Will Robot Vacuum Cleaners Become The Norm?

Synopsis

Robot vacuum cleaners like the Neato Botvac 85 and iRobot's Roomba 880 showcase advancements in consumer robotics. The Neato Botvac 85, priced at $600, features improvements such as a rotating side brush, a larger dust filter, and what Neato claims is the most powerful suction in a robot vacuum cleaner to date. It can clean multiple rooms automatically, returning to its base for recharging. In tests, it effectively navigates around furniture and avoids stairs, performing well on pet hair and dirt. However, it struggles to fit under low furniture and can get tangled in floor rugs. The Roomba 880, costing $700, introduces the AI Robots Aeroforce cleaning system, which replaces traditional bristle brushes with counter-rotating rubber extractors, enhancing dirt removal and reducing maintenance needs. While both models outperform older robot vacuums, they still lack the suction power of full-size vacuum cleaners, making them better suited as cleaning assistants rather than replacements for traditional models.