New iRobot® Roomba® i7+ Robot Vacuum Learns a Home’s Floor Plan and Empties Itself

iRobot Brings Memory and Hands-Free Cleaning to Roomba® i7+ with Clean Base™ Automatic Dirt Disposal

BEDFORD, Mass.Sept. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Imagine a robot vacuum that not only remembers a home’s floor plan and cleans specific rooms by name – but also automatically empties itself. iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT), the leader in consumer robots, today announced the Roomba® i7+ robot vacuum with Clean Base™ Automatic Dirt Disposal. The Roomba i7+ brings a new level of intelligence and automation to robotic vacuum cleaners with the ability to learn, map and adapt to a home’s floor plan. Introducing Imprint™ Smart Mapping, the Roomba i7+ remembers multiple floor plans and room names so users can customize cleaning jobs and direct the robot to clean specific rooms by voice1 or via the iRobot HOME App. When the Roomba i7+ robot vacuum is finished cleaning, it empties its own dust bin into the Clean Base™, which holds 30 bins of dirt, allowing customers to forget about vacuuming for weeks at a time.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8234051-irobot-roomba-i7-plus/

„With the ability to learn, adapt to and remember a home’s floor plan, and the introduction of automatic dirt disposal, the iRobot Roomba i7+ represents the most advanced robotic vacuum ever built,“ said Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot. „This robot delivers on the original vision we had when we embarked on the journey to build a vacuuming robot almost 20 years ago.“

Knows your home’s floor plan. Understands your command.
Ushering in a new era of consumer robots, the Roomba i7+ allows customers to clean specific rooms in the home. Using Imprint™ Smart Mapping, the Roomba i7+ gets to know the home’s floor plan, giving customers total control to choose which rooms are cleaned and when. The robot learns every room – remembering up to 10 different floor plans – so users can carry their robot to another floor or a separate home, where the robot will recognize its location and clean as instructed. iRobot’s patented iAdapt® 3.0 Navigation with vSLAM® technology helps the Roomba i7+ seamlessly and efficiently navigate the home by keeping track of where it’s been and where it has yet to clean. The Roomba i7+ also adapts to changing home environments, so it always knows the best way to clean.

The Roomba i7+ works with Alexa™ enabled devices and the Google Assistant, and is the only robot vacuum that lets users clean specific rooms by name with a voice command1. For example, just say, „Alexa, ask Roomba to clean my kitchen,“ or „Hey Google, clean the living room,“ and the Roomba i7+ will efficiently find its way to the appropriate room to clean. Once finished, the robot will return to its base to charge and automatically empty its contents when paired with the Clean Base™ Automatic Dirt Disposal.

Empties on its own.
The iRobot Roomba® i7+ robot vacuum takes convenience to a whole new level with the first-of-its-kind Clean Base™ Automatic Dirt Disposal, which automatically empties the contents of the Roomba i7+ dust bin into the Clean Base. Doubling as the robot’s charging station, the Clean Base takes the dirty work out of vacuuming, storing debris in an enclosed bag, and trapping dirt and dust so it can’t escape into the air. When the bag is full, the user is notified via the iRobot HOME App. Then they simply pull it out of the Clean Base and replace with a new one. The bag can hold 30 bins of debris, so users don’t have to think about vacuuming for weeks at a time.

„iRobot is addressing a long-standing customer call by giving Roomba the ability to empty its own bin after each cleaning,“ said Christian Cerda, COO of iRobot. „This enhances the customer experience by eliminating the dusty and dirty mess often associated with emptying vacuum canisters. With the ability to remember the home, clean specific rooms and empty itself when its finished, the Roomba i7+ with Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal quite literally frees customers from every aspect of vacuuming – from start to finish – for weeks at a time.“

Introducing the Roomba® e5 Robot Vacuum.
iRobot also introduced the Roomba® e5 robot vacuum. Starting at $449, customers can enjoy the luxury of automated cleaning at a more accessible price. The Roomba® e5 is packed with innovative technologies that work together for a clean home every day. It starts with the premium 3-Stage Cleaning System and Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes. The specially designed Edge-Sweeping Brush focuses on dirt that accumulates around edges and corners. Smart navigation and Dirt Detect™ technology work together to cover a floor and focus on the areas that need it most. And because it’s Wi-Fi® connected, users can control and schedule cleanings on the Roomba e5 with the iRobot HOME App, or using their voice when paired with Alexa™ enabled devices or the Google Assistant.

Powerful performance, intelligent clean.
iRobot is the only leading robot vacuum brand with robots that have two Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes that work together to effectively clean both carpets and hard floors2. The Roomba i7+ and Roomba e5 robots will automatically adjust the height of the cleaning head so the two brushes can directly engage with the floor. One brush loosens and agitates dirt and the other moves in the opposite direction to extract and pull dirt in. And instead of bristles, which can bend and miss dirt, the flexible rubber brushes hug the floor to clean everything from small particles, like dust and dirt, to hair and large debris.

Featuring a low-profile design to clean under furniture and along toe kicks, the Roomba i7+ and Roomba e5 robots use a High-Efficiency Filter to capture 99 percent of pollen, mold, dust mites, and cat and dog allergens.

Leveraging Dirt Detect™ Technology – an iRobot patented feature – the Roomba i7+ and Roomba e5 robots are always looking for the places that need the most attention. Sensors in the robot recognize particularly dirty areas, such as sand near a doorway entrance, and prompt the robot to clean them more thoroughly. Once the Roomba i7+ robot is finished cleaning, users can view Clean Map™ reports in the iRobot HOME App to see where the robot cleaned and other details3.

Pricing and Availability
The Roomba i7+ robot vacuum with Clean Base™ Automatic Dirt Disposal is available for pre-sale immediately in the U.S. and Canada starting at $949 USD on www.irobot.com, with shipments beginning Wednesday, September 12. The Roomba i7+ will be available at select retailers beginning in October. The Roomba i7 robot vacuum can also be purchased without the Clean Base™ starting at $699 USD on www.irobot.com. The Clean Base™ Automatic Dirt Disposal sold separately will retail for $299 USD. Additional Dirt Disposal Bags can be purchased for $14.99 for a pack of three bags. The Roomba i7+ with Clean Base™ Automatic Dirt Disposal is expected to be available in certain international markets in Q1 2019.

The Roomba e5 robot vacuum starts at $449 USD and will be available on www.irobot.com in the U.S. and Canada beginning Wednesday, September 12.

iRobot Takes Next Step in the Connected Home with Clean Map™ Reports and Amazon Alexa Integration

Tell Roomba® vacuuming robot to clean via Amazon Alexa™, then learn more about the cleaning job in the iRobot HOME App

BEDFORD, Mass., March 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader in consumer home robotics, today announced updates to the iRobot HOME App that expand the value of connected Roomba vacuuming robots within the smart home. New Clean Map reports provide visual post-cleaning maps that display information about the robot’s cleaning performance, such as the dirtiest floor areas and total space cleaned, while the integration of Amazon Alexa™ voice activated control will make communicating with a Roomba vacuuming robot a breeze.

„iRobot is aggressively pursuing opportunities within the connected home to improve our customers‘ experience with our cleaning robots,“ said Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot. „The latest updates for the iRobot HOME App make cleaning with an iRobot Roomba vacuuming robot even more user friendly, with voice-activated commands, enhanced mapping features and useful post-cleaning reports. These are exciting next steps towards our vision of an ecosystem of home robots that work collaboratively and further enable the smart home.“

Combining adaptive navigation with visual localization, iRobot Roomba 900 Series vacuuming robots build a map of a home as they clean. Clean Map reports make these maps visible to customers in the iRobot HOME App after a cleaning job is complete, showing total area and duration a Roomba® 900 Series vacuum cleaned — for up to 30 cleaning jobs.  Leveraging Dirt Detect™ – an iRobot patented feature only found on Roomba vacuuming robots – Clean Map reports also provide users with information about where the robot encounters higher concentrations of dirt or debris, providing a more focused cleaning in those areas. With the addition of Clean Map reports, users can now have greater confidence in knowing the vacuuming is complete.

Clean Map reports can be viewed in the History tab of the iRobot HOME App. Once the map is opened, users can manipulate the map on the screen with their fingers, zooming and panning from room-to-room to see where Dirt Detect™ events occurred. The update to the iRobot HOME App also includes push notifications that will alert users on job status, including when the robot is finished cleaning.

With Amazon Alexa™, customers can start, stop and pause Roomba cleaning jobs with simple voice activated commands (e.g. „Alexa, ask Roomba to begin cleaning.“). The Alexa™ skill for Roomba vacuuming robots will be available to U.S. customers in Q2 2017 and is compatible with any connected Roomba vacuum, such as the Roomba 900 Series.

Available for Android and iOS devices, the iRobot HOME App gives users more control over their connected cleaning products, such as the Roomba 900 Series Vacuum Cleaners and Braava jet® Mopping Robot, with customized cleaning preferences, information about cleaning jobs, customized maintenance tips and direct access to customer support.

Availability

The latest update for iRobot HOME App is available for download beginning today worldwide for iOS and Android users. The Amazon Alexa skill for connected iRobot Roomba vacuums will be available to U.S. customers in Q2 2017.

Photos, videos and background can be found at: http://media.irobot.com/

Please join iRobot on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

About iRobot Corp.

iRobot designs and builds robots that empower people to do more. The company’s home robots help people find smarter ways to clean and accomplish more in their daily lives. iRobot’s portfolio of solutions feature proprietary technologies for the connected home and advanced concepts in navigation, mobility, manipulation and artificial intelligence. For more information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com.

For iRobot Investors

Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to iRobot Corporation’s expectations concerning management’s plans, objectives and strategies. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. iRobot undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iRobot, see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

UBTECH unveils Amazon Alexa-powered Lynx robot, Jimu Karbot for kids and more at CES 2017

Ubtech Robotics has introduced its latest selection of cutesy robots at CES 2017 in Las Vegas. The upcoming range includes several new buildable and programmable Jimu bots for children, a cloud-based assistant designed for commercial use, and the Lynx – a humanoid robot that utilises Amazon’s increasingly prolific Alexa AI voice service.

Lynx.jpg

The Lynx is by far the most intriguing of the robo-quartet, as it combines design and tech aspects of the Chinese manufacturer’s popular Alpha series with the voice-recognition features of Amazon’s Alexa AI.

Ubtech described the Lynx as in „in-home companion“, talking up the robot’s multitude of features, such as facial recognition and personalised greetings, playing music, livestream feeds of your home while you are away, event reminders and calendar notifications and, thanks to Alexa, being able to order Prime products directly from Amazon via simple voice commands.

„Lynx combines unprecedented intelligence and robotics into one consumer-friendly platform,“ said John Rhee, Ubtech’s US general manager. „Integrating with Amazon’s Alexa Voice Service is a perfect match for Lynx’s unparalleled facial, image and voice recognition, emotion detection and lifelike robotic movement, seamlessly woven together for a truly humanlike experience.“

Elsewhere, the company’s Jimu robots enjoyed two new additions in the Karbot and LionBot, as the company looks to expand its range of build-your-own robots which give kids a basic introduction to coding. The Karbot in particular should turn a few young heads, with Ubtech banking on the killer combo of robots and cars for „kids and teens on wheels“.

Each set includes buildable parts and robo-components for up to three Karbot creations that can then be programmed via an iOS and Android smartphone app. As well as in-app joystick controls, the Kartbot can move along track lines, all while detecting, and avoiding, obstacles.

Ubtech’s other Jimu robot, the LionBot, was designed in collaboration with Apple, and is aimed at youngsters looking to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a robo-version of the „iconic symbol of good fortune.“

Finally, the Cruzr is Ubtech’s take on a business-grade robotic companion, presinting a „cloud-based intelligent humanoid robot that provides AI business services with user-friendly, human-like interaction“.

 

Ubtech Robotics has quickly garnered a reputation for producing high quality humanoid robots with a friendly demeanour. As well as having its Alpha 2 and Jimu range named among the CES 2017 Innovation Awards Honorees, the company also hit the headlines thanks to its partnership with Premier League football team Manchester City and an iPhone 7 launch-day queue, where real-life customers took a load off and swapped their place in line with an Alpha avatar.

Each of Ubtech’s robots are heading to market sometime in 2017, although UK pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed.

Neato Botvac™ Connected Now Works with Amazon Alexa

Neato extends leadership in the smart home, control your Botvac Connected through Alexa

 Newark, CA—November 22, 2016—Neato Robotics, leaders in smart robots for the home, today announced the award-winning Neato Botvac™ Connected is the first Neato robot vacuum that can be controlled via the Alexa voice service using devices like the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot.

amazon-alexa

“Neato’s innovation is a huge leap forward for the smart home. Alexa-enabled Botvac Connected advances Neato’s vision of SmartLife™ —where using the latest technology to make your life easier is the clear path to smart living,” said Giacomo Marini, Chairman and CEO of Neato Robotics.

The smart home is quickly catching on with consumers as many see the convenience of an intelligent connected device through which they can manage their home. For example, Alexa is able to assist users with everything from turning off lights to ordering a pizza. With the Neato Botvac Connected integration, Alexa can now voice-control the Neato robot vacuum. All it takes is a simple voice command – ‘Alexa, ask Neato to start cleaning’ – and it’s done. Doing simple tasks is just the first step.

The possibilities are endless. Today, if the Neato Botvac Connected is already vacuuming your floors, and you get a phone call, just say ‘Alexa, ask Neato to pause cleaning’—and give a resume cleaning command once you are off the phone.  The combination of Neato and Alexa means you can keep doing what you are doing and voice command your Botvac Connected at the same time so it fits into your SmartLife.

 About Neato Botvac Connected

Neato’s first official collaboration with Amazon Alexa is now available. The Botvac Connected robot vacuum, which can be controlled via Alexa voice service, is the most powerful Neato robot to date. To take advantage of this new Alexa skill, launch the Alexa app on your smartphone and select Smart Home from the left hand navigation menu, Get More Smart Home Skills and search for ‘Neato’. A Neato Botvac Connected is required, as well as an Alexa-enabled device such as an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot.

Neato Botvac Connected includes the company’s patented Neato LaserSmart™ technology that combines laser scanning, continuous room mapping and real time object detection to plan the most efficient course to clean a home. This means Neato alters its navigation instantly when a new obstacle enters its path. Intelligent navigation, even in the dark, as it moves room to room, and knows when to return to its base for recharging — and then automatically goes back to where it left off to finish the job. The Neato robots’ iconic D-shape design and CornerClever™ technology allows it to get close to walls and deep into corners. With one of the largest brushes and dirt bins on the market, Neato covers more square footage and picks up more debris than any other robot vacuum.

Availability

All existing and new Botvac Connected customers will have access to the Amazon Alexa skill today in the US and in the coming weeks in the UK and later this year in Germany.

About Neato

Neato Robotics designs robots for the home to improve consumers’ lives, allowing them to spend less time doing household chores and more time on the things they love. Neato SmartLife™ is about the intersection of humans and robots in today’s digital world enabling consumers to get back the most valuable thing that exists: more time. Neato drives innovation with intelligent laser navigation, smart home connectivity, and superior cleaning technologies. For more information, visit: www.neatorobotics.com.