Robot Reviews

Being the domestic goddess that I am, I couldn't resist the urge to try the Roomba 500 Series vacuum cleaning robot from iRobot.  I recalled seeing this little guy working hard on a late night infomercial and thought at the time, "finally, a vacuum cleaner that my husband could use!"  

Being a night owl who is addicted to late night television, it was only a short time before I decided to just go for it – if for nothing more than to have the satisfaction of knowing that I would have some help around the house (even if it was from a robot).  I didn't know I'd get a new best friend in the process. 

The Roomba package came complete with the Roomba itself, a "virtual wall", and a charging home base that allows my little friend to recharge himself when he gets all tuckered out from vacuuming my house.  The Roomba is amazing – just like you've probably seen on TV.  It rolls along in an indiscriminate pattern in each room and sucks up any dirt that happens to be in its path.  When the Roomba runs into something – a wall, a table leg, whatever – it turns around and heads the other direction.  The Roomba vacuums the average room in around a half hour, and is so quiet, this lazy domestic goddess can sleep through it all on the couch if she wants to.  Are you wondering how the Roomba knows to stay in one room? The "virtual wall" that is included with the Roomba is actually a cleverly disguised infrared device that keeps the Roomba from passing through – just aim it at an adjacent wall and you have an instant 'slave to the grind' who will stay in the room you designate until finished with the job.  (Try getting one of my kids to do the same thing).  The Roomba can sense when its battery has been depleted, and dutifully seeks out its charging station ("home base") to get refueled for its next duties.  With two dogs in the house, I must say that the Roomba 500 really has its work cut out for it, but handles all the stray pet hair with ease.  I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that my Roomba can also keep the tile floor in my kitchen clean as well.  Another thing about the Roomba that I love is the built in dirt sensor.  The Roomba will go around in a continuous circle when it finds dirt in an area – until the dirt is cleaned.  It's almost like it gets "all worked up" in a frenzy of worry – which is fine by me. 

I think the inventor of the Roomba should be right up there with the inventor of the dishwasher.  Any product that makes my daily chores go by with little effort on my part is a product worth trying.  The Roomba gives me time to focus on the important parts of the day, like lazing around on the couch watching soaps.