Today, iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ: IRBT) CEO and co-founder Colin Angle spoke as the keynote at the Digital Life expo in New York City's Jacob Javits Center. He announced not one, but two new robotic products: the Looj, a gutter cleaning robot, and the ConnectR, a virtual visiting robot. He first warmed up the crowd by reminding them of the television cartoon The Jetsons, which was once a vision of futuristic household robots. He said that although his robots were not humanoids, they are "fantastically useful." He said, "Goodbye Jetsons, goodbye Hollywood robots." And hello new product announcements.
After running through the company's current product line -- which features the Roomba, a vacuuming robot, the Scooba, a floor washing robot, the Dirt Dog, a shop sweeping robot, and the Verro, a pool cleaning robot -- Angle detailed the two new robots.
First, he introduced the gutter cleaning Looj, which he described as a "mini tank." It is low profile, meaning it can drive under gutter straps, as well as water proof, making for easy cleaning. The Looj is remote controlled and drives in forward and reverse, meaning you only need to climb a ladder once to drop it and retrieve it. It even comes with an optional belt attachment carrying case, making for safe ladder climbing. It retails for $99 ($129 with the belt attachment carrying case), starting today on iRobot.com, and will be at "select retailers shortly."
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