Roomba Competition: Who are they?

Once iRobot put Roomba, the world's first consumer robot, on the market, the die was cast. Robots would now be a part of American homes, and they'd start by vacuuming our floors. Roomba competition sprung up almost immediately, led by traditional vacuum cleaner manufacturers who didn't want to be left out in the cold when regular vacuums went the way of the dodo bird - "extinct". They didn't dare let Roomba go unchallenged, and so they put together electronic robot floorvacs of their own. Most were clearly based on Roomba, using the same body style and electronic sensors, and probably the same kind of heuristic software.

Jumping on the robotic bandwagon

We've all heard the saying: nothing succeeds like success. When the iRobot Roomba succeeded in a big way, various companies realized they were missing out on a potentially lucrative market. Some, Electrolux, had made vacuums for decades; others, like Samsung and Sharper Image, were better known for their consumer electronics. A number of robotic vacuums now grace the market, most by necessity using the same type of technology and design as iRobot's Roomba. It seems ironic that it was the desire to build a better vacuum cleaner that kickstarted the consumer robot revolution.

Software + electronics technology = Robovac

Roomba, despite its competition, remains the premier line of robotic vacuum cleaners in the country. The Discovery and Discovery SE models can be had for less than $300. They're not necessarily the cheapest anymore, but they're sturdy, smart, and well-made, and worth every cent you might pay (Roomba's lowest price is just $149 -- what a great deal!). Oddly enough, they're especially popular among software geeks, who like to soup-up the onboard processors to create vacuum cleaners they call "Zoombas." More power to 'em!