iRobot Introduces the Roomba Duo

At the IFA tech show in Berlin, a company known for its robot vacuums unveiled an exciting concept: the Roomba Duo. This innovative device merges a robust floor-washing machine with a compact Roomba, allowing both units to work in tandem throughout your home. The main unit handles larger areas by mopping and sweeping, while the smaller unit can lower itself to tackle tight spots like under tables or in corners.

The Duo also functions as an autonomous mobile dock, equipped with clean and dirty water tanks, as well as a dust bag. It utilizes lidar and camera-based navigation to effectively map your home, navigate obstacles, and identify dirt.

According to an iRobot representative, the main vacuum is the most powerful model they’ve created, rivaling the capabilities of traditional upright vacuums. It features a steam-mopping function with a large roller mop that applies 46 newtons of downward pressure. During a demonstration, it effortlessly picked up pasta from a carpet before washing the area. This model is touted as the most powerful vacuum the company has ever produced.

The smaller unit, known as the Roomba Plus 757, is positioned on top of the main unit and is deployed via a mechanical arm that lowers it to clean areas that the main unit cannot access.

The new CEO of iRobot, Hao Li, showcased the Duo, emphasizing that this innovation signifies, “The future of floor care has a familiar name.” Li comes from Picea, the parent company that acquired iRobot out of bankruptcy earlier this year.

While the Roomba Duo represents a fresh take on consumer home robots, it bears a resemblance to commercial cleaning bots typically found in hotels or malls, albeit without the additional robot on top. For those who already own a robot vacuum, stick vacuum, carpet cleaner, and floor washing device, the Duo could consolidate all these functions into one unit.

The mechanical raising and lowering feature performed well during the demonstrations, appearing smooth and relatively quick. It reminded me of the mechanism used in iRobot’s earlier J7 Combo, which lowered its mop as needed, but on a much larger scale. However, I do have some concerns regarding its long-term durability.

As a concept model, the Roomba Duo currently lacks a price or release date, and I was unable to interact with it or examine its interior. Several engineers from Picea were overseeing the device, and it required two people to transport it during the demo.

I couldn’t gather a complete rundown of specifications, as the exact operational details are still being finalized. The team plans to incorporate feedback as they continue to refine the device.