IRobot’s new Roomba 980 vacuum features room-mapping technology and Wi-Fi

When Roombas were first introduced they were the first sign of the robot-uprising, but over the years we have grown to love the little particle collectors (which may be what they wanted all along).

“Vacuum cleaning robots can’t rely on any one feature or technology to clean effectively”, said Christian Cerda, executive vice president and general manager of iRobot’s Home Robots business unit.

The robot vacuum also got a more powerful, dual-mode motor that can ramp up the power when it detects it’s atop a rug instead of a wood floor, for example. While he wouldn’t go into specifics about where the company might look to go next in the smart-home sphere, he pointed to the visual-mapping technology as something that could be useful in plenty of other areas.

About iRobot Corp.iRobot designs and builds robots that empower people to do more. “Vacuum performance, efficient navigation, adapting to ever-changing environments and cleaning under furniture where dirt is hiding are all important factors, and they must be balanced”.

It’s 2015, so Roomba 980 is now entering the Internet of Things.

Neato Robotic’s Botvac is no longer the only robot vacuum cleaner capable of mapping the rooms it’s assigned to clean. iRobot’s new Roomba 980 can now accomplish the same feat, albeit in a slightly different fashion.

The Roomba 980’s iAdapt 2.0 technology allows the vacuum to actually map your home using its various sensors and smart processing.

It can run continuously for up to two hours and will automatically return to its home base when it’s time to recharge. It’s the first iRobot vacuum to connect to your home’s WiFi network, allowing you to control your Roomba and schedule cleanings anywhere you are via an iOS or Android app. The app also lets you check up on your Roomba to make sure it did its homework, as well as tweak how exactly it cleans your home. The app will also report information on cleaning status, offer cleaning tips, and provide direct access to iRobot’s customer service.

Says iRobot, it has paired its iAdapt Responsive Cleaning Technology with an array of new sensors that enable the Roomba 980 to clean a full floor on its own.

Other intelligence-boosting features, like an automatic power boost on carpeted floors and an updated wireless accessory that establishes a “Do Not Clean” zone, add to the Roomba 980’s bag of tricks.

The folks at iRobot, have also built acoustic sensors that can find high concentrations of dirt in a home or office, for focused cleaning.