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Roomba is a robotic vacuum cleaner made and sold by iRobot. It is marketed as a Robotic Floorvac. The Roomba was released in 2002. In 2003, two new models were released, the Roomba Pro, and the Roomba Pro Elite. The original Roomba was also improved. In 2004, four new models were released, the Roomba Red, the Roomba Sage, the Roomba Discovery, and the Roomba Discovery SE. As of October 2004, over one million units have been sold, making it the most successful domestic robot so far.
The unit is a disc, thirteen inches (34 cm) in diameter and less than four inches (9 cm) high. A large contact-sensing bumper is mounted on the front half of the unit, with an infrared sensor at its top front center. First and second generation models needed to be told the size of the room via three room size buttons (Small, Medium, and Large), but this is no longer required with third generation models. A carrying handle is fitted on the top of the unit. Depending on the model, it comes with one or two "virtual wall" infrared transmitter units. The Roomba operates with internal nickel metal hydride batteries and requires being recharged regularly from a wall plug, although newer third generation models have a self-charging homebase they can automatically find. Charging on the homebase takes about three hours. The third generation Roomba Red can be charged on the homebase but the homebase does not come packaged with it. The Roomba Red comes packaged with a seven hour charger instead. First and second generation models came packaged with a twelve hour charger, although a three hour rapid charger could also be used with them. Using a third generation Roomba consists of carrying it by its handle to wherever the owner would like it to start, and pressing the "clean" button.
When the "clean" button is pressed, the Roomba beeps a few tones, then begins its work. A random walk algorithm is used which allows it to cover much of the floor without needing to map out its terrain. The contact bumper detects bumping into walls and furniture, and the virtual walls limit the Roomba to certain parts of the room. Four infrared sensors on the bottom of the unit prevent it from falling off ledges. Third generation models have an additional sound sensor that allows them to detect particularly dirty spots and focus on that area accordingly.
The net result is that the Roomba covers most of a floor regardless of room configuration. After a certain amount of time (third generation models automatically calculate the time and room size, first and second generation models must be told the room size), the Roomba stops and beeps a few triumphant notes. If a homebase is detected, a third generation Roomba will try to return to it. The owner then removes the dustbin from the unit's rear and empties it into a trash can. With the exception of the first generation Roomba, an infrared remote control can also be used to control the unit, which is useful for a disabled person. The remote cannot be used near the homebase or virtual wall units due to infrared interference from these devices.
The Roomba is not as effective as a traditional vacuum cleaner at deep cleaning, but it does a good job of picking up dust, lint, and carpet fuzz. It is low enough to go under a bed or other furniture. If at any time the unit senses that it has become stuck (on rug tassels, for example), it no longer senses the floor beneath it (it has been picked up), or it decides that it's worked its way into a narrow area from which it's unable to escape, it stops and beeps a mournful tone to help its owner find it.
The brushes on all Roomba models should be cleaned after every ten uses minimum. If the house where the Roomba is being used has large amounts of hair then the Roomba will need to be cleaned every five uses or less, depending on the amount of hair. Cleaning is much easier on third generation models then on first and second generation models which required the removal of a screw.
A word Roombable (or Roomba-friendly) has been coined for furniture that a Roomba can clean under.
See also: Robo Maxx, a similar product.
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