Like many people, iRobot has a long-standing love-hate relationship with the mop. The primary Scooba system turned broadly out there in 2010. In the end, nonetheless, mopping up and filling a tank with soiled water proved inefficient, and the road was finally phased out. The brand new line was finally Braava, which arrived as a part of its 2012 acquisition of Evolution Robotics.
That system favors a cleansing pad, which finally proved much less doubtlessly disastrous than a tank system. Regardless of what the Standells may let you know, residents of iRobot’s hometown don’t, in reality, love that soiled water.
One of many firm’s longstanding holy grails is the mixture system. Comfort is paramount, combining mopping and vacuuming right into a single system. Roughly this time final yr, the corporate introduced the Roomba Combo j7+. The system makes use of a intelligent mechanical arm to maneuver the pad out of the way in which, so that you don’t unintentionally mop the carpet. iRobot expanded the road a few weeks again with an improved j7+, together with the Roomba Combo i5+, which lowers the worth level $250, all the way down to $549.
Right this moment the agency is asserting yet one more SKU. The Roomba j9+ is sort of steep, at $899 for the Roomba and $1,399 for Roomba and dock.
“The Roomba Combo j9+ robotic vacuum and mop reigns supreme in its class, designed to deal with filth, pet fur and particles with unmatched precision,” the corporate writes. “Its 4-Stage Cleansing System and distinctive Twin Rubber Brushes present 100% extra highly effective suction and pressurized scrubbing motion. And in contrast to competing 2-in-1 robotic vacuum and mops that hardly carry their mop pads, if in any respect, iRobot’s D.R.I. (Dry Rug Intelligence) means prospects can belief that their Roomba Combo j9+ will preserve even high-pile rugs clear and dry.”
Picture Credit: iRobot
That final bit is a direct dig at corporations like Roborock and Ecovac, which have carved out their very own niches undercutting iRobot’s premium pricing.
In the end, nonetheless, CEO Colin Angle says the software program is the factor. “I imagine the long-term winner within the robotic trade goes to be the corporate with the perfect software program,” he mentioned in an interview with TechCrunch. “iRobot continues to boost the bar. In 2021, we went all-in and mentioned iRobot will refund your cash if it ever hits poop, which nobody has completed since. We proceed to honor that. Earlier this yr, we began mechanically labeling rooms.”
Each the j7+ and j9+ are getting iRobot OS 7.0. The centerpiece is one thing the corporate calls “Grime Detective.” Angle says, “We preserve a map of your property that’s resilient to disruptions. As a result of we’re the one robotic that really seems to see if we’re choosing up filth as we clear, we will decide how shortly a room will get soiled. We additionally understand how lengthy it’s been because you final cleaned a selected room, as a result of now we have that historic perspective.”
Grime Detective creates plans and prioritizes rooms based mostly on want. Additionally on the checklist is SmartScrub, which actually will get in there for a deep clear as wanted, with double the scrubbing, per iRobot.
The j9+ goes up for presale beginning in Europe immediately. Canada and the U.S. comply with swimsuit tomorrow.
