NEW YORK: Robotics giant iRobot has launched an all new Vacuum Cleaner which is enabled with a technology which can make the machine see and then clean areas at one’s house.
Roomba 980 is the first cleaner to combine adaptive navigation with visual localization, cloud connected app control, and increased cleaning power on carpets.
“Roomba 980 is the next big step as it marks iRobot’s first cloud connected product with mapping capabilities for the consumer market,” said Colin Angle, chairman and chief executive officer of iRobot, in a press release.
“Leveraging the cloud and mapping technologies, robots gain a better understanding of their environment, and customers are provided with more control. Looking ahead, these technologies will also enable expanded capabilities for connected robots in the smart home.”
As claimed by the makers, this all news device includes an enhanced array of sensors to help it clean better, including visual inputs.
The robotic cleaner is also powered with a low-res video camera to help it map the house as it learns the layout of rooms and location of objects like furniture and household items and functions accordingly.
With Roomba 980, iRobot is implementing its proprietary visual simultaneous localization and mapping (vSLAM®) technology for the first time in a consumer product.
What can be a bit surprising to know for you is Roomba 980 will run continuously for up to two hours, then automatically return to its Home Base to recharge and resume until the cleaning is done.
The machine is also connected with an app, which enables users to fire up a cleaning cycle remotely via the Internet.
The new Vaccum cleaner is first of its kind and is only available in US and Canada for now.
