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Meet The Most Advanced — And Most Expensive — Roomba Ever

A promotional photo of the Roomba 980 model. (Courtesy iRobot)
A promotional photo of the Roomba 980 model. (Courtesy iRobot)

For years, Bedford-based iRobot has been taking Boston-area bot technology into consumer homes, into crisis situations, and into popular culture. Now it's taking its vacuuming robot, the Roomba, to a premium level.

In advertisements, the company is touting the key proprietary technology debuting in this newest model, the Roomba 980: visual sensors and a mapping system.

It also connects wirelessly so owners can remotely schedule cleanings through a smartphone app.

"Roomba 980 is the next big step as it marks iRobot's first cloud connected product with mapping capabilities for the consumer market," company CEO Colin Angle said in a statement. "Leveraging the cloud and mapping technologies, robots gain a better understanding of their environment, and customers are provided with more control. Looking ahead, these technologies will also enable expanded capabilities for connected robots in the smart home."

The company says the Roomba 980 also cleans better on carpets and rugs.

The Roomba 980 is selling for almost as many dollars as its model number: $899.

Headshot of Curt Nickisch

Curt Nickisch Business & Technology Reporter
Curt Nickisch was formerly WBUR's business and technology reporter.

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