Samsung takes on Roomba with its own robotic vacuum

Don't feel like cleaning? That's where robotics take over. The "creatures", like home automation, are a growing segment of today's tech market. After all, who wants to vacuum or get up to turn lights on or off? Yes, we're an increasingly lazy species.

Samsung is rolling out, so to speak, an automated vacuum cleaner to rival the long-standing king, Roomba. The company wanted to push the product out in time for the holiday shopping season, stating that customers need to get ready for, and clean up after, the parties. It states that "In fact, a recent survey found that almost one-third of consumers said they stress about cleaning the floors and rugs when they think about holiday entertaining".

The new device is called POWERbot Essential and it isn't the company's first foray into this market. It's actually a lower priced alternative to its big brother, the POWERbot. Samsung claims it offers ten times more cleaning power than its sibling and the device also touts an enhanced digital camera that maps your home so it can find its way around.

"Consumers are looking for effective shortcuts to help keep sanity intact during the holidays, and Samsung’s new POWERbot Essential is the ideal cleaning partner for homeowners who want to find the most convenient way to keep their floors clean without taking time away from other tasks", says John Herrington, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Home Appliances at Samsung Electronics America. "With POWERbot Essential, Samsung delivers yet another practical innovation to help solve consumers’ everyday cleaning concerns. Consumers can now look forward to less cleaning-related stress this holiday season by putting Samsung’s latest robot vac to work for them".

The device is available now for $699, which isn't cheap, but it does mean you can sit on the couch and witness your house being cleaned around you.