iRobot announces Roomba 980 Internet-connected vacuum cleaning robot

Having a clean home can be a great feeling. Sadly, many people are working long hours nowadays and have far less time for cleaning. In other words, you can't fault someone for being too tired to clean.

If you fall into the camp of being too tired or busy to stay on top of cleaning, robots may be able to help. When you think of cleaning and robotics, the name "Roomba" probably comes to mind. iRobot's vacuum robot is wildly popular and is cemented into popular culture. Today, however, the company brings the vacuum to the Internet of Things, Yes, the all-new consumer-focused Roomba 980 is internet-connected and app-controlled.

"By combining iRobot’s iAdapt Responsive Cleaning Technology with new sensors, the Roomba 980 vacuum cleaning robot independently cleans an entire floor level in a home. With Roomba 980, iRobot is implementing its proprietary visual simultaneous localization and mapping (vSLAM) technology for the first time in a consumer product. This groundbreaking technology is part of iRobot's new iAdapt 2.0 Navigation with Visual Localization, which allows Roomba 980 to build a map of its environment as it cleans, keeping track of its location until it has cleaned an entire level", says iRobot.

The company further explains, "using the map, Roomba 980 will run continuously for up to two hours, then automatically return to its Home Base to recharge and resume until the cleaning is done. Roomba 980 will clean efficiently in open areas by moving in parallel lines while also taking advantage of the robot’s suite of sensors to adapt its pattern when necessary, seamlessly navigating under furniture and around clutter".

Essentially, iRobot has mounted a camera on the top of Roomba 980. As it moves, it constantly maps your home so that it can be more efficient. It works similarly to the company's laser-mapping commercial robots, but at a fraction of the cost.

While the new sensors and camera are super-cool, the star of the show is Internet-connectivity. Roomba 980 connects to your home Wi-Fi and is controlled by either an iOS or Android "Home" app. This allows the consumer to more easily schedule cleanings and interact with Roomba. It will also control other as-of-yet unannounced robots too.

The Roomba 980 features 10-times the suction power for double the cleaning performance with a new technology that iRobot calls "AeroForce". It will ramp up suction based on the surface -- more power for carpet, as opposed to a hardwood floor. Very cool.

The app will let you track its progress and manually start cleanings too -- all from your home or while away. You can even assign it a name to better build a relationship with Roomba. Yes, relationship-building with the robot matters, as it enhances the overall experience. Isn't it more fun to call it "Steve" or "Lilly"?

You can buy the Roomba 980 starting tomorrow for $899. Sadly, it is only available in one color -- brown. iRobot calls this color "dusk", however. Hopefully more colors are made available in the future.

Do you currently own a Roomba? Will you buy the 980? Tell me in the comments.