Reality Check | Ephraim Schwartz | InfoWorld | High tech or high drek? iRobot the first of many robotics products | February 19, 2008 12:02 PM

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High tech or high drek? iRobot the first of many robotics products

February 19, 2008 | Comments: (0)

High tech or high drek? iRobot the first of many robotics products

I’ve written about robotics before and my love of the technology so I decided this weekend to put my money where my mouth is and I bought the iRobot vacuum cleaner, Roomba.

When I wrote about Asimo, the high tech Honda robot that delivered drinks most readers basically said this is "high drek" [rubbish] and not worthy of our interest. I beg to disagree.

Is the Roomba more of the same? I don't think so.

And no, I didn’t get a freebie from the company and that is not why I’m sounding like an ad for the product when I say Roomba is a real piece of work, tremendous.

I paid $269 at Best Buy for Model 530 and I’m glad I did.

The vacuum cleaner stops itself at stairs and backs off, spirals around any area where it senses extra dirt, extends its nifty edge cleaning brush as it travels along a wall and when it is finished with a room or when it senses its rechargeable battery is running low, it makes its way back to its recharging docking station.

Pricier models can be programmed to clean on a schedule.

The capability of the Roomba really points to the fact that robotics is not taken seriously enough. Of course we have the Lexus and Toyota models that park themselves but why is that just about it? There are far too few robotic products out there?

Imagine if just a few companies or VCs invested their time, energy, enthusiasm and dollars in robotics as they do in high tech. If they did I think we would see some amazing things.

Anyone out there who knows of any unique robotic technologies under development please either put it in comments or send me an email.

Posted by Ephraim Schwartz on February 19, 2008 12:02 PM

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White Box Robotics has built a general purpose mobile robot called the 914 PC-BOT based on off-the-shelf computer parts. It is the first manufactured robot that leverages the "Open" architecture of the PC. Companies looking to develop mobile robotics solutions for healthcare, elderly assistance, inventory contol, security or monitoring to name a few will be able to do so by leveraging their or their customer's existing investments, knowledge and IT departments. Companies already know how to deploy, integrate, support and maintain computer systems. With some additional know-how, they'll be able to do the same with PC-BOTs. They already know how to add peripherals, sensors or other hardware and software to PC's for their initiatives, these just happen to be mobile PC's. This will hopefully increase their ROI for mobile robotics initiatives.

Posted by: Richard Lepack at February 20, 2008 06:54 PM

Woah, a bit pricey those White Box Robotics models. Do they do windows as well as floors? I'd love to have both the Roomba as well as the floor washing Scooba. I hate cleaning floors.

Posted by: ladygeek at February 22, 2008 02:41 PM

I have a Roomba and I love it. I work at home and I sit in my office just off of the living room and watch it as it makes its moves. After an hour I go and move some furniture around and then it gets those spots.

The only problem I have is that I have 3 cats and the Roomba picks up their fur beautifully. But then I have to cut it off the brush before I can use it again after charging.

Posted by: Charlene at March 1, 2008 06:13 AM

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