iRobot to launch two non-killbots for the holidays

While most other manufacturers claim to make our lives easier by offering a slightly-improved this or an all-in-one that, iRobot is actually down there in the trenches (both literally and figuratively, with those killbots and all) observing the average Joe, and serving up products that help eliminate some of our most mundane tasks without resorting to hired help. So it's with no small amount of anticipation that we'll be waiting for the company's just-revealed, Holiday-time products, though the details released by co-founder and chairwoman Helen Grenier at the JPMorgan Technology Conference couldn't have been more sparse: besides the fact that both models are most emphatically not floor-cleaning bots, all she would say is that they are "different types of robots with mechanical features," according to Crave. Helpful. With such a vague idea of what to expect, the hunt is now on for these mysterious new automated domestic servants; we've got flooring, carpets, pools, and garages covered, so all that's really left is a windowbot, a laundrybot, and most ambitious of all, Doomba, the no-nonsense, child-rearing nannybot.

[Taz @ May 21st 2007 2:40PM]

If they could come up with some sort of Ironba and a Dustba - I'd be all over them... the two things I hate most are ironing and dusting. God only knows how something like that would work tho.
Dustba would need to be some sort of mechanical spider that can crawl up walls, over shelves, etc... :)

[Xen Wildman @ May 21st 2007 2:48PM]

... and lets not forget the Goomba. Mushroom-shaped hobbling robot.

[Craig @ May 21st 2007 2:52PM]

Laundrybot's already been done. It's called a washing machine.

[murray @ May 21st 2007 3:05PM]

All I ask is for a lifebot to life my life so I can stay in bed.

[Pauly @ May 21st 2007 3:53PM]

I really hope it's a nannybot, but maybe iRobot is getting into lawnbots.

http://www.robotliving.com

[michael @ May 21st 2007 4:22PM]

Oh, for a moment, I thought we were talking about the movie "I,Robot"

[Stephan @ May 21st 2007 6:44PM]

A lawnbot that doesn't cost $1600 would be nice (yes I have seen the "cheap" version for $800). It would definitly have to be one that didn't require the underground wire, but I have no idea how this device would work.

I would need the poo-ba to run first though, as my dogs still don't use the toil-ba.

[Dave @ May 21st 2007 9:52PM]

I want a vacuum bot that does stairs! The current little disk bots do the easy part. I don't care if you have a central vac with a long hose or what, but stairs are hard to vacuum!

I imagine such a bot would be long, and slink down the stairs moving back and forth. Even if it only did stairs, it could be paired with the other floor bots to get the whole job done.

[jaffa @ May 21st 2007 11:42PM]

How about something really original... like a dishwasher! Seriously - I want a robot that actually takes my dirty dishes, soaks them, puts them in the dishwasher, runs the dishwasher, and then puts the clean plates back on the shelf. Basically what the dishwasher always should have been. Please iRobot, you know you want to!

[Glyn @ May 22nd 2007 5:16AM]

I recognise that robot in the picture, where's it from?

[Botty Train @ May 22nd 2007 12:53PM]

Rosie the Robot from the Jetsons

[pugsly @ May 22nd 2007 10:31PM]

I'm thinking poo-ba (robotic doggy poo collector) and trim-ba, which would be an iRobot lawn mowing bot competitor.

[Walt_Mink @ May 21st 2007 2:59PM]

Sweet merciful Jebus - I would pay a brazillion dollars for one of those. I could have it and a robot lawn mower going all the time so that I'd never have to get off of the couch again!