Taiwan’s ASUS is planning to release an automated robotic vacuum cleaner, similar to the famous Roomba from iRobot. The ASUS ECleaner will first be offered in China and Taiwan. While the ECleaner appears very similar to the Roomba, it has a few key features that make it stand ahead of the Roomba.
The ECleaner will work like the Roomba, by using a mathematical algorithm and a ’surveying’ phase to determine the dimensions of the room you want it to clean. It will be able to use sensors to avoid threats like staircases. The ECleaner will also automatically return to its docking station when it is done or when it needs to be be recharged.
The ECleaner will feature a 6000-hour UV light for disinfecting surfaces, along with a slot for spreading scents, and a remote control for a manual override of the ECleaner. According to a report from Wired magazine, ASUS is using their manufacturing abilities to go after the Roomba in price. iRobot’s most popular Roomba, the series 500, costs $280 while the ECleaner is set to sell in Taiwan for NT$5000 ($155 USD). No word on a North American or European release, but the ASUS ECleaner is set to come out in China and Taiwan at the end of this month.
