Roomba maker warns of potential closure amid financial woes

Photo: iRobot

iRobot, the company behind the iconic Roomba vacuum cleaner, has issued a dire warning to investors, stating it may cease operations within the next 12 months. The announcement follows the collapse of a planned acquisition by Amazon due to regulatory hurdles and comes amidst intense competition from Chinese manufacturers. The company has since undergone significant restructuring, including substantial layoffs and a sharp expense reduction. iRobot's stock plummeted roughly 36% following the news, reflecting investor concerns about the company's future viability.

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MOVA launches X4 Pro Wet and Dry Vacuum at CES 2025

Photo: MOVA

MOVA unveiled its groundbreaking X4 Pro Wet and Dry Vacuum at CES 2025. This innovative appliance features a Hot Water Mopping and SpotHeat Spray Cleaning system that utilizes 80°C hot water to effectively dissolve and remove stubborn stains, including those caused by spills, pet accidents, and more.

Beyond its impressive cleaning power, the X4 Pro boasts a range of user-friendly features, including a self-cleaning base station that washes the brush with 100°C water and an artificial intelligence-driven air-drying system for hygienic and hassle-free maintenance. And its 180-degree lie-flat reach and tangle-free design ensure effortless cleaning under furniture and in tight spaces.

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Roborock Saros Z70: A robot vacuum with a robotic arm

Photo: Roborock

At CES 2025, Roborock drew attention with its newest robot vacuum. The Roborock Saros Z70 sports an unusual attachment: a robotic arm. It allows the vacuum to pick up and relocate small objects up to 300g. Think socks, shoes, or wayward Legos. (Maybe you'll never have to nag family members to pick things up off the floor anymore.) Its artificial intelligence system can place objects in designated areas, like those socks that need to be in a laundry hamper.

Another cool feature of the Saro Z70 is it can lower its profile to 7.98cm, allowing it to clean under furniture as well. Equipped with the VibraRise 4.0 system, this robot vacuum has improved mopping and scrubbing capabilities with its tangle-free rollers. Roborock hasn't revealed pricing for the Saros Z70, but it is expected to launch in the first half of 2025.

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Meet Nékojita FuFu: The cat-shaped robot that cools your food

Photo: Yukai Engineering

Cat got your tongue takes on a different meaning with this Yukai Engineering robot. The Japanese robotics startup created the Nékojita FuFu, a cat-shaped robot that can blow air to cool your hot food and drinks. The robot gets its name from the Japanese term "néko-jita," meaning "cat tongue," a phrase used to describe individuals with a low tolerance for hot food. The second part of the name, "FuFu," is an onomatopoeia that captures the sound of blowing air to cool food.

The robot has different blowing modes, including a full-force and a gentler one. It uses an internal fan unit running on a rechargeable battery. It also has a specially developed algorithm or the Fu-ing System that randomizes the strength and rhythm to mimic human breath. The Nékojita FuFu can cool hot water from 88 degrees Celsius to 71 degrees Celsius in three minutes or to 66 degrees Celsius in five minutes. This tiny little robot isn't just meant to cool your coffee. It works with any dishware with a straight edge.

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