iRobot leaks Looj and ConnectR information

Looks like iRobot's site admin did a bit of premature site updating, with details on the Looj gutter cleaning robot, and the still mysterious ConnectR appearing temporarily on the official site. All the new info about the ConnectR amounts to a different description of the robot -- apparently it's a "virtual visiting robot" -- and the knowledge that the "R" is capitalized. For the Looj, now we know at least one of the robot's capabilities -- it can clean 80 feet of gutter in 10 minutes -- and that it requires human supervision to operate. That's right, the gutter cleaning robot requires your attention.

[Thanks, John]

[suineg @ Sep 15th 2007 10:05PM]

It requires your attention so it doesn't broadcast to space of course!!

[Kaido @ Sep 15th 2007 10:16PM]

So how long until these show up for $150 on Woot.com? :D

[Anthony @ Sep 15th 2007 11:43PM]

I thought I'd seen the Looj on their site long ago. It basically looks like an electric mixer that rolls along in the gutter. Not that impressed. Plus, unless you live in the NE I can't see to many people needing this. I know I've only had to clean my cutters once in 3 years.

[Flip @ Sep 16th 2007 9:58AM]

Anthony, you've apparently never lived any place with pine trees. Here in Houston, you can clean out your gutters and two weeks later they're clogged with pine needles again.

[Sonic_13 @ Sep 16th 2007 12:27AM]

I think that robot is pretty cool. I wonder what the ConnectR will turn out to be...

I'm surprised they haven't turned out a lawn mowing robot yet. Perhaps they are working on one.

[Typhoid Mary @ Sep 16th 2007 1:59AM]

I don't think an unattended lawnmower is really possible--What with the sharp and nasty spinning blades.

Now if you mean a remote control lawnmower, R/C enthusiasts have been hacking those together for years. Still, it looks just like mowing the lawn to me, just a bit more gadgetry involved.

[davidinedmond @ Sep 16th 2007 2:42AM]

Mary are you serious? They've been out for years and work quite well. If only they could edge and water the dog.

[Typhoid Mary @ Sep 16th 2007 12:35PM]

I just wont trust in an automated lawn mower with out some sort of supervision. I can just see my neighbors kids running over to it and inspecting it and losing a finger... But I guess they have sensors and such to turn themselves off if someone approaches? Still, it would worry me.

[McGinley @ Sep 16th 2007 5:01AM]

I thought it said "guitar cleaning robot"!

[Eric @ Sep 19th 2007 3:07PM]

Yes, robotic lawnmowers have been around for some time. I simply love my Robomower. Wish I had bought one earlier. The neighbor's kids don't mess with it at all and love to watch it mow. I'm usually running the weedeater while it is mowing. Best investment for me yet. I do think iRobot has one in the works. Probably won't be released till next spring though I would think.

[bill @ Sep 19th 2007 4:52PM]

Robotic lawnmowers have been around for a while. I bought one in April from htt://www.lawnbotts.com since they had a 30 day money back guarantee. We LOVE it! It has many safety features - like the blades shut off when you pick it up for one, but it's not a good idea to run it when kids out are playing as with any lawnmower. We scheduled ours to run at night when everyone is sleep. It's very quiet. It leaves its docking garage, mows the lawn then re docks itself. I must say that our lawnbott is 1000 times more independent and dependable than our roomba. Once it's installed, it's like you don't have to do anything. They really do work as advertised.

[bill @ Sep 19th 2007 4:54PM]

That url we bought our robotic lawn mower with the 30 day money back guarantee is http://www.lawnbotts.com

The first link was missing the 'p'.