Any new domestic robots on the horizon?

boofy · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 11

Just wondering, has anyone heard of any new Roomba/Scooba/Dirt Dog models about to be released? Any scuttlebutt? I am interested in buying one of each (570 or 580 Roomba), but getting tired of purchasing products 2 weeks before the new model is announced. :cry:

nine · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 80

I haven't heard anything. But if you need a robot to kill people or control crowds, I think iRobot is going to have a lot of new options for ya. :roll: :D

boofy · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 11

Yeah, I was kinda figuring that most of their R&D might be in the tactical arena these days.

nine · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 80

Definitely seems like it. I may not agree with that kind of stuff on principle, but in terms of business, they have to strike while the iron's hot. And based on the Looj, I think maybe their next bot will be something wonderfully useless like a bathtub or sink cleaner. :lol:

debugger · Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 720 Location: UK - Glasgow

nine wrote: I think maybe their next bot will be something wonderfully useless like a bathtub or sink cleaner. :lol:

That actually don't seem so crazy to me, better get my order in quick :D

pbeaudet · Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 6

or a fish tank cleaner.....

sys12345 · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 139 Location: Singapore

http://robotstocknews.blogspot.com/2008/06/irobot-roomba-professional-new-line-of.html

Metropolis · Joined: 02 Jun 2008 Posts: 5

I know they are not iRobot products but have you checked these sites for other domestic robots?

http://www.botmag.com/

http://www.domesro.com/

http://www.robots-dreams.com/

http://www.robotster.org/

nine · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 80

sys12345 wrote: http://robotstocknews.blogspot.com/2008/06/irobot-roomba-professional-new-line-of.html

Well, that writeup nailed it. iRobot just has to be TRYING to fail at this point. I mean, throwing some paw graphics and putting a different brush into a Roomba doesn't come close to making it "Professional". Yawn.

Did they lose someone really integral a couple of years ago? Like, a founder or some kind of visionary type that kept the ship moving in the right direction? That's what it seems like to me. They have no focus. No drive to innovate.

:cry:

Bocks · Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 30 Location: Nebraska

nine wrote: sys12345 wrote: http://robotstocknews.blogspot.com/2008/06/irobot-roomba-professional-new-line-of.html

Well, that writeup nailed it. iRobot just has to be TRYING to fail at this point. I mean, throwing some paw graphics and putting a different brush into a Roomba doesn't come close to making it "Professional". Yawn.

Did they lose someone really integral a couple of years ago? Like, a founder or some kind of visionary type that kept the ship moving in the right direction? That's what it seems like to me. They have no focus. No drive to innovate.

:cry:

Lets hope that these pet hair brushes are compatable with the current 500 series bots. I would also hope that the new dustbin is compatable as well.
I dont want to have to ditch my current bots because the parts that do what I need wont fit!!!!

Any word on a Dirt Dog off of the 500 series platform?

richnorto · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 256

nine wrote: sys12345 wrote: http://robotstocknews.blogspot.com/2008/06/irobot-roomba-professional-new-line-of.html

Well, that writeup nailed it. iRobot just has to be TRYING to fail at this point. I mean, throwing some paw graphics and putting a different brush into a Roomba doesn't come close to making it "Professional". Yawn.

Did they lose someone really integral a couple of years ago? Like, a founder or some kind of visionary type that kept the ship moving in the right direction? That's what it seems like to me. They have no focus. No drive to innovate.

:cry:
Totally agree! Not a big improvement and not a new product I'm dying to buy! Give me something new I can use that will improve my life! Give me stair bots/little bots for smaller places. Come up with something different and new that doesn't involve a lot of my involvement! The inventor sold the company and they haven't done much with the line since! You need new scientists or new management! I need new bots! I'm covered up in roombas and scoobas - I need something else!!! Looj is not it!

minimin · Joined: 17 May 2008 Posts: 17

nine wrote: sys12345 wrote: http://robotstocknews.blogspot.com/2008/06/irobot-roomba-professional-new-line-of.html

Well, that writeup nailed it. iRobot just has to be TRYING to fail at this point. I mean, throwing some paw graphics and putting a different brush into a Roomba doesn't come close to making it "Professional". Yawn.

Did they lose someone really integral a couple of years ago? Like, a founder or some kind of visionary type that kept the ship moving in the right direction? That's what it seems like to me. They have no focus. No drive to innovate.

:cry:

Yes they did. He went and started his own company and took $300 million orders for the US army.

nine · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 80

minimin wrote: Yes they did. He went and started his own company and took $300 million orders for the US army.

I think you're thinking about someone else. An employee that stole a bunch of stuff, got a huge military contract with a big backer and was subsequently taken down by iRobot.

From what I can tell according to the almighty Wikipedia, the three founders of iRobot still work there.