iRobot Unveils Roomba S9+ and Braava Jet M6 Robots That Clean Together

An anonymous reader writes: iRobot today launched two new robots: the Roomba s9+ robot vacuum cleaner and the Braava jet m6 robot mop. The Roomba s9+ robot vacuum with Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal starts at $1,299. The Roomba s9 without the Clean Base starts at $999. The Braava jet m6 robot mop starts at $499. All the robots are available for purchase today in the U.S. and Canada. They will start shipping in select European countries on July 12, 2019. The two robots can use iRobot's Imprint Link Technology to "talk to each other" -- vacuuming and then mopping automatically. The technology also works with the Roomba i7+, which launched in September. iRobot is thus introducing two robots that can clean together "as a team." Owners of the robots can initiate a "Linked clean" in the iRobot Home app.

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[cayenne8]

I tried one of the earlier Roomba's and it just didn't seem to work right.

I then tried the Neeto Botvac, can't remember the model was the 'connected' one.

Now that one works about 99% of the time...occasionally gets hung or lost, but not often.

It works good enough to be very useful keeping the floors maintenance cleaned.

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

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[mobby_6kl]

Solution: don't poop on the floor.

I've had a basic dumb Roomba 500-something for years now and never had any issues. It keeps my floors clean enough though regular clearing that I never have to do it myself.

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[Local ID10T]

Exactly this... don't shit on the floor and you wont have problems with shit on your floor.

I also have one of the old Roomba models. I push the start button before I leave the house in the morning, and it vacuums the house while I am gone. I have to empty it's dust bin, and clear the hair off the brushes daily. It occasionally gets stuck under the bed (between a t-shirt and the bed frame), but most of the time it vacuums the house without incident.

I have cats so there is fur, litter, toys, and food bit

Poop on floor

[DrYak]

Exactly this... don't shit on the floor

I know. You know.
But it might be a little bit more complicated with pets.

(Also, the cylinders that iRobot introduced back with the 800serie seem to work much better with the "non-solid wastes", like puke etc.)

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[Anonymous Coward]

If you're live in such conditions, then no automated system will perform miracles for you.

Get rid of any fucking animal who shits on the floor. Sounds like a much more sensible solution to me.

Kickstarter for a competing project cleared $1M

[Nova Express]

That would be Narwal [kickstarter.com], billed as a self-cleaning robot mop and vacuum cleaner in one unit. At a $549 starting pricepoint, including the basestation, it's half the price of the iRobot combo.

Disclaimer: I haven't backed this and lots of Kickstarters fail to deliver on their promises. Still, it seems like a good point of comparison.

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[gravewax]

why bother, there are a plethora of products half the price or less of the Roomba that do a similar or better job. e.g. the roborocks. can't see a kickstarter being worth it unless their aim is for a sub $200 device which does the same job.

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[cerberusss]

Interesting but Roomba 600-series go for 150-250 euros in Europe, if you can spot one in sale.

And the great thing about this, is that repairing is extremely easy. You can find common fixes for a lot of problems, spares like batteries and wipers are easily available, and some parts are available on Thingiverse that you can order to be 3D printed.

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[qubezz]

This one will likely fail (but not fail to keep free money), because iRobot has many patents.

Old iRobot.

[DrYak]

That would be Narwal [kickstarter.com], billed as a self-cleaning robot mop and vacuum cleaner in one unit. At a $549 starting pricepoint,

Or you could go fetch one of the older iRobot's own Scooba which already used to do that... (and cost less than the Narwal).

iRobot don't sell them directly anymore, but there might be some oldstock laying around in shops, and/or get it second hand for even lower price (and given how resiliant and easy to repair iRobot's main robots are, it's not much of a problem not getting it brand new).

wow these things have gotten expensive

[olsmeister]

I have a 10 year old one that if I recall correctly was only a few hundred dollars.

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[Anonymous Coward]

But does it use crypto to build my blockchain?

Way too expensive...

[Amigori]

$500 and $400: maybe, but no for me.

$1,000+ and $500: strong pass.

That's a great actual vacuum cleaner and mop, bucket, & soap / Swiffer & pads.

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[Anonymous Coward]

Clearly not much since we're hanging out here!

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[Anonymous Coward]

$500 and $400: maybe, but no for me.

$1,000+ and $500: strong pass.

That's a great actual vacuum cleaner and mop, bucket, & soap / Swiffer & pads.

How much is your mom's time worth?

FTFY... You assume he's not still in the basement...

This sounds like a children's show in the making

[varmint jerky]

In fact, doesn't Amazon already have "Stinky and Dirty" about a garbage truck and a back loader? An animated robot vacuum cleaner and mop that work together could be money in the bank. Throw in a robot bucket and some sponges, and you're got the makings of a real grime-fighting team. There's a LOT of worse kid TV out there folks.....

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[R3d M3rcury]

Maybe Mr. Squirt & Mr. Squeegee? [youtube.com]

Nice, but the Braava is terrible

[mccalli]

It's not a patch on the old Scooba - it really is appallingly ineffective, and I'm a big fan of automating home tasks away. I have one and...well...naah. Used to have a Scooba a while ago - vastly superior.

You can also do this already in a way. I have my vac (Neato, not Roomba) and the Braava hooked up to HomeKit via HomeBridge [homebridge.io] plugins. You could use automation to achieve the same thing. That said, always nicer to be native than to faff about.

Chances are...

[DrXym]

If your house can be adequately cleaned by a robot, i.e. no steps/step downs, no obstacles for it to get stuck in / under / over, no pets, no deep rugs, then you probably don't need a vacuuming robot in the first place. And if your house has any of those things then the robot will be no damned good anyway. Just buy a vacuum cleaner and get off your lazy ass and use it.

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[DrXym]

I didn't say it wouldn't fall down steps. But it doesn't vacuum steps or jump from one floor to the other. Nor does it jump from one level to another in a split level arrangement. Nor does it manage with things like dining tables surrounded by chairs or under anything which is slightly too close to the ground for it or even thrown down shoes or other items from a typical family life. Or even things which are too large / close to the ground to sweep up. Count all those things in, plus the general hassle of e