Haha Thanks, I didnt know Roomba is so smart
I know this forum is pro-iRobot, so I don't suppose some Samsung spies or Asus spies or Cleanmate QQ spies will be here.
iRobot makes war-zone robots (not the Terminator type, or maybe... nah!) & space exploration robots.
Their AWARE technology lets Roomba adapt to real-life situation, like accidentally mounting ur standing fan, entering a super-tight corner & regretfully struggle to exit, tangling cables or rugs & encountering extra dirty area.
Competitors criticise Roomba's seemingly random cleaning pattern, as compared to Neato's slow & calculated laser-turret scanner single-pass pattern
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZaqD2j3w4w
Korean's Ottoro has Stereoscopic camera (ie. like human eyes can tell depth thru images processed by brain). I think it's the robot that literally extends an arm to catch spider in a corner.
LG Roboking uses Li-Po (Lithium-Polymer), an ultra high energy-to-wt ratio battery. Imagine something like a Kit Kat bar can replace Roomba's chunky battery. But Li-Po is very ex, and u can watch >1000 deg C fireworks if it becomes unstable.
Frankly, there are many variation of vacuum robots, but iRobot wins in practicality & ease of self-repair thru their warranty-based modular replacement.