iRobot Scooba Exposed

ticketmaster41 writes "Informit is running an article that takes a look at what's inside a Scooba. As the write up indicates, adding water to a robotic cleaner not only means more parts, but also more fail safes to frustrate the end user. The site also has posted an interview with Helen Greiner, one of the founders of iRobot."

Scoobas are pretty good

[chriso11]

There are a few ways the Scooba could be improved. First, when it is cleaning a large area, it may run out of cleaning solution or its dirty water tank is full. When that happens, it stops and beeps for attention. It should be able to go to a programmed location, so that you don't have to walk across a wet floor to service it. Also, it is a bit loud. And expensive. But, I am definitely happy I bought it. So far, it seems pretty happy mopping the floor, and has shown no tendancy to find Sarah Conner.

scooba video

[valdean]

video [google.com] of the scooba in action on google video. pretty noisy little fella.

Re:Europe please!

[Tony Hoyle]

So how do those work in the average UK house rather than the humungous american ones?

Looking at this room I reckon an automatic hoover would fail in about 10 seconds. The room is an odd shape, there are cables going between the TV/Computers/Hifi that need moving. To hoover behind the furniture you must move it... there's an area around the birdcage that needs extra work as it won't clean on the first pass... There's the a discarded coke bottle that needs picking up...

Not to mention the hallway is too narrow for the roomba at at least so that's out - it would have to be carried between rooms even if it knew how to open the doors.

The price is a bit of a bitch too... £250 for the basic Roomba ($400). Could buy about 10 standard hoovers for that.

Re:Europe please!

[hoggoth]

> the average UK house
Your description is of an old cat-lady's house, not the average UK house.

> there are cables going between the TV/Computers/Hifi
Those are hazards for people too. Secure them to the crack where the wall and floor meet where possible. Tape them down elsewhere.

> there's an area around the birdcage that needs extra work as it won't clean on the first pass
My Roomba can detect dirt. A little blue 'dirt detected' LED comes on and it switches to a spiral "spot" pattern until the area is clean.
Then again, ew. Put down some paper under the birdcage. I don't suppose you have dog droppings laying around the flat too?

> There's the a discarded coke bottle that needs picking up
So pick it up. Your mother doesn't live with you does she? Roomba won't pick up your dirty clothes from all over the floor either. Nor that week old tuna fish sandwich behind the couch.

> Not to mention the hallway is too narrow for the roomba
If it's too narrow for the Roomba then it's WAY too narrow for people to navigate. I suggest you change your designation of that area from 'hallway' to 'closet'. It's easier than removing the clutter.

Re:Europe please!

[dmatos]

We recently purchased a Scooba as well, and our manual states that you can use 2oz. of white vinegar instead of the cleaning solution. Of course, they make no claims about what the vinegar will do to sealed hardwood floors, but c'mon, it's dilute acetic acid.

As an added bonus, it will help us because we have hard water. It should prevent lime scale buildup on the robot.