Vacuum Technology to the Rescue (kind of)
This week we’ve seen the vendors of many of the products we sell stepping up their efforts to make the world a better place. Earlier this week the GoVacuum team was impressed by IQAir’s commitment to providing clean air to the Olympics in Beijing.
Now, we found a new story. iRobot, the makers of the Roomba robotic vacuums, have upped their efforts in using robot technology to help solve many of the world’s complex problems.
Most recent is their unveiling of the iRobot Negotiator, a “low-cost tactical robot designed to meet the basic reconnaissance needs of public safety professionals.” To be delivered in the fourth quarter, this robot is aimed at “police departments, fire departments and domestic security experts.” Currently, the robot is estimated to be priced at $15,000 with certain options (including stair climbing capabilities) pushing that price to upwards of $20,000.
In researching the development of this negotiator technology, I also found out about some of the other interesting projects that iRobot has embarked on in the past few years. Most notably have been robots that can be used by the military to detect the presence of chemicals in the air and an underwater robot that can be used for research in high pressure underwater environments.
While we have been giddy to watch the Roomba scoot around our showrooms and houses, the fact that the company who gave us this cleaning technology is also helping save the world with their patented technologies makes us all the more excited to be Roomba dealers.
