of South Florida has coded a native iPhone application that can operate iRobot's Packbot with full streaming POV video. Syncing with the Packbot over Wi-Fi, the iPhone's accelerometers allow panning and zooming while the touchscreen controls the Packbot's movement. But don't take our word for it. Check out the clip: More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by ichi1: am the only one who feels the location was a little dull ???? more » | Other threads
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robots
Roomba Maker to Develop DARPA's ChemBot Morphing Robots
Last year DARPA began the search for a company that could develop robots capable of squeezing through small openings and returning to their original size, shape, and functionality on the other side. Like most of DARPA's projects, the idea was way-out there. However, it appears that iRobot (the guys behind practical home robots like the Roomba vacuum and the Looj Gutter cleaner) have answered the call. More »
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By Sean FallonComment by VideoVampire: holy crap is it gonna say "have you seen this boy?" and brawl with Ahhnold? more » | Other threads
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robots
"Crowd Control" iRobot Fires Up to a Million Rounds a Minute
You remember that gun that electronically fires up to a million rounds a minute (theoretically) by Metal Storm? They're strapping them to iRobot's X700 to create a serious killing machine with the flexibility of firing anything from explosive rounds to "less-lethal" ones, making it suitable for urban assaults, "border patrol," "crowd control" or my personal favorite, defense against a zombie apocalypse. [Danger Room]
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Comment by Margatron: This looks like Wall-E's evil step-brother. I just hope they don't release *this* animatronic in Disneyland! more » | Other threads
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robots
iRobot, Corporate Sabotage, Stolen Plans and Destroyed Evidence
Noah Shachtman over at Wired has a very interesting look at iRobot's six year battle with Robotic FX, a company started by a former employee who allegedly (and probably) stole schematics and plans in order to build a competitor. There's too much detail to work into a short summary, but Jameel Ahed, the former employee, was caught by a private investigator deleting documents and shredding CDs containing data that belonged to iRobot. More » -
war robots
Wiimote, iPhone are New Tools of War
David Bruemmer and Douglas Few, engineers at the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Lab in Idaho Falls, have put together an unlikely use for the Wiimote—they've hacked the remote so it can control a bomb-disposing, landmine-detecting, machine gun-carrying robot. More »
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By Haroon MalikComment by fitz4th: there also would seem to be many more potential uses for this than just military. more » | Other threads
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robots
iRobot CEO Talks Past, Present and Future of Robotics
Very few people know more about the practical robotics industry more than iRobot CEO Colin Angle. We had a nice chat with him (he did all the talking) earlier today about the state of the robotics industry, why iRobot is essentially the only company doing what they're doing in the field, what kind of robots are coming in the future and why robots are necessary for the human race to survive.
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robots
Robot Yoga is Geeky Zen
As the winner of the U.S. Army's $286 million "unmanned surge" competition, the PacBot 510 with FasTac Kit designed by iRobot will soon be in charge of protecting the lives of our soldiers on the battlefield. A noble occupation for sure, but it may have missed its calling as a master yoga instructor. Check out some of the poses iRobot engineer John Souliere managed to get this thing into during a demo with Wired. [iRobot and Wired]
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By Sean FallonComment by buzzwizard: @StarChaser Tyger: hehe, good call... that tends to get a bit annoying when I'm hoping for intelligent insight or at... more » | Other threads
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robots
Personal Home Robot Lands Nerd $5,000 in iRobot Contest
It may look like a [Star Wars reference omitted] with a very erect [Star Wars reference omitted], but the Personal Home Robot is actually designed for use in this galaxy. Danh Trinh of Towson, Md. took home a $5,000 contest prize from iRobot for building the cute but boringly named PHR on the iRobot Create platform. Made up of parts from all over, it appears to contain a Compaq iPaq, a wireless access point from Buffalo and a Logitech QuickCam. It can water plants, control lights and appliances, play music and remind owners to take their medication. It does not [Star Wars reference omitted], but neither do you. [Instructables] More »
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Comment by dichron: looks more like the original Dell Axim X5 with a symbol wireless CF card. it looks just like the... more » | Other threads
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robots
New iRobot Warrior X700 Carries Big Payloads and Big Guns
When we last checked in with iRobot's Warrior, it was armless, pokey, weak and not killtastic. Their latest model, the Warrior X700, is the opposite of all of that, with plans for the urban warfare front: It sports a robo-arm that lifts 150 pounds, will tread a four-minute mile, lugs up to 500 pounds and can terminate with extreme prejudice semi-autonomously. It can deploy machine guns or 40mm explosive rounds, with one variant sporting an electronic firing system utilizing a four-pack of small barrels that fire 16 rounds a second with an 800-meter range. At this rate, a real-life robot-controlled Metal Slug is totally on its way by 2028. [Army Times via Danger Room]
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Comment by thechansen: Can we start calling it Mobile OSX?: I can see it now: This robot rolls up to a group of terrorists/communists/enemy-of-the-month "Ooooo, somebody forgot to set up the virtual... more » | Other threads
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robots
iRobot Looj Gutter Cleaner Video Is Bob Vila Porn
Check out the superslo-mo guttercam as the lil green iRobot Looj clears away real-life sludge and debris. The best part of the video may be the Looj holster, allegedly designed so you can safely ascend and descend ladders, but really there to make you look like some kind of space cowboy. [iRobot]
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Comment by ChristopherNareen: you still have to get up on the roof, that what sucks i would like to stay off of it... more » | Other threads
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robots
iRobot Looj Gutter Cleaner and ConnectR Webcam Robots Announced
As we saw in our coverage of the iRobot Digital Life Event, the iRobot Looj and iRobot ConnectR were just announced. The Looj, that weird gutter cleaner we saw before, will cost $99. The iRobot ConnectR, is a "virtual visiting robot," which means it has a webcam and a mic for mobile teleconferencing; it will cost $500. The latter can be driven around like an R2-D2 so you can get in touch with other people around the office without actually getting up to. [iRobot]
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By Jason ChenComment by gymnjim: I will be all over the gutter robot when the come out with a telescoping catch and release pole. more » | Other threads
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irobot
iRobot Digital Life Event: iRobot Looj and iRobot ConnectR Official
2:10 Colin Angle of iRobot is about to launch something. We'll let you know what as soon as he stops rambling. Our guess would be the iRobot Looj.
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robots
Details on the iRobot Looj Gutter Cleaner Via the FCC
Engadget just noted that the iRobot Looj just hit the FCC. There are some terrible photos but I noticed there's a full manual detailing its every function: More » -
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Comment by catt8er: I have had a few roombas love them. I am disabled and they can be a big help. Looking forward... more » | Other threads
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robots
Mod-Friendly 5th Gen iRobot Roomba - First Vacuum
Roomba is among the most successful consumer robots ever made, having sold well over 2 million units. And iRobot's newly released 500 series is the first major revamp of the floorvac line since 2004. Nearly everything about the bot has been changed or improved; it's stronger, quieter, smarter and will last five times longer than its predecessor. A full report on the Roomba 560's anti-tangling technology, voice module, and RF "Virtual Wall Lighthouses" is just after the jump. More »
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Comment by gallamine: "Drezio: Oh and that spinning side-brush will probably last about 20 minutes." Drezio, do you own a Roomba? The previous version... more » | Other threads
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Comment by Worf: And why the Autobots are Autonomous Robots... great foresight, I think. (As are the Decepticons, but well...). more » | Other threads
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name that irobot
What Will iRobot's Next Creations Be?
iRobot, of Roomba fame has come out of the woodwork and announced that they will be unveiling two new consumer robots this holiday season that will not be floor cleaning robots. Helen Greiner, co-founder of iRobot said "We are going to launch them from our Web space, and they are not floor-cleaning robots. They are different types of robots with mechanical features." So, what do you folks think? They are going to be consumer robots that don't clean. More »
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Comment by mcguirev10: I have two Roomba Scheduler uber-deluxe floor-suckers, and frankly I'd prefer that they not come out with a new product,... more » | Other threads
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robots
Boeing and iRobot Building a Next-Gen Reconnaissance Robot
The folks at Boeing and iRobot are joining forces to build a lighter, faster and smarter version of iRobot's Packbot. The new SUVG Early will be used for bomb disposal and disaster relief operations. More » -
robots
iRobot's New Bots Clean Your Pool, Bring You Mai Tais
iRobot's new pool-cleaning bots make me wish I had a pool. Both the Verro 300 and Verro 600 can vacuum up leaves, algae and bacteria from your pool, but what makes them extra cool is that they can do all of this while making sure the chemicals in your pool are distributed properly and water temperature is even. Not to mention they can climb up and down your pool's stairs. More »
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Comment by FЯeeMan: You all missed the "Bring you mai tais" part!!! that makes it worth it more » | Other threads
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gadgets
Dyson Secretly Creating Robot Vacuum
iRobot's Roomba is about to get a little competition from the folks at Dyson. Rumor has it that Dyson is recruiting roboticists who can help create a robotic vacuum with autopilot and mapping capabilities, the latter feature being something the Roomba lacks (it relies on bump sensors for direction). More » -
gadgets
1-Year Review with Scooba: Thumbs Down
I like Joel's 1-year review of the Scooba — Roomba's wash and dry mopping bot. For cleaning his Brooklyn pad, he finds the charging, refilling of cleaning fluids, initial outlay of $200, and maintenance of the bot to be more work and expense than it's worth. Mopping up by bucket and mop and human-being is still the way to go. Unless you have a thing for robots in French Maid costumes, that is. More »
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By Brian LamComment by RaffaeleWebster: I read this review and was very skeptical about the Scooba, but bought it anyways. I have to... more » | Other threads
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robots
iRobot's Bomb-disposing PackBot Heads Out to War
The folks at iRobot (yeah, the same guys that make the Roomba) are ready to send their new PackBot 510 out to battle. The PackBot is a bomb-disposing robot used out in the field where it's too dangerous for soldiers to maneuver. The new PackBot 510 is 30% faster and stronger than its predecessor. It's also easier to control. So easy that its hand controller could double for your 360 controller. We're still waiting for the Wiimote-controlled version, however. More »
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Comment by e10: I worked with one of these on a film once. It's wide angle lens was awesome. more » | Other threads
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deals
Dealzmodo: iRobot Roomba Discovery SE, $150
Woot is packing up their boxes and moving to a bigger facility and in their packing they found thousands of iRobot Roomba Discovery SE vacuuming robots that need a home. The Roomba is a dirt sweeping robot that can also be modded like crazy. The Discovery SE comes with all over the accessories like virtual walls, charging station, remote and more. It also retails for $299ish, so this is a pretty damn good deal for $150. More » -
gadgets
Clips: iRobot Create in Action
We first told you about iRobot's new Create robot yesterday, but now we have more. Basically this is a Roomba, minus all of the vacuuming utensils and adding a bunch of ports that allow the modders to go nuts. There was one functional unit at their booth, and it half-assed worked supposedly because it had been demo'd non-stop for the past couple days. But here is a video I nabbed of the Create doing a variety of tasks.
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Comment by Mistoffeles: Hey, don't blame the robot, the programmer didn't tell it to shut the fridge door ;p I'll take a Carnegie-Mellon ballbot... more » | Other threads
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robots
Caroling Roombas Sing, Dance
The Roomba family was out caroling. They stopped by and sang a few songs. I caught a few on tape. I think they were a little tipsy on mulled 30W or something. This was a demo of RoombaMidi2, a Mac OS X program to turn your Roomba into a MIDI instrument.
Nothing says Happy Holidays quite like Roombas caroling, drunk or not. More »
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Comment by gizmoman: Wow!! Very creative! It's amazing all the different things people are doing with these. How long did it take to... more » | Other threads
irobot
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