Posts Tagged ‘iRobot’

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MyRobots.com Launches It’s Robot App Store

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

At the time of this post, the MyRobots.com App Store has been live for just over 12 hours and is the first robot-specific App Store to list applications which are ready to buy!

MyRobots.com Robot App Store

MyRobots.com Robot App Store

The first available applications are intended for use with the iRobot Roomba Vacuums, one of the most widely used robots in the world. All six million Roombas (estimated number of Roombas in the “wild”) can now benefit from these applications which are intended to make full use of the onboard sensors and commands to transform the little cleaning robot in to a telepresence solution.

The Robot App Store is also open for roboticists and developers who would like create, submit and then sell their apps. Current apps are similar to the existing Android and iOS apps that need to be downloaded and installed into a device (a robot in this case). The MyRobots team is still working on creating and supporting apps that run in the cloud, but some hints on the site (such as the cloud icon in the top-right) lead to believe the functionality will be coming soon.

The MyRobots App Store uses RobotShop’s e-commerce platform to handle transactions but it is foreseeable that in the future, transactions will go trough the MyRobots site, giving users a more seamless experience.

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    Posted in Cloud Robotics, Domestic and Personal Robots | 1 Comment »

    iRobot Roomba 780 Now Available

    Friday, October 7th, 2011

    We are proud to announce that RobotShop is the first Canadian retailer to have the latest iRobot Roomba in stock and available for order. The iRobot Roomba 780 has many new features and is waiting for you to order it along with its many fellow robot vacuums.

    iRobot Roomba 780

    iRobot Roomba 780

    What’s new?

    This new robot is an update on the previous Roomba 500 Series and has several new features including:

    • Improved dirt detect technology that uses optical sensors in addition to the usual acoustic sensor.
    • Advanced cleaning head designed to be more efficient and robust.
    • Touch pad interface.
    • The dust bin now uses dual HEPA filters.
    • A soft touch bumper to protect delicate furniture from the robot bumping into it.
    • A light-up “Dust-bin full” indicator to know when to empty the robot.
    See the video below for more information about this awesome new little robot.

    Now that you know everything about the new iRobot Roomba 780, be sure to order one today.

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      Posted in Domestic and Personal Robots, Robot Vacuum | No Comments »

      iRobot 110, A Robot You Can Throw

      Monday, August 22nd, 2011

      iRobot has been working for some time now on an inexpensive (relatively speaking) military robot that would allow soldiers to explore hard-to-reach areas without risking their lives. You can see the results of their efforts in the video below, the iRobot 110 throwable robot.

      As shown in the video above, not only does the robot need to be rugged, it also needs to be light so it can be carried and thrown without requiring too much extra effort from the soldiers.

      Via Adafruit.

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        iRobot vs. RobotShop – Why Buy Robot Vacuums From RobotShop

        Tuesday, June 21st, 2011
        iRobot vs RobotShop

        Yup, that's right, 5 years.

        As a distributor, RobotShop has the unique advantage of being able to sell many different models and brands of Robot Vacuum Cleaners. Have you ever wondered why you should buy a robot vacuum specifically from RobotShop instead of from other companies, like, for example iRobot itself? There are many reasons.

        US Customers:

        Buying From iRobot Buying From RobotShop
        Models Offered • Roomba only • Roomba, Neato, Asus E-Clean, and Infinuvo Cleanmate available
        Warranty • 1-year exchange under warranty
        • Average turnaround time of 2-4 weeks or more for exchanges
        		 • 5-Year RobotShop Limited Lifetime Warranty
        • Seven day turnaround time for repairs and exchanges
        Service • Long response times over the phone and via their Support Center (customer feedback)
        		 • Very fast response times by phone and through Support Center
        Repairs • Not available; the only option is to purchase a new robot • Repairs on all types of robot vacuums
        Parts • Only modular parts available for 500, 600 and 700 series Roombas
        		 • Roomba parts available and in stock, parts for other brands coming soon
        Accessories • Available and in stock • Accessories for all brands of robots are available and in stock
        Add-ons • Not offered • Available and in stock
        Shipping Delay • Usually ships in 1-2 business days • Usually ships in 24 hours
        Shipping Cost & Other Fees • Shipping/applicable tax is extra, except for occasional promotions • Free shipping within North America for orders over 250$, no sales tax except in VT

        Canadian Customers:

        Buying From iRobot Buying From RobotShop
        Models Offered • Roomba only • Roomba, Neato, Asus E-Clean, and Infinuvo Cleanmate available
        Warranty • 1-year exchange under warranty
        • Average turnaround time of 2-4 weeks or more for exchanges
        		 • 5-Year RobotShop Limited Lifetime Warranty
        • Seven day turnaround time for repairs and exchanges
        Service • Long response times over the phone and via their support Center (customer feedback)
        		 • Very fast response times by phone and through Support Center
        Repairs • Not available; only option is to purchase a new robot • Repairs on all types of robot vacuums
        Parts • Only modular parts are available for 500, 600 and 700 series Roombas
        		 • Roomba parts available and in stock, part for other brands coming soon
        Accessories • Available and in stock • Accessories for all brands of robots are available and in stock
        Add-ons • Not offered • Available and in stock
        Shipping Delay • Usually ships in 1-2 business days • Ships the same day (if ordered before 3pm)
        Shipping Cost & Other Fees • Shipping (~16-70$) and international handling fees (~30-80$) are extra • Free shipping in North America for orders over 250$
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          AVA, iRobot Shows-Off Tablet-Controlled Robot at CES 2011

          Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

          iRobot unveiled AVA, their technology demonstrator, at CES 2011. AVA, which stands for “Avatar”, is an autonomous robot equipped with Primesense cameras (similar to the Kinect), laser range-finders, sonars, and even the old-fashioned bumpers.

          Although the computational-heavy sensor data processing and navigation is done internally by AVA’s on-board computer, the high-level control is left to whatever device is connected to its head.  In the video below, you can see AVA being controlled by an iPad.

          The future of AVA is uncertain, but it could be immediately useful for telepresence. Nevertheless, iRobot does not want to limit the public’s vision of the robot to a single application.

          Via BotJunkie.

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            Posted in Domestic and Personal Robots, Professional, Telepresence | No Comments »

            iRobot Unveils New Roomba 700 and Scooba 230

            Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

            iRobot unveiled their new generation of Roombas, Scoobas robotic vacuums and floor cleaners. They are smaller, sleeker and definitely cooler.

            iRobot Roomba 700 Series

            iRobot Roomba 780

            The new Roomba 700 series has several new features including:

            • Improved cleaning head which provides 20 percent better pickup of fine particulates.
            • A more powerful vacuum and the new AeroVac™ Series 2 bin pulls more hair and debris off the brushes and into the bin.
            • Two HEPA-type air filters keep fine dust inside the bin.
            • Improved Dirt Detect Series 2 system differentiates between types of debris in order to choose a more appropriate cleaning pattern.
            • Improved and enlarged set of cleaning patterns that provide a more thorough cleaning.
            • 50% longer battery life thanks to better power management.
            • Softer bumper with a new polymer coating protects walls and furniture.
            • “Full Bin” indicator light.
            • Touch sensor interface which means no more old-fashioned buttons!

            These features were extracted from the official iRobot press release and the changes promise significant improvement on an already proven and award-winning design. We are eager to put our hands on the new 700 series Roomba. As always they will be available in three versions: 760, 770, and 780 varying in features and price.

            The new Scooba 230 is equally impressive. It is much smaller than its predecessor but promises even better cleaning. The video below describes its main features and innovations.

            Via iRobot.

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              Posted in Domestic and Personal Robots | 1 Comment »

              Universal Robot Gripper From Balloon and Coffee

              Monday, November 1st, 2010

              iRobot and the University of Chicago released a video of their universal robotic gripper. This gripper that can conform to the shape of seemingly any object. Once it conforms to an object it uses vacuum to become rigid and grip it. This exploits the property of granular materials such as coffee to become rigid or fluid by applying pressure constraints. Basically, the flexible blue sphere is filled with a granular material (ground coffee) and can become solid when a vacuum is applied.

              This is remarkably simple technology, so expect DIYers to reproduce it in no time.

              Via Singularity Hub.

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                Posted in Prototypes | 1 Comment »

                RobotShop Launches the Ultimate Roomba Resource Center

                Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

                RobotShop is pleased to announce the launch of the Ultimate Roomba Resource Center, a webpage dedicated to all things Roomba.

                All brought together in one place, the Ultimate Roomba Resource Center has a little something for everyone, whether you’re a new customer looking to purchase your first Roomba, or already are a Roomba owner and looking to get the most out of your robot.

                A few points of interest:

                In the Roomba Article section you can find helpful information, like whether Roomba really works, pertinent details on robot vacuums, tips and tricks on maintenance and use, and which Roomba model would best fit your needs. In addition, a detailed Comparison Table has been included that breaks each model down for you, so you can choose the correct Roomba the first time.

                Buy Roomba Compare Robotic Vacuum Cleaners
                Roomba parts

                Looking for a particular Part and/or Accessory? We have both, whether it’s for your Roomba Discovery or 500 series robot. Even if you’re not a DIY kind of person, repair guides (with pictures) have been posted to help you through the removal and installation of commonly replaced parts.

                With plans to continually update this resource to make it the one stop for all things Roomba, check back regularly as we will be continually adding content. If you see something that is missing or that you would like to see, feel free to drop us a line on the RobotShop Forum or through the Support Center. It may already be in the works and due to be added soon.

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                  Posted in Domestic and Personal Robots, Robot Vacuum, RobotShop | No Comments »

                  iRobot Turns to the Heavens

                  Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

                  Roomba‘s manufacture, iRobot recently filed a patent for a new indoors navigation system. The system is called “Celestial Navigation System” and is intended to be used on domestic robots that work indoors.

                  iRobot Celestial Navigation System patent

                  iRobot Celestial Navigation System patent

                  This navigation system is intended to compete with the new generation of domestic cleaning roots such as the Neato XV-11 and the Evolution Robotics Mint. These robots can precisely navigate around the house, which allows them to clean systematically and efficiently. On the other hand, the Roomba uses the AWARE Robotic Intelligence system to navigate avoiding obstacles and cleaning in a pseudo random pattern.

                  Although iRobot had previously argued that their unstructured cleaning method is actually more effective than a systematic clean following efficient straight lines. They seem to be moving forward and embracing the new navigation technology. From the patent drawing we can infer the the navigation system will be rather similar to the one currently used by the Mint.

                  Via BotJunkie.

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                    Posted in Domestic and Personal Robots, Prototypes | 1 Comment »

                    CTC wins 46 million dollar contract

                    Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

                    Edward Sheehan

                    CTC (Concurrent Technologies Corporation) has won a contract worth 46 million dollars from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane (NSWC Crane) (United States).

                    The project aims to develop land robotics systems which will eventually be able to save the lives of American soldiers in combat.

                    The main focus of development will be the unmanned land robots.

                    The CTC team will work jointly with 14 other entities that have solid experience in robotics, such as irobot, Toycen Corporation and the Indiana University.

                    More information on the CTC site.

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