News

27/8/2003

iRobot's Roomba Robotic FloorVac Gets Even Smarter: Colorful New Models Spot-clean, Work via Remote Control

iRobot, creator of the first affordable robotic vacuum, today added two new models to its popular Roomba(R) Robotic FloorVac family, offering consumers more power and control than ever before. The Roomba Pro, in blue, and the Roomba Pro Elite, in red, offer extra-strength cleaning for really dirty spots and navigation by remote control, so people can spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying their lives.

Since its debut last year, the award-winning Roomba has developed a dedicated following, inspiring fan Web sites and theme parties. In just one year, Roomba ranks as one of the most requested gifts on wedding registries across the country and is the world's best-selling mobile robot. The original Roomba -- which uses iRobot's unique advanced navigation technology to automatically clean household floor surfaces including hardwood, carpet, tile and linoleum -- remains available to consumers at $199.99.

The new slate blue Roomba Pro is ideal for busy households. It has all the features of the original Roomba, plus a new "spot cleaning" mode, which allows Roomba Pro to focus on a specific area, such as dirt from a tipped plant or coffee grounds on the kitchen floor. Roomba Pro also comes with two "virtual wall" units that block doorways with an invisible beam, confining Roomba to a designated area. This model sells for $229.99.

The new merlot red Roomba Pro Elite offers the highest levels of convenience and flexibility ever available from iRobot. In addition to all the features of Roomba Pro, the Pro Elite model includes a remote control, called a Roomba Control, that lets users navigate the robotic vacuum around a room, set cleaning options and turn Roomba Pro Elite on or off with the touch of a button. This makes Roomba Pro Elite ideal for everyone, especially people with limited range of movement. The Roomba Pro Elite also features a "MAX" cleaning mode, for multi-room cleaning or high-traffic areas. This model includes a lightweight wall mount for easy storage and sells for $249.99.

"Roomba, Roomba Pro and Roomba Pro Elite allow people to cross vacuuming off their to-do lists and rest assured that their floors are swept clean," said Colin Angle, chief executive officer of iRobot. "Roomba works as well as or better than standard vacuums to get the job done right, while also giving you back precious time and energy."

Roomba Robotic FloorVacs are designed with features that make them intelligent, safe and easy to use. Standard features include one or two virtual walls, a cliff-avoidance detector that prevents Roomba from falling down stairs, and a non-marring bumper that protects walls and furniture from scuffing.

Roomba also features a self-adjusting cleaning head that adapts automatically and instantly when transitioning from different floor surfaces, such as from linoleum to carpet. Roomba uses a unique, three-stage cleaning system to clean as well as or better than standard vacuums. Roomba's two counter-rotating cleaning brushes sweep away larger particles, while a small, extremely efficient vacuum sucks up smaller particles. Additionally, Roomba uses a spinning side brush to push dirt from edges into the path of the main cleaning head. This allows Roomba to clean powerfully and thoroughly using less power than full-sized vacuums.

www.irobot.com