iRobot Roomba 500 series announced for Europe

Four new vacuum cleaning robots coming in October

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27 August 2009 10:38 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

The iRobot Roomba 500 series vacuum cleaning robots have been announced for a European launch from October 2009.

The iRobot Roomba 500 series range comprises of four vacuum cleaning robots - the 520, 555, 563 and 581 - and will be priced from £250.

Said to be easy to use, the models in the range use algorithms to self-navigate around floors and take approx 30 to 40 minutes to clean an average room.

All Roomba models can clean three rooms on a single charge and boasts "Dirt Detection" tech that claims to identify dirtier areas to focus on until clean. Presumably they are all also Three Laws safe.

The 555, 563 and 581 models can be scheduled to clean automatically up to seven times a week and the 581 returns to its docking station to automatically to charge up for the next bout of cleaning.

Prices for the iRobot Roomba 500 series are £249.99 for the 520 entry-level model, £299.99 for the 555 that comes with one "Virtual Wall" accessory to mark an area off limits, £349.99 for the 563 that's designed to pick up pet hairs and £399 for the top-of-the-range 581.