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iRobot (IRBT) announces two new robots at Digital Life

The Looj from iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT).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."

Continue reading iRobot (IRBT) announces two new robots at Digital Life

iRobot (IRBT) is in the gutter

iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ: IRBT) is famous for its automated housecleaning robots, the Roomba and Scuba, which are programmed for vacuuming and mopping, respectively. Now the company is planning to introduce another Jetsons-era household helper, the Looj, for cleaning gutters. Word of the new robot comes from Engadget.com, who got their hands on an FCC document showing a diagram of what appears to be a miniature gutter-sweeping tank.

This move appears to be a clear positive for iRobot, as it targets a distinctly more male audience than its other two popular products -- I mean, really, who is more likely to go out and buy a robot to do the chores, Mom or Dad? Wall Street was also excited about the new product, as iRobot's stock rose over 4% yesterday, to $21.89.

Additionally, according to iRobot CEO Colin Angle, consumers should expect to see two new robots at the Digital Life expo, which takes place on September 27-30 at the Javits Center in New York City. Assuming this is one of them, what could the other one be? Personally, I'm hoping it's a bed-making robot.

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Last updated: November 24, 2009: 12:49 AM

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