Roomba Discovery Robotic Floorvac
Price: $250
Measuring just 3.5 inches high and 13 inches in diameter, the Roomba Discovery is compact enough to venture under low-lying tables, chairs and appliances. The Discovery model has sensors that detect dirt and direct the robotic vacuum to spend extra time cleaning those areas. The sensors are pickier than the typical human eye, so the vacuum will keep cleaning long after most folks would have stopped. During several weeks of testing, Roomba worked its way around furniture and in and out of tight spots as it cleaned hardwood, tile and carpeted floors. The results were impressive: After an hour of cleaning, it transformed a dingy entryway into a ready-for-company hallway. The Roomba went after hard-to-reach dirt between stair banisters with a slender rotating brush that juts out from under its frame. Before letting Roomba roam, you need to clear the floor of items it might choke on or trip over. After about two hours, Roomba’s batteries will run out, but if it’s near its recharging station, it will automatically dock there.
Gannett News Service