Purveyor of autonomous cleaning helpers and military hardware iRobot has announced the release of some new bots in the form of an updated Looj 330, which is designed to perform the unpleasant and potentially dangerous task of cleaning out gutters, and the entry-level Roomba 600 Series of indoor cleaning robots.
We first reported on the gutter-cleaning Looj back in 2007, but this new design brings fresh features and a more compact shape, which should increase the range of gutters it can operate within.
The Looj 330 packs a series of blades and brushes that spin at 500 RPM and is waterproof in up to 8 inches (20 cm) of water. The remote control now has an increased range of up to 50 feet (15 m) and its 7.2 V Lithium-ion battery should be good for approximately 200 linear feet (60 m) per charge, with a cleaning rate of around 30 feet of gutter for every five minutes of operation. iRobot says the Looj 330's new "Clean" mode allows the device to automatically sense and adapt to debris, in order to provide more effective cleaning.
Safely back down on ground-level, iRobot's Roomba range is supplemented by the new 600 Series, a compact range of bots which boast some features typically associated with the more expensive 700 Series. iRobot's patented three-stage cleaning system is designed to get to work on carpets, tile, laminate and hardwood floors in order to remove pet fur, hair, lint, and other such undesirables from your home.
Each of the Roomba 600 Series robots will vacuum up to 1,200 square feet per battery charge, avoiding stairs and other drops via a built-in a cliff sensor. When the battery begins to run low, the bot will return to its "Home Base" charging station for a timely top-up. The 650 model can be scheduled to clean up to seven times per week, while the “Virtual Wall” feature allows models 630 and up to ignore any particular areas you wish to remain un-vacuumed with a configurable invisible barrier.
The Looj 330 retails at US$299 and is available in the U.S. only, while the Roomba 600 Series starts at $330 and can be purchased globally.
More information and pricing details can be found on the source link below.
Source: iRobot