Gizmodo
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robots
Bomo Baby Carriage is an Infant-Toting Robot
The Bomo Baby Carriage is essentially a Roomba with a seat for a baby on its back. There's no way this'll ever go wrong! More »
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By Adam FrucciComment by Jestermeister: I wonder if its obstacle avoidance system can also sense a dropoff like the top of a staircase. Either... 3 Responses | Other threads
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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 »
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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
Long-Exposure Shot of a Roomba's Path Shows Beautifully Organized Chaos
Ever wonder what the path of a Roomba looks like as it cleans your house? It's an amazing combination of randomness and precision, as shown by this long-exposure shot. More »
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By Adam FrucciComment by jonycob: wow, what a waste. considering it would take about four paths pushing your dyson (or crappy vacuum) and about... 12 Responses | Other threads
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robo-swiffer
Floor-Wiping Worm Robot Provides Crucial Missing Link in Robotic Fossil Record
In animal terms, the Fukitorimushi floor-cleaning robot would be the Roomba's distant evolutionary ancestor. It wipes instead of vacuums, inches rather than rolls, and generally looks like it wriggled right out of the primordial soup. More »
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By John HerrmanComment by Curves: If the cover comes off and can be sent through the washing machine without expensive refills, then it may sell... 2 Responses | Other threads
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parenting
Baby-Carrying Roomba is a Fun Way to Make Your Kid Require a Lifetime of Therapy
And the father of the year award goes to Ron Tajima, who created a Rooma/baby crib hybrid that he calls the Cradloomba. A better name might be Child Services Express. [GetRobo via Hack-a-Day]
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By Adam FrucciComment by Saxon_P: Geeze, kids these days have it so easy. When I was that age, my parents made me crawl to... 7 Responses | Other threads
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robots
Modified Roomba Detects Stress, Runs Away When It Thinks You Might Abuse It
The last thing you need when you get home is something making noise and hovering underfoot. This modified Roomba avoids users when it detects high levels of stress. More »
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By Sean FallonComment by Kaiser-Machead: And will it come closer when it detects moments of euphoria, such as an instance when endorphins are released mid-coitus? 9 Responses | Other threads
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roomba
The Horniest Roomba Of Them All
This horny toad Roomba subsists on a diet of dust and debris. It also petrifies household pets and small children. Make yours today! [i-toad via Make]
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By Sean FallonComment by prometeum: It's disgusting. It made me want to throw-up. I hope it isn't a real toad and if it is, the... 6 Responses | Other threads
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interview
Futurama's Creator Isn't Afraid of Robots, Doesn't Own a Roomba
I just bombarded Futurama's co-creator David X. Cohen with some very important questions, including what he would name his Roomba, why he's not afraid of robots and what Futurama's chances are for renewal. (Spoiler: 50/50.) More » -
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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adorable
Roombas Are Fun For Cats of All Ages
Sorry Roomba Cat, but you've been out-adorabled by this litter of kittens. Who knew they'd learn what robotic vaccuums ought to be used for at such a young age? [Cute Overload]
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By Elaine ChowComment by tylerstyle: Do Roomba's always follow such stupid patterns, while cleaning? Completely senseless? How is that thing cleaning, if it only runs over... 7 Responses | Other threads
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retromodo
Tomy Dustbot: The Original, Way Cuter Roomba
Long before the sterile Roomba arrived, there was a more anthropomorphic cleaning slave known as the Tomy Dustbot. More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by qbrad: Gizmodo chat room?? Please elaborate. 4 Responses | Other threads
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retromodo
The Roomba Foretold in 1959 Magazine
Usually, the tech magazines from 50+ years ago got things wrong, predicting crazy, impractical devices to make home care easier (for women). Well in 1959, RCA and Mechanix Illustrated got it right.
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By Mark WilsonComment by jdbaile3: Do these things work that well? I have considered one for two reasons: 1. Single floor apartment easily accessible... 13 Responses | Other threads
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robots
The Figura Vacuum Bot Allows You To Boss It Around
Does bossing your gadgets around make you feel like a big man? If so, you will love the Figura. It vacuums, waxes floors, and you can verbally abuse it to your heart's content. More »
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By Sean FallonComment by admoseremic: One cheaper alternative that I use to these robot vacuums is a bunch of cockroaches. 2 Responses | Other threads
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robots
'Tenth Floor Please' Says The Japanese Janitor Robot Stepping Into the Elevator
Fuji Heavy Industries (very heavy) and Sumitomo have introduced the future of industrial cleaning automatons—a beefed-up Roomba-like bot that not only cleans a Japanese office tower's filthy floors, but takes the elevator to cover the whole building all by itself.
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By John MahoneyComment by Jeff Martin: Emotionally damaged mathematics savants from Southie are suddenly out of a job. 2 Responses | Other threads
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robots
The Winboni is the Roomba of Window Washing
Like a crazy hybrid between a Roomba and a Zamboni, the "Winboni" window washing machine earned four students from MSU first place in the International Student Design Competition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. More »
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By Sean FallonComment by lankysob: The guy who talks at the end just joined to work with the girl engineer (who might have even been... 10 Responses | Other threads
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dealzmodo
Gadget Deals of the Day
Look, we'd like to think that if we didn't tell you about all of these fabulous tech deals, you'd just go on your merry way and save your cash. But we both know that isn't the case. So read on to score a $.98 version of Half-Life, a $100 external hard drive, or one of the many good buys that you see above. Or, you know. Don't. More » -
adorable
Kitty Cat Hitches Ride on Back of a Roomba
If there's anything that makes me squeal like a little girl on a pixie stick high, it's watching videos of pets playing with gadgets. This little kitty uses the family Roomba as its own amusement park ride, presumably vacuuming up the mess it sheds everyday on the side. I'm not sure how they managed to get it so close to something so noisy—my own cat freaks out every time the doorbell rings. [Neatorama] -
wall-e sad
Limited Edition Wall-E Roomba From Japan Sucks in More Ways Than One
Limited-edition Wall-E Roomba: that brings to mind a certain image of an already-fairly-cute vacuum bot taking on two puppy dog eyes, an adorable electro-babble voice synth and maybe even an inclination to maintain a little nest of sad artifacts it has horded from your waste in an unseen corner of your giant house. Or at least, um, something that looks like the robot whose actual job was to sweep the floor in the movie? Sadly, this limited edition Wall-E Roomba fails on almost every possible count. More »
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By John MahoneyComment by VideoVampire: Wow! that is an expensive decal. Must be extra strong glue on the back huh? 1 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] -
hello kitty
Get Your Floors Clean and Cute With Hello Kitty Roomba
For homemakers who always wanted a Roomba but thought it too uncute, iRobot and Sanrio have partnered up to create a Hello Kitty-branded version of their robotic vacuum cleaner. So now not only does everybody's favorite expressionless cat protect your computer, play your music and blast away your enemies, she'll also clean your floor. Who's a good kitty? Only 500 units are made, and each will cost roughly $810. Figures—it's only available in Japan. [iRobot Japan via Dvice]
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By Elaine ChowComment by Mandatory_Field: Aren't ALL cats expressionless? Hey didn't George Carlin or someone have something to say about that? 3 Responses | Other threads
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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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Wii Roomba
Man Controls Roomba With Wii Balance Board, Atari-Era Surfin' USA Soundtrack
Ron Tajima has some time on his hands. And a Roomba. And a Wii Balance Board. See where we're going with this? Anyway, he put them all together, combined it with a Surfin' USA track that sounds like it was ripped from the 1980's, and now he can control the previously autonomous Roomba with his feet. "This is my third Roomba hacking," Tajima says. "This surfin is safe, useful (it's cleaning), and easy for nerds. Wii balance board is great!" Indeed it is, Tajima-san, indeed it is. Maybe there's a reason for me to take the Balance Board out from underneath my TV and use it again. More »
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By Jack LoftusComment by seancron: Was I the only one that noticed he said "clearned"? (1:18) 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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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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roomba
Top Tips on Socializing Pets and Bots, Courtesy of WSJ
The Wall Street Journal has a great feature this morning about pets and household robots, such as Roombas and Pleos. Writer Andrew Lavallee has compiled all sorts of anecdotes—including useful tips on how to bed your pet in with the 'bot in your life, including protecting your Sony Aibo from cat bites (cayenne pepper and Cholula hot sauce applied to the 'bot butt, apparently). One dog owner told off the Roomba in front of his mutt, and the dog never lunged at the robot vacuum again. [WSJ]
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By AddyDugdaleComment by G2GdoB2B: LOL! Poor dog! I wonder when robots will take over "traditional" pets! - like Sony's Aibo. Here's a nice article... more » | Other threads
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roomba
Guy Hacks His Roomba with LEDs, Transforms It Into Pac Man
Anyone out there with a fetish for hoovering in the dark (anyone out there with a fetish for hoovering, call me, because I need a new cleaning lady) might like this hacked Roomba. Ron Tajima has created the Pacma, using 448 yellow LEDs, and a control unit made of an MPU that connects to the robo-vac via a cable and uses Bluetooth. Fun? Ron, my rugs are just crying out for you. [YouTube via BotJunkie]
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By AddyDugdaleComment by CubFan81: @MasterYong: Um...that's because you left the post minimized. YouTube videos linked on other sites have some weird feature where if... more » | Other threads
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end of the world near
Robot Enslaves Another Robot, Humans Next
After a 24-hour Galactica marathon, robots are gettings robots to follow the orders they were supposed to. Like Monty here, seen in the following video opening his new Roomba, ready to subjugate it into the tedious chore of cleaning the carpet. More »
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By Jesus DiazComment by anti-hello-kitty: I predict that the rise of robot technology will mimic the rise of cellphone technology: Things like robot brainpower/processing... more » | Other threads
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clean up
OSP Robot Is Human Sized Roomba For Oil Spills
Designer Ji-hoon Kim has come up with an ingenuous idea for cleaning up oil spills. Using various features such as boom control modules, solar panels, oil protection boom, communication modules, boom connectors, and propulsion modules the OSP robots work together to surround an oil spill site with an inflatable barrier. Once the site has been contained the cleaning crews can easily remove the oil from the water. If saving the planet wasn't cool enough, an OSP robot is actually the size of a grown human and a group of bots can easily be deployed via helicopter or boat. The only thing we can think of to make these bots better is a speaker that would play their slogan as they work, DEPLOY - UNITE - SIEGE. [Yanko Design] More » -
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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housekeeping
Eye-Vac Pro Is Like Paraplegic Roomba, or the Sarlacc of Dust
I couldn't decide which comparison I liked more, but in either case you get it: Eye-Vac Pro is a 1200-watt stationary vacuum, an infrared-equipped all-seeing dustbin that sucks up the rubbish you sweep close enough to its maw. It's got a HEPA filter for clean air return and a "full" indicator, which means that no, I guess it doesn't digest your dust, dirt and hair slowly over 1,000 years' time. Maybe that's next year's model. [Red Ferret]
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Comment by txrose: The vac sells for $99 at Sally's beauty supply store I think its geared for Stylist to use at their... more » | Other threads
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hack attack
XO Laptop Hacked to Remotely Run Roomba 'Round Rooms
This is probably not one of the uses Nicholas Negroponte had in mind when he thought up the OLPC, but at least we know some child, somewhere is benefiting from this little project. The hack lets you control the Roomba from a web browser, using the XO laptop's webcam and microphone as your eyes and ears for spying/cleaning operations. Is there cannon and laser sight upgrade option? [via Ubergizmo] -
robots
Roomba Driving Owners Crazy with Anthropomorphic Robot Love
A study of 30 Roomba users found the owners of the robotic vacuum cleaner often developing emotional attachments to their little bundles of plastic, metal and wiring. Of the 30 people in the study, 21 of them named their Roombas, 16 of them referred to it as a "he," and some even went so far as to pre-clean the floors to make the little robot's life easier. In other words, Roomba is driving people stark raving mad, demonstrating signs of insanity and anthropomorphizing these robots that can sometimes barely do their jobs. The upside? iRobot, the maker of the Roomba, promises the fifth generation won't be quite so flawed. But then maybe their owners won't love them as much without all those quirks. [MSNBC]
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Comment by qbrad: @Lacclolith: What about stupid people? We feel bad for them because of the emotional engagement. Bewildered eyes and... more » | Other threads
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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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ditch the remote
SK Telecom Cleaning Robot Controlled by Cellphone
Sometimes we just want to tell our Roomba what to do, but we can never find that frickin' remote. Well SK Telecom has decided to fix this problem, they are developing a cleaning-robot that is controllable via your cell phone. Not only can you decide where the little bot cleans, but you can also see what it's doing via the built in camera. More pics after the jump. More » -
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
roomba
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