New Roomba operating system has no new features, but vast dreams

Enlarge / iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum. (credit: iRobot)

Roomba launched the iRobot OS on Tuesday to signal its robotic household cleaners' advanced software capabilities. As of writing, it only rebrands the two-year-old Genius Home Intelligence AI platform, but the company aims for it to be a leading computer vision platform that differentiates its robot vacuums and mops and eventually moves to other products, like air purifiers.

iRobot OS doesn't include any new features yet but represents iRobot's focus on "superior software intelligence," Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot, said in a statement shared in Roomba's announcement.

As it stands, Roomba's iRobot OS-powered devices use computer vision to avoid, depending on the product, up to 80 "common objects," like cords, socks, and, oh so importantly, animal waste. The OS is pet-friendly by including features like "Keep Out Zones" so your dog doesn't start a fight with your robo vac when it's around the food bowl. It can also recommend cleaning schedules, including based on when your furry friend tends to shed. If you want to see all that iRobot OS offers, the strongest iteration is the Roomba J7-series. The device came out in September and uses a front-facing camera with computer vision to better understand its environment's layout than any other iRobot robot.

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