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iRobot begins manufacturing operations in Malaysia

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iRobot, a maker of consumer robots – most famously a robotic vacuum cleaner, has officially commenced production in Malaysia ahead of schedule.

Working with Jabil Inc, a manufacturing solutions provider based in St Petersburg, Florida, iRobot has expanded its manufacturing capabilities into Malaysia as part of its strategic supply chain diversification initiative.

Jabil has served as one of iRobot’s trusted manufacturing and supply chain partners in China since 2010. [Read more…] about iRobot begins manufacturing operations in Malaysia

iRobot launches its most advanced robot vacuum and mop

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iRobot Corp. is launching two new robots that work together to provide what it claims is the deepest clean possible in the home.

The Roomba s9+ robot vacuum with Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal is the most intelligent, powerful, and deepest cleaning Roomba robot to date.

The Braava jet m6 robot mop tackles multiple rooms and large spaces with advanced navigation and mapping capabilities.

[Read more…] about iRobot launches its most advanced robot vacuum and mop

iRobot launches robotic lawnmower

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iRobot, the company behind what is probably the leading robotic vacuum cleaner, has launched a robotic lawnmower. (See video below.)

The company claims to be “reinventing lawn care” with its Terra Robot Mower.

iRobot says Terra introduces “cutting-edge navigation technology” with Imprint Smart Mapping and a unique wireless beacon system, for a more intelligent robot lawn mower.  [Read more…] about iRobot launches robotic lawnmower

iRobot launches new robotic vacuum cleaner that empties itself

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iRobot has launched a new robotic vacuum cleaner to add to its Roomba range – this one can be told verbally when connected with smart home devices.

The new iRobot Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum is said to learn a home’s floor plan and is capable of emptying itself.

iRobot says the new Roomba i7+ robot vacuum can “not only remember a home’s floor plan and clean specific rooms by name – but also automatically empties itself”.  [Read more…] about iRobot launches new robotic vacuum cleaner that empties itself

iRobot buys Robopolis to expand in Europe

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iRobot, the US company which makes consumer robots such as the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner range, has closed the previously announced acquisition of Robopolis, a French company.

The preliminary purchase price of $141 million is subject to normal purchase price adjustments and is expected to be finalized no later than the first quarter of 2018.

Europe is a key strategic region for iRobot and provides “an excellent opportunity for further growth”, says the company.  [Read more…] about iRobot buys Robopolis to expand in Europe

Clearpath Robotics partners with iRobot for next generation Turtlebot based on Intel Euclid Development Kit

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Clearpath Robotics, a provider of mobile robots for research and development, in partnership with iRobot, has launched the TurtleBot Euclid – the next generation all-in-one mobile robotics platform for learning the Robot Operating System.

TurtleBot Euclid is designed to be an easy-to-use and cost-effective solution for enabling students and educators to accelerate robotics learning.

Clearpath’s TurtleBot is based on the Intel Euclid platform which itself is based on the Ubuntu open-source operating system.  [Read more…] about Clearpath Robotics partners with iRobot for next generation Turtlebot based on Intel Euclid Development Kit

iRobot denies it will sell map data about customers’ rooms and houses

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iRobot says it will “never” sell the data its little robotic vacuum cleaners collect while mapping and navigating people’s rooms and homes. 

In a statement provided to ZDNet, Colin Angle, CEO of iRobot, reassured customers by saying: “iRobot will never sell your data.”

The statement follows comments Angle gave to Reuters suggesting that the company might consider selling maps iRobot’s Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner generates of users’ homes.  [Read more…] about iRobot denies it will sell map data about customers’ rooms and houses

Vacuum cleaning robots invading homes all over the world

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Long-exposure photo showing path taken by Roomba in 45 minutes. Picture: Wikipedia

Other than washing the dishes, vacuuming the house is probably the most boring activity in the world, and probably only a very few sane humans would enjoy the activity. 

But household chores need to be done, and it is this human right to avoid boring tasks which the robots are exploiting to find their way into homes all over the world.

In the future, when we look back at how the robots took over everything, it’s probably not industrial robots which will be blamed – because they’re mostly caged off and controlled inside factories: it’s the vacuuming and other cleaning robots we should be scared of.

They might look innocent – with their rounded edges and small, apparently unintimidating size, maybe even reminiscent of a slow-moving pet cat, only better behaved – but vacuuming robots could be seen as the artificially intelligent machine army’s frontline infantry in the battle for the future of humanity, and they are gaining more and more floorspace every day.  [Read more…] about Vacuum cleaning robots invading homes all over the world

iRobot expands connected product line with Roomba 960

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iRobot has launched the Roomba 960 Vacuuming Robot starting at $699.

The second 900 Series Roomba to be introduced by iRobot, Roomba 960 extends mapping, adaptive navigation with visual localization and cloud connected app control to a wider range of consumers, says the company.

Further extending the company’s connected product line, iRobot also announced iRobot Home App availability for both existing and new Braava jet Mopping Robot customers.  [Read more…] about iRobot expands connected product line with Roomba 960

iRobot launches floor-mopping robot

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iRobot Braava
iRobot’s new floor mopping device, the Braava

iRobot has launched a household floor cleaning device, calling it the Braava jet mopping robot.

Designed to mop hard floor surfaces with high amounts of traffic, the company says Braava jet is “great for the kitchen and bathroom”.

The price of the perfect gift for the slacker of today starts at $199. Braava jet combines a compact design, vibrating cleaning head, precision jet spray and Braava jet cleaning pads to lift dirt and stains, even in hard-to-reach places, like under kitchen cabinets and around toilets.

“iRobot is focused on significant growth opportunities in the consumer robotic technology market,” says Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot.

“To capitalize, we will continue to diversify our home robot offerings, identifying new product categories ripe for growth and exploring other opportunities within the connected home. We are excited to bring Braava jet to market, a robot that addresses yet another important customer cleaning need.”  [Read more…] about iRobot launches floor-mopping robot