Not content with your floors, the folks behind the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner have decided to tackle the outdoors with a pair of pool-cleaning robots.
The devices were developed by iRobot in conjunction with pool specialists AquaJet and Aquatron. The Verro 300 uses water jets to clean concrete pools, while the Verro 600 employs rolling brushes that work better on tile and vinyl. Both have vacuums and screens for sucking loosened debris out of the water, and both are supposed to be able to clean an average 20'-by-50' pool in 60 to 90 minutes.
The 300 goes for $800; the 600 will set you back $1,200. Both are available now from iRobot.
And now the important evaluation: How dangerous would these things be if they developed sentience and a grudge against humanity, turning them into evil killing machines? High-pressure jets of water don't worry us too much (But what if they shot out battery acid instead of water? Hmmm.) But the scrubbing, scraping Verro 600 looks like it could do quite a number on a fellow's anatomy if it was in a bad mood. I'd treat it real nice if I was to buy one.
iRobot Dips Toe into Pool-Cleaning Market [PC Magazine]
