Patent app shows Roombas pooping on potties, being big boys

Roomba vacuums tend to be pretty self-sufficient, cleaning floors, committing burglaries, and even making futile attempts at communication. Cleaning themselves, however, is something they cannot do, but that may change if a recently unearthed 2007 patent application filed by iRobot ever results in an actual product. The app shows a variety of designs for docks that would either suck the detritus right out of your little guy or replace its dirt cartridge altogether, strip any wound-up hair from its brushes, and then send it back on its way to give your cat a lift to is litter box. No word on whether iRobot has something based on these designs anywhere near production-ready, but we wouldn't recommend giving away that robot changing table.

[aj121489 @ Jun 1st 2009 11:28AM]

That would be pretty convenient. From my experience Roombas only really work well in small rooms...still cool though

[ash @ Jun 1st 2009 11:28AM]

Hey, if you're looking to win a headline award... I'mma vote for you!

[stefan @ Jun 1st 2009 11:33AM]

so insted of cleaning one filthy robot device there'll be two?

[whowhatme @ Jun 1st 2009 12:31PM]

no worries, the roomba dock dock will take care of cleaning your roomba dock for you!

[Chuckles McGee @ Jun 1st 2009 4:45PM]

And the Roomba dock dock empties its contents into your trash cans. Hooray.

[g3n3tix @ Jun 1st 2009 11:34AM]

I like how in the patent it "drops its cartridge" in the toilet.

[Bernhard @ Jun 1st 2009 11:39AM]

And I thought that was a printer...

[fistpittingnork @ Jun 1st 2009 11:43AM]

Awww, look at the little poopies!

[anexanhume @ Jun 1st 2009 11:46AM]

See Timmy, Roomba poopies in the potty like a big boy.

[Richard @ Jun 1st 2009 11:49AM]

I'm going to remember this one for the future:

"Excuse me, I need to go drop a cartridge".

Sounds classier than my usual "drop a deuce".

[Neoprimal @ Jun 1st 2009 6:06PM]

Hmm....not sure if mentioning poop in any regard can be considered 'classy'.

[urdaddy @ Jun 1st 2009 12:00PM]

So this is how the robot takeover begins, ROOMBAS!!

[CraigJ @ Jun 1st 2009 12:05PM]

"cartridge genie"

[Chris @ Jun 1st 2009 12:17PM]

This is something, that german Kärcher vac robots do for years…

[GingerFox @ Jun 1st 2009 1:02PM]

yeah i was about to say, many of the other higher end robot vac's already do this.

[Idlemind @ Jun 1st 2009 12:16PM]

Are they gonna call it a Poomba??

[JS @ Jun 1st 2009 12:19PM]

Wow, that drawing clearly shows a new faxable Roomba .. no need to carry the Roomba up stairs, just fax it upstairs!

[Bjørn Konestabo @ Jun 1st 2009 3:05PM]

Looks disturbingly like a Tiberium harvester and refinery.

[curtisrutland @ Jun 1st 2009 1:11PM]

OK, so I'm actually considering buying a Roomba...any of you actually have one? Worth it? I have a really small apartment.

[Fishstick @ Jun 1st 2009 1:40PM]

I have had one for about 4 months and just bought another one for upstairs. I have been extremely happy with it and would recommend it to anyone. I have used it on hardwood floors, area rugs and medium high carpet (no shag, but not real short either).

[Bob @ Jun 1st 2009 1:47PM]

I've just upgraded from a Discovery to a 535. Roomba is a solid product all around. The only real drawback is having to clean out the rollers every month or so.

[curtisrutland @ Jun 1st 2009 3:13PM]

Thanks for the info guys.

[hated @ Jun 1st 2009 2:16PM]

Cool

[Luigi193 @ Jun 1st 2009 2:21PM]

Are you tired, run down, listless? Do you pop out at parties? Are you unpoopular?

[mr.blackbb @ Jun 1st 2009 3:25PM]

I almost died laughing when i saw the title, my vote for headline of the year is firmly secured, I read this and I dont give a damn about roombas, just because of the headline, now thats what I call journalism!

[Peter @ Jun 1st 2009 3:56PM]

What's going to clean the roomba cleaner?

[djsiek @ Jun 1st 2009 8:04PM]

This was the exact upgrade I was hoping for future Roombas. I was only just talking abou this last week to family and here it is! Very happy.