(PDF) Proceedings of the AICTE Sponsored IEEE International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge Discovery in Concurrent Engineering - (CECONF 2023) Technical Sponsor: IEEE; Publication Partner CERA Institute, Financial Sponsor: AICT

The New Roomba Has Evolved Past Needing Humans

Robot vacuums can do a lot; they can climb stairs and are smart enough to know when to get serious about tackling the dirtiest of stains. So, I was shocked to find out that Roombas couldn't clean themselves, particularly the mopping pad. It looks as though robot vacuums have hit a new stage of evolution: true self-cleaning.

According to The Verge, iRobot's newest cleaning device, the Roomba Combo 10 Max, takes that decidedly filthy task out of your hands. Not only can the 10 Max wash its own mop, but it can also empty its bin and refill the mopping tank, making it the hands-free cleaning robot that I already thought it was. The functionality doesn't come cheap, though, as the Roomba Combo 10 Max is available for pre-order for a budget-smashing $1,300.

In another big leap for smart home devices and an obvious attempt to sweeten the pot, the 10 Max will be the first robot vacuum to support Matter. For those unfamiliar, Matter is a newish IOT connectivity standard that allows smart home devices to talk to each other. The latest iteration, Matter 1.2, allows users to control smart home devices via platforms such as Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home.

But back to this self-cleaning business. The secret sauce is in the dock. This is iRobot's first robo vacuum with what the company says is the fully multifunction charging dock. Not only can the 10 Max clean its mop and dry itself, but the vacuum can empty and refill its water tank. In order to cut down on malodorous emissions, the tank is made of antimicrobial plastic that will also cut down on any gross bacterial growth. Is it worth $1,300? Not sure, but I'd love to find out.

IRobot Just Launched The Most Feature-packed Roomba Ever - And It Costs Less Than You Think

The new iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max with the AutoWash Dock.

iRobot

iRobot today launched a flagship Roomba robot vacuum and mop to compete with the best combination robots on the market. The new Roomba Combo 10 Max is a robot vacuum and mop combination

To top it all off, the Combo 10 Max is priced at $1,400, or $500 cheaper than the Dreame X40 Ultra and $300 less than the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, both direct competitors.

Also: The best smart home devices of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

"With the Roomba Combo 10 Max, iRobot is leveraging more than 20 years of floor cleaning innovation and expertise to bring customers our most powerful, independent and smartest robot yet," iRobot CPO Barry Schliesmann said in a statement. "Combining unique and proven innovations like the Auto-Retract Mop, 4-Stage Cleaning System, Dual Multi-Surface Brushes and reliable object avoidance with the new AutoWash Dock, the Roomba Combo 10 Max provides customers with our most complete solution for effectively vacuuming and deep scrubbing multiple surfaces."

The robot vacuum features dual rubber brushes to pick up dirt and prevent hair tangles, 100% stronger suction power, Carpet Boost to increase suction when it detects a carpet, and SmartScrub, which uses sensors and cameras to scrub deeper when it detects stains.

The Roomba Combo 10 Max features iRobot's retractable mop pad, which I was glad to see. Instead of lifting its mop pads 8mm to 22mm while going over rugs or carpets, the Combo 10 Max lifts them to the robot's top to ensure the soft surfaces stay dry.

The new robot vacuum and mop is meant to deliver what iRobot calls "independent cleaning" by automatically emptying its dustbin throughout the cleaning session, washing and drying its mop pad, and refilling its mopping solution tank. This is possible with the AutoWash Dock, iRobot's most capable charging station.

Also: This hands-free robot vacuum was already affordable, and now it's hit an all-time low price

Built with antimicrobial materials, the AutoWash Dock for the Roomba Combo 10 Max can hold up to two months' worth of dust and debris in its dust bag and up to a week's water supply. 

Instead of the robot vacuum docking to have the base station scrub its mop pads, the Roomba Combo 10 Max goes to the dock and moves back and forth to wash its mop while the dock scrubs it. After cleaning sessions, the dock can self-clean its wash basin, sending the dirty water to the dock's tank.

The Roomba Combo 10 Max also features advanced navigation to map homes seven times faster than previous models and object detection to avoid you having to pick up every sock or toy before a cleaning session. It is equipped to avoid obstacles and features the iRobot Pet Owner Official Promise (P.O.O.P) to avoid pet messes. 

Also: The best robot vacuums for 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

iRobot's new flagship Roomba also features "Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology," which makes this robot the company's smartest yet. It can detect which areas get dirty faster, automatically scrub them deeper with the mop pad, and give it multiple passes. You can even set it to wash its mop pads after cleaning certain rooms, like the bathroom or kitchen, to prevent the spread of bacteria.

"With the addition of Enhanced Dirt Detect Technology and future compatibility with Matter, the Roomba Combo 10 Max is also our most intelligent robot and will allow customers to more easily integrate it within a smart home ecosystem," Schliesmann added.

Matter compatibility will be available by the end of 2024, letting you integrate the robot vacuum into your smart home. The Roomba Combo 10 Max is also compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Assistant. 

The Roomba Combo 10 Max is available for preorder now and ships in August.

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You Can Get An IRobot Roomba I4 On Sale For $150 Right Now

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You can get this iRobot Roomba i4 EVO on sale for $149.99 right now through July 28. The Roomba i4 EVO has a 20% larger battery over previous models and comes with Smart Mapping, and the 3-stage cleaning system and dual multi-surface rubber brushes work on multiple floor types and can clean pet hair. The integrated iRobot OS learns cleaning habits and can be controlled via Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. This model navigates intelligently, cleans in rows, and resumes where it left off after recharging. Your purchase includes the Roomba i4 EVO, a charging station, a virtual wall, extra filters, and batteries, and is backed by a 90-day warranty. As a new open-box item, this vacuum is in brand new condition but may have been marked as excess stock.

You can get the iRobot Roomba i4 EVO Wi-Fi Robot Vacuum on sale right now for $149.99 (reg. $274) right now through July 28 at 11:59 p.M. PT, though prices can change at any time. 

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