Great timing! My Roomba 577 died recently, and I ended up replacing it with a Dyson DC26. Things might have been different had these two new NaviBot S models been around. Both feature an on board camera plus 12 sensors for safety and dust detection — powered by two CPUs to intelligently map a room. The high-end model even has a two litre auto dust emptying station. Do want.
This docking/charging station first cleans the turbo brushes under the NaviBot, then sucks the dust out so the robot can go back on its merry way. I got to see the new models in action last week, and they’re noticeably quieter than my old Roomba. Now shrunk down to 80mm high (and 35cm wide), the NaviBots should be able to get underneath more couches and coffee tables.
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Two very, very slick machines that I could easily accommodate in my lazy busy lifestyle. The catch is you’ll be paying for the privilege. Existing NaviBot models are priced comparably to Roombas (around $500), but these new elite NaviBots have RRPs of $1099 (SR8950) and $1299 (SR8980; the model with the dust station).
If you were dragged out shopping last weekend, you’ve probably already seen them at the electronics retailer you go into while your partner hits up the clothes shops. [Samsung]
Visionary Mapping™ Plus System
The NaviBot S range creates a map of your house using an onboard camera and a suite of advanced sensors such as infra-red detection. The Visionary Mapping™ Plus System can capture images at 15 frames per second with the onboard camera, creating a map of your house and plotting what it determines to be the optimum route to achieve outstanding coverage. This system also creates a virtual map that assists the device in deciding a quick and safe route to take, and trying to avoid obstacles along the way.