iRobot has announced the latest evolution in its Genius Home Intelligent platform for its robot vacuums. Now known as iRobot OS, the platform promises even more customized and smarter cleaning with upgrades like more pet features and object detection and additional voice command support.
iRobot already guarantees that the Roomba j7 and j7+ robot vacuums, which we reviewed last year, can identify and avoid solid pet waste, but there are new features added to the mix. This includes Pet Lock and Keep Out Zones, which can be set to prevent a robot from cleaning areas like around a water dish. It will also intelligently suggest recommended cleaning schedules during pet shedding season.
Additionally, compatible Roomba vacuums can identify more items and avoid them or flag them for removal before setting out for a second clean cycle. This includes shoes, socks, cords, headphones, clothing, and towels. According to iRobot, since the j7 and j7+ were released in September 2021, they have detected more than 43 million objects in owners’ homes.
The detection is accomplished using a computer vision platform that is currently able to recognize over 80 common objects. iRobot OS will continue enabling the Roomba j7 Series to identify and avoid even more objects in the future.
iRobot OS also supports about 600 Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri commands for hands-free, voice-activated cleaning. You can ask it to clean specific rooms or even targeted areas, like “around the couch.”
“As iRobot expands its ecosystem of connected robots and smart home devices, we are placing a strategic emphasis on superior software intelligence delivered on high-performance, beautifully designed hardware,” says Colin Angle, Chairman and CEO of iRobot. “iRobot OS brings it all to life, enabling products that understand the home environment, respect customer preferences, and intuitively connect with the smart home ecosystem to get the job done.
“iRobot OS,” he continues, “lets our robots get smarter and clean even more effectively over time, delivering valuable new features and functionality that benefits all customers, including pet owners, busy families, and those looking to get the most out of their voice assistants. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to continuously building upon iRobot OS, providing customers with even more thoughtful ways to clean in the months and years ahead.”