Gizmodo
irobot
Posts Tagged “
Roomba
”
irobot
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 »
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 »
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]
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]
end of the world near
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 »
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 »
7:17 AM on Fri May 2 2008
By Jesus Diaz
5,710 views,
36 comments
Latest by n/a: I predict that the rise of robot technology will mimic the rise of cellphone technology: Things like robot brainpower/processing power and features will increase faster than increases in power supply technology. So if robots were able to have more »
clean up
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]
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]
4:10 PM on Tue Mar 4 2008
By Christopher Mascari
3,275 views,
22 comments
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. More »
5:30 PM on Tue Jan 8 2008
By Jason Chen
4,655 views,
15 comments
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]
hack attack
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]
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]
robots
One of the quirkier features of iRobot's new 500 series Roomba vacuum bots is the voice recorded tutorial that is built into the device. Here's the robot-guided tour, complete with spinning sidebrush and a blinking blue dirt detector light.
First iRobot Roomba 560 Video
One of the quirkier features of iRobot's new 500 series Roomba vacuum bots is the voice recorded tutorial that is built into the device. Here's the robot-guided tour, complete with spinning sidebrush and a blinking blue dirt detector light.
robots
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 »
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 »
ditch the remote
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 »
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 »
7:12 PM on Fri Jul 27 2007
By blongo3
2,600 views,
4 comments
Latest by igob8a: Fits in with all of Korea's other cell-phone controlled stuff and their HomeVita technology. [www.builderonline.com] BTW, the homes equipped with HomeVita already have at least 1 security camera in each room/section of the house (except the bathroom, I think), so I don't 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 »
gadgets
Roomba With Airsoft Gun and Laser Sight Terrorizes Ankles
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 »
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 »
2:30 PM on Fri Jan 26 2007
By Travis Hudson
1,344 views,
8 comments
Latest by gizmoman: I have never used woot but would be cautious, i've heard of people having problems with them. The roomba, on the other hand is a fantastic product! I purchased a refurbished roomba from amazon.com for $199 about a year ago. more »
