First, you need to know what your needs are. Do you need just a simple unit to dust your hardwood floors? Or do you need something a little more complex (and pricey) that will do hard floors, transition to carpet, and have special features like scheduling, dirt sensors, and memory units? Price definitely factors in when taking different models under consideration and you should come up with a price range that is right for you and compare what features are available in that range from there.

Special features are all the rage and some of the ones available for robo vacuums are scheduling capabilities, remote controls, virtual walls to define where your vac will work, wall mounts, a self charging base, and specialized dirt detection sensors for optimal cleaning. The more of these you get, the more you will typically pay.

Different robot vacuums will vary in the time that they are able to clean a room or rooms on a fully charged battery. Some of the pricier models come with the ability to dock themselves for a recharge once they detect that their power is running low. This is a very convenient option and one many people are willing to pay a little extra for so that they can be just a little more “hands off” with their cleaning.

Something else to take into consideration is the type of flooring you’ll be cleaning. Robovacs work the best on hardwood floors, but many are more than capable when it comes to low-level carpeting and some can even handle the bushier stuff. This is another point of investigation for the informed consumer. How good are the sensors for the vacuum you want and what is it’s level of ability to transition between different surface types? Other types of sensors also include dirt and stair detection. You don’t want your robot vac missing spots in the room because it couldn’t detect that some parts of the floor were dirtier than others. You also don’t want your unit taking a tumble down the steps because it couldn’t tell they were there!

Another aspect of the robotic vacuum that is simple but very important is the dust bin. It’s important to get a unit with as big a dust bin as possible so you don’t have to empty it as often and you get more cleaning with less effort from you. You will have to empty the dustbin usually every time the robot works, but it’s much easier if you can empty it less per cleaning session. Maintenance on the robots are fairly easy, as all you have to do is empty the bin and check the brushes and filter regularly. But it is important to have replacement parts on hand and will save a lot of headache over the life of the unit if you don’t have to worry about where you are going to get parts so you can keep your robot vacuum up and running without a hitch.

Once you’ve gotten your first robotic vacuum, charge it up according to your instruction manual’s specifications. Then get your house ready to go by removing small objects and paper from the floor and removing any drapes, curtains, or cords that may be touching your carpet or floor so the vacuum doesn’t suck them up!

Enjoy your robot vacuum and take care of it and it will take care of you. You may even find that you want to get another one!

Well the easiest answer is right here on the good old internet. There are many companies that sell directly from the internet over their websites and then send the product directly to you. iRobot sells their models directly over their site as well as many other great models of cleaning robots for the home. Heck we even have a store right here on our website you can browse around in.

You can also investigate further on Amazon’s website. They sell iRobot models along with some of the other up and coming name brands like P3, iTouchless, and Infinuvo. It’s not a bad idea to compare pricing and reviews on these sites so that you can shop for your robotic vacuum cleaner as an informed consumer. It will also give you a better idea of how much you are willing to pay and what the warranties and coverage for the products are able to cover so you can protect your purchase.

Don’t get hung up on one or two bad reviews when there are a hundred positive ones. There are always some customers who have bad experiences with any product and as long as you are covered under a warranty, you will most likely have a positive experience over the long term when you finally choose a robovac.

Another option is to go out to a store and try to see if there’s a robot vac that you would like to pick up in person and take home the same day.

The Sharper Image is a store that is common in many large shopping malls that carries the iRobot brand of robotic vacuums and would be an excellent place to browse for many other high tech unconventional devices that can be used to enhance every day tasks.

If you happen to have a discount shopper’s membership to a club such as Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s, then you are in luck. All three chains carry the Roomba and some occasionally carry other brands.

In any instance, do your due diligence and your homework when you are investigating what brand of robovac you want. Then do the same when it comes to how you want to purchase your machine. Many times it is easier to just order it on the internet and have it shipped to you. But if you live close to a place that sells robot vacuums then you may just want to drive down the street and pick one up to help you clean your home that day.

1. You will save time.

You may have to tweak a little bit to see how your robovac moves around the rooms in your house, but once you have your system down it will save you a lot of time over the long haul. Imagine not having to worry about cleaning your floors because the robot does it for you. You will be able to get more cleaning done at one time. While the little robovac is vacuuming up for you, you can be doing other chores that require you to be there. At least until they develop robots to do those too! Less vacuuming means more time to go get groceries, visit friends, or enjoy your life.

2. You will be able to clean less.

Whether you clean a lot or a little, your robovac will be just what the doctor ordered. If you clean every weekend, it can act as a buffer to keep your floors cleaner throughout the week. If you are more of a monthly cleaning person, you can take the guesswork out of how dirty your place will be when you do finally get around to it. And if you never clean, let’s just say you definitely need one.

3. It’s affordable.

More money will get you more features, smoke and mirrors, bells and whistles of course. But with perfectly capable models starting at under $50 retail, there really isn’t any excuse about the price for not picking up a good robot vacuum cleaner.

4. They are low maintenance.

Robovacs can be set by you to clean designated areas in your home at designated times. Certain models can clean until they detect their battery is low and then return to their charging station until they are ready to start again. The dirt bins are typically easy to remove, empty, and replace. Once you have their routine in place, it’s as close to a set it and forget household chore as you can get.

With all these benefits and really no disadvantages to speak of, any homeowner, slob, or neat freak would be serving their best interests to pick up a robotic vacuum. And for the truly tech crowd, there are also models of robot floor washers as well. But that is another article.

The iRobot Corporation was founded in 1990 by roboticists from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). The company’s specialty is the development of robots that assist people in the easy completion of everyday tasks. iRobot’s creations can maneuver and navigate in complex and dynamic environments and are powered by the trademarked AWARE Robot Intelligence System developed by the company. The iRobot Roomba Vacuuming Robots have sold more than 3 million units worldwide, which easily makes it the best selling consumer-grade robot in history. iRobot also works with a wide range of military and civilian customers as well, with their tactical line of mobile robots having sold more than 2000 units for special use in missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The robots have performed numerous missions and have no doubt saved the lives of many soldiers.

The Beginning

iRobot was founded in 1990 by Colin Angle, Helen Greiner and Rodney Brooks. The very next year, the company launched its first robot known as Genghis. Genghis was designed and intended for extraterrestrial exploration uses.

Innovation to Save Lives

In 1996, Ariel was developed for the detection and elimination of mines in surf zones. Ariel was capable of scrambling over obstacles while still remaining in an upright position due to the design of it’s innovative crab-like legs.

1998 saw the award of a big DARPA contract for iRobot. They were contracted to develop the tactical mobile robot program. This program eventually resulted in the development of the iRobot PackBot. In 2001 after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the PackBot was used to search the rubble and ruins of the World Trade Center in New York City. Further use by the military placed the PackBot in Afghanistan to search caves for ammunition and hostile forces.

Making History & The Advent of the Robotic Vacuum

2002 brought two big milestones for the company: First a robot was designed to search the Great Pyramids of Egypt, an even that is televised live around the world. Second, the Roomba Vacuuming Robot is billed as the first practical and economically available robot for the home.

In 2004 iRobot signed more military contracts, released advanced versions of the Roomba with new features such as Dirt Detect and a self-charging battery dock known as Home Base, and witnessed history as the sales of Roomba units surpass 1 million sold.

A year later, a cleaning companion to the Roomba was released. The new unit, called the Scooba, was the world’s first floor washing robot for the home. Six months later, the company begins trading publicly on the NASDAQ under the symbol “IRBT.”

2006 brought more growth for the company. Home robot sales surpassed 2 millions units in May. In September, the company released a workshop robot for garages, basements, and workbench areas. The new unit was called the Dirt Dog.

The Future

In January 2007, iRobot released the Create programmable robot. This was a design meant for aspiring robot engineers, students, and developers. This opened the door for future development, innovation, and improvements for robots and their use by people in everyday life.

The same year the Verro was released to the delight of many pool owners, as it is a pool cleaning robot. Worldwide deliveries of the PackBot surpassed 1,000 units as well. The Roomba was further developed as well and sales continued to improve. The Looj Gutter Cleaning robot was developed to make a tedious household cleaning job safer for homeowners.

Another level of robot artistry was developed at the same time called the ConnectR Virtual Visiting Robot. It allows individuals who are living at a great distance, working late, or just not able to be somewhere in person to virtually visit with family, friends, and pets if they so choose.

PackBot units surpassed 2,000 units delivered in 2008 and the company continues to grow and prosper. With such a rich history and great reputation, iRobot looks to be the perennial powerhouse of consumer robot sales for years to come.

Source: iRobot Corporation: Our History

http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=203

There are many great brands of robot vacuum available through a varied price range that makes the product available for just about any consumer that wants one. Most vacuums will perform admirably in comparison with their standup counterparts, can detect the size and borders of a room, and can even go underneath most furniture where standups cannot completely clean. Not to mention that in addition to a good battery life, many robo-vacs will return themselves to their charging stations when battery power is low. The most popular robovac in the United States is probably the Roomba Red which retails at around $150.

Robo vacuums work by using a small computer chip or microprocessor as the “brain” of the machine. They have many infrared sensors that feed information to the microprocessor to allow for adjustments on the fly. As the vacuum maneuvers around the room, the sensors send out infrared beams that are returned to the vacuum and measured to give an accurate distance that will map out the room and tell the microprocessor where and how to move the vacuum for the most efficiency. There are even “cliff” sensors that prevent the machine from falling down stairs as the space is judged when the infrared beam does not return to the sensor.

There are also object sensors that are tripped when something hits into the bumper of the vacuum. This tells it where furniture and other obstacles are and provides the best way for it to navigate around the room. Other navigation features, also using infrared are able to let the robot vacuum clean closely alongside walls and works with other sensors to stay within the boundaries of a room or area the owner designates.

Cleaning power with a robovac is comparable with a standup model. The robotic version has dirt sensors to allow it to know which areas to clean more thoroughly and it has a brush, motor, and agitator like a standard vac. The dirt tray typically needs to be emptied once per room though it can vary based on how dirty your floors are.

The robotic vacuum is a great option to fit anyone’s cleaning needs and especially for homeowners who would like to relieve themselves of a bit of household work via automation.