Dyson building a robo-vac to compete on Roomba's turf?

If you're willing to buy into this whole "doesn't lose suction" song and dance, Dyson might have a robotic vacuum cleaner in the works just for you. A recent job advertisement on the Dyson website, is seeking a roboticist with "navigation and localization systems knowledge (Kalman filters, SLAM)" and "computer vision experience," which sure sounds like shoe-in for robo-vac development to us. We know they were at work developing the $6000 DC06 a couple years back, but that early attempt at a Roomba-killer didn't itself take life to the best of our knowledge. Of course, by the time they complete this new hire and s/he gets the next robotic Dyson bumping, we could be a good many months (or years) down the road. At very least the "machine vision" bit seems to imply something fancier than the Roomba dumbass-bumparound method, which will hopefully lead to some exciting floor cleaning times, and even more promising hacks whenever this device might possibly make it to market.

[Nick R @ Mar 31st 2007 9:26AM]

my parents have owned a dyson since '95 and still use that same one - they don't lose suction - and i recently got the ball. i've owned a roomba and the suction on those things suck. they are great for picking up little stuff, but if you have pet hair it won't be picking up much. roomba is cool, but it doesn't replace the real thing. so if you have to own two vacs what is the point? if dyson can do this right - and they probably will - roomba better get back to the drawing boards.

[Ben Nolen @ Mar 31st 2007 10:00AM]

"buy into this whole "doesn't lose suction" song and dance"

You obviously don't own a Dyson. Anyone who does knows that this is true and they really are wonderful, if not expensive, vacuums.

[emor8t @ Mar 31st 2007 10:20AM]

Are you guys trying to do Photoshop work with MS Paint?

[LC @ Mar 31st 2007 10:23AM]

Agreed. I've gone through several vacuums in the past. Miele, Hoover, Dirt Devil and GE. None of them could get most of the pet hair up. I have two Golden Retrievers that shed more hair than someone quitting Rogaine cold turkey. I bought myself a Dyson then after using my GE for the last time, I gave it a go around with the Dyson and the cannister filled up with dog hair in one just one room.

The Dyson was money well spent.

[Alana @ Apr 1st 2007 2:11PM]

Agreed. I have a dog that sheds madly, and nothing else does as good a job at picking it up as the Dyson. Expensive? Yes. God-awful colors? Yes. A good vacuum? Yes. Finally.

[daddy @ Mar 31st 2007 10:45AM]

that's some nice photoshoppin'!

[dc @ Mar 31st 2007 11:11AM]

The Dyson never loses suction.*

* I have a Dyson DC14 Animal and IT DOES LOSE SUCTION when the tube becomes clogged with large amounts of fur or carpet fibers. I've had to open the thing up (which is quite easy to do) and clean out the blockage more than once. After putting everything back together, the Dyson does work great again. I'm very please with the performance of the vacuum but to say it NEVER loses suction is false.

[colin @ Mar 31st 2007 11:24AM]

My second attempt at posting now...

Dyson invented this stuff over a decade ago in the UK and many households their have them and swear by them. I believe he licensed the technology to the US over the last decade which is a much cheaper entry; Dyson's eventually became distributed in the US, though initially with less model selection.

I don't think "song and dance", "dumbass-bumparound" and the general flippant attitude in this post given much professional credit to the line of products which are widely used and coveted.

[Nick R @ Apr 1st 2007 11:33AM]

if you own a roomba you would understand that description - which is very accurate.

[Stephan @ Mar 31st 2007 12:08PM]

I have "The Ball," and it is awesome. I had given up on the Roomba because with my two dogs the things brushes would be hopelessly clogged (I had all pergo flooring so it could pick everything up great). The problem was every time I would have to clean out the brushes and it would take me longer to clean the damn roomba than to just do a regular vacuum. Then I moved and my dogs don't go upstairs. The Roomba now has a purpose again, and the Dyson just works like a charm. I had lost suction once when dog hair mixed with a little wetness clogged the tube, and the very simple removal process began. However in all fairness the Dyson is very expensive and as pointed out somewhere else, you never see professional cleaning companies using Dysons. I justified the expense by thinking over ten years it is really only costing me $20-$30 more a year compared to some cheaper Hoovers.

[Rob @ Mar 31st 2007 1:48PM]

I too have and love Dysons DC15 Ball. I have a Golden with lots of hair sheading - not a problem for the Dyson. Occasionally to get
deeper dirt I will plug up (duct tape over) the "large debris channel" under/front of nozzle - it works. My neighbor uses a lightweight expensive bagged vacuum but asked to give my Dyson a try. It was amazing, so I took a
photo. Lots of carpet fuzz (old fuzz) and hair in picture but lots of dirt too.
pic: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/440930014_36a63d428d_o.jpg

[mark @ Mar 31st 2007 12:13PM]

Mr. Miller, what you've just posted is one of the most insanely idiotic photoshop jobs I have ever seen. At no point in your rambling, incoherent post were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having looked at it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[Elbow Tom @ Mar 31st 2007 12:27PM]

The Suction claim relates to how most vacumes use suction power as the container fills up. Of course there won't be as much suction at the end of the tube with if it's clogged.

[Richard @ Mar 31st 2007 12:31PM]

If the prices dropped, I would consider buying a Dyson. Can't imagine how much a self-guided one would cost. :o

[Bill @ Mar 31st 2007 12:42PM]

The odd thing is that professional cleaning companies all seem to use old bag-style vacuums. I've always wondered why. Maybe this whole bagless thing isn't really a step forward. It's strange that with all other cleaning products (dusters, mops, etc.) everything is going towards "use once and throw away" styles, while with vacuums it's the opposite.

I like my bagless vacuum but when I have to dump out the dust bin, sometimes I wonder if just tossing a full bag like in the old days would be easier.

[capn @ Mar 31st 2007 12:55PM]

another advocate for the dyson! it works and is easy to clean if you need to.

[nicleT @ Mar 31st 2007 12:58PM]

Watta collage!!!

[Chris @ Mar 31st 2007 1:46PM]

What? No "robot vacuum overlords" comments? :)

Here's a better photo to use, of the Dyson DC06:
http://www.dyson.co.uk/range/DC06/1.jpg

Chris

[Darryl @ Mar 31st 2007 1:53PM]

Urm... Dyson have had a robotic hoover in the works for a while, in fact they have one that is going on the market very soon that is being trialled currently in UK households? Like everyone in the UK knows this! It was even included in a recent presentation we did at university, this is like 3 year old news! You yanks stoned or something at the moment!?

[Hangebokhan @ Mar 31st 2007 3:19PM]

Well, those of you who so highly promote the bagless system have never been a housekeeper before then.

When it is full, and is time for emptying, we would take the darn thing outside along with a trash bag and dust masks so we could empty it without killing out lungs.

If that is the type of vacuum you like? Go for it. But if you want to have good lungs and clean clothes after you are done vacuuming, get one with a bag.

I have been using some no-name bag vacuum from Sears for over 20 years and never have had problems with it losing suction. Now, a cordless vacuum with a good battery life? Sign me up!

[LC @ Mar 31st 2007 4:40PM]

Hangebokhan-

It was asked earlier, but have you ever used a Dyson? I too have had other bagless vacuums and emptying it out would indeed be a dusty mess, but the Dyson empties by dropping out the bottom of the cannister, so if you place the cannister as deep in the garbage pail (no need to go outside) as you can and pull the release and slowly remove the cannister from the pail, everything empties out without any dust leaving it. My lungs are quite healthy and the surrounding are of the pail is quite clean.

[Hangebokhan @ Mar 31st 2007 4:49PM]

LC-

It was a Dyson, mayhap it was a different model than yours, because it was a top empty. Although, with the way the trash filled up in that house, bottom emptying would have been just as problematic.

[fulani @ Mar 31st 2007 3:20PM]

I used to sell Vacuum Cleaners for a living, and Dysons are by far and away the worst. They're overpriced, heavy, fragile and an arse to clean. If you want a decent vacuum, buy a Sebo.

[LC @ Mar 31st 2007 5:21PM]

Hangebokhan

I can see what you are talking about. I only use mine for my personal home and have never had a problem with dust and it is the only thing that would get up the pet hair and more dirt than the other bagged models I had. Plus getting replacement bags always tended to be a pain since my particular model would always be the one that my local stores did not carry and I would have to order online. A problem if I didn't have the foresight to order just before running out.

[Krono6 @ Apr 1st 2007 6:44AM]

Didn't Roomba also state that it has some fancy tech that makes it do anything BUT bump into walls or my leg?

[colin @ Apr 1st 2007 1:00PM]

Actually, I own a scooba and it does work (except for the edges) in small areas. I'd expect the Dyson one to be more efficient.

[Rob @ Apr 2nd 2007 1:39PM]

Listen,.. I am perfectly aware that the Dyson is a great vacuum, but it's just not fair to compare it to the Roomba as they stand right now. Now after Dyson creates a robotic model, then you can bring on the flaming.

I own a Roomba Discovery and personally I think it's one of the best purchases I've ever made. All of my floors are hardwood or linoleum and the Roomba does a great job at "sweeping" the floor (let's face it, while the Roomba does have a slight vacuum functionality, it is more accurately called a robotic sweeper). I seriously doubted my purchase before I used it for the first time, but once I set it and took off for work and came back to surprisingly clean floors, I was in love.

And yes,.. I have a Dog, Cat, & Wife,.. all which shed profusely.

I'll probably pick up a Dyson once I move into a place with carpet, but until then my Roomba will be aimlessly be doing my work for me.