Robot vacuum cleaners are considered to be the future in vacuum cleaning technology. Through these robotic devices, daily cleaning chores in private homes or workplaces no longer have to be very energy-draining and time consuming.
Are Robotic Vacuums Read To Take Over The Cleaning Industry?
Manufacturers like Electrolux, iRobot, and Hitachi, predict that in the near future, robot vacuums, or “robovacs”, will already be as popular and widely-used as microwave ovens. Roomba, the robovac manufactured and distributed by the American company, iRobot, was first made available to the public in 2002. As of January of 2008, more than 2.5 million units of Roomba had already been sold. This housecleaning robot was developed in the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It was originally designed to do vacuum work in one’s living room while one is otherwise preoccupied with work. Aside from being a technological wonder, what makes this device impressive is the fact that it is priced for mass market at $199.
Roomba is not the only robotic vacuum cleaner in the market. German manufacturer, Alfred Karcher, also has its RoboCleaner, which comes with a $1,300 price tag. It vacuums by taking a random walk around the room. At the same time, it senses obstacles and walls through touch-sensitive bumpers. It is designed to monitor incoming streams of dirt and will focus its vacuuming work on especially dirty and dusty spots. The manufacturer of RoboCleaner claims that it is capable of working for weeks without being reprogrammed or supervised.
Electrolux’s Trilobite is also gaining popularity in Europe. With a price tag of $1,700, the Trilobite navigates a room by using ultrasound. As it cleans, it is able to produce an internal map of the room and it automatically recharges as soon as its power runs out. Japan’s famed electronics company, Hitachi, is also on the verge of launching its one robovac in Japan. It is apparently equipped with light and heat sensors to detect obstacles and to prevent it from being stuck.
The increasing popularity of robovacs can be attributed to the fact that aside from being very easy to use, they are relatively affordable. The Roomba of iRobot and Cleanmate of Infinuvo come with price tags that are generally less than $450. Their compact designs also allow them to reach and vacuum places that are normally not reached by regular vacuum cleaners, like the spaces under furniture. With all these advantages, it is safe to say that robot vacuum cleaners have truly changed the way cleaning should be.
