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iRobot Moves Into Your House
MacAndrew writes "An NYT article today expands beyond an earlier /. and annoying futurism to a multiplying line of robots from iRobot, founded by some tinkering MIT grads in Somerville, MA. The robots have found applications ranging from chasing dust bunnies ($200) to exploring the Great Pyramid to bumping around Afghan caves for mines (a war reporter is another possibility), and so appear to be moving beyond the gee whiz Rosie Jetson stage of technology. I'm intrigued that their company name so bluntly builds off of Apple and Asimov symbols, and the prospect that a product with such a chummy name will doubtless soon be sporting lethal force (cf. Predator's recent adventures. So -- anyone get one for Xmas? Chanukah? Or just fun?"
Does anyone have the Trilobite ZA1? Is it available anywhere else besides Sweden?
Anyways it's a really cool little critter. It uses sonar to seek out the room. Also it automatically recharges itself since it finds its' way back to the charger. It can also untangle itself from carpets and other stuff.How cool is that?
Seems a bit more stronger and more advanced than Roomba.
However it's priced at 1500 euro so... =)
Real programmers never comment their code. If it's hard to write, it should be hard to read!
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The current model is cool, but like the reviewer, I want more features-- a little more intelligence and autonomy, for one thing.
I'd like it to be able to locate and drive into its recharger when it's done.
I'd like it to be able to empty its own dirt cup.
A decent solution for both issues above would be to make the recharger a raised platform with a small ramp the Roomba must negotiate. Have dirt cup open from underneath like a railroad hopper car, and let it empty into a larger dirt receptacle beneath the recharger that I could dump out weekly.
I'd also like to be able to set it to run only when I'm at work, and to set it do do high-traffic rooms more often than others.
Additionally, I'd like Roomba to be a little smarter about where it's been-- maybe have an option to load a floorplan into it, and have it 'know' where it is relative to its recharger station at all times during its run.
I'd be more than willing to pay $400-500 for such a beast.
~Philly
We've been using a Roomba for some time now and are getting ready to add two more to the house (one for each floor).
When I leave in the morning, I just set it in the middle of the kitchen, hit the L[arge] button and go to work. The Roomba then does its thing and vacuums the kitchen, living room, and dining room. It sweeps under all the furniture and with one exception (detailed below) doesn't get "trapped" or caught.
I do pick up one small rug with a fringe that the Roomba doesn't get along with, but other than that it works well.
* As is generally the case, my opinions do not reflect those of my employer.