The iRobot Roomba Vacuuming ( A Floor Cleaning Robot / Robotic Vacuum Cleaner ) Robot is a portable floor cleaning robot with a diameter of just 13.4 inches and a height of just 2.5 inches. Understanding how iRobot Roomba works is simple if follow electronics and technology. Roomba is just a new and excellent use of electronics, technology and engineering.

In our everyday life, we use remotes that use sensors to sense signals and work. The Roomba vacuum cleaning robot also uses sensors to work. These are infrared contact-sensing sensors that can sense any object that comes on the way or the robot. The robot has a large contact-sensing bumper on the front unit and an infrared sensor (Virtual Wall) at its top front center. An iRobot Roomba may have 1 to 3 such sensors depending on the model. The more number of sensor it has, the more expensive it gets. It also has a carrying handle on the top of the unit so that you can carry it anywhere easily. This make is easily portable. It is another good product to have at home for home improvement and comfort.

There have been three generations of Roomba units:

1) The original Roomba, Pro, and Pro Elite
2) The second-generation "Discovery" series with a larger dustbin, dirt detection, and optional home base
3) The newest 5xx series … (More to follow)

The iRobot Roomba has rechargeable internal nickel-metal hydride batteries that can be recharged with any household wall plug. The second- and third-generation models of Roomba Vacuum Cleaning Robots have a self-charging and a homebase.

How it works

1) Start by pressing the "power" button to switch on the unit.

2) If you have a first-generation model, you may have to give instruction about the size of the room (Small, Medium, and Large), using the three buttons for room size. This is not required if you have a second or a third-generation model.

3) Now press "clean", "spot", or "max" button. Remember that Third-generation Roombas don’t have the "max" button. It rather has a "dock" button to instruct the Roomba to dock with its homebase. The system starts its work as soon as the "clean", "spot", or "max" button is pressed. If you have a second or third-generation Roomba, you can instruct or program that unit to do the cleaning work at a set time. You can set the timing to clean the room when you are at work. You can also control second and third-generation Roomba using a remote control. This is very useful for people who are disabled.

4) As mentioned above, the Roomba has contact-sensing bumper at its front so that it can detect e walls and furniture on its way. The infrared sensors on the bottom of the unit prevent it from falling off ledges. Second- and third-generation models have dirt sensors so that they can detect dirty spots and focus on those areas.

5) If you have set a homebase, the Roomba will try to return to it after the cleaning work is complete or after the time you have set. Once the job is done, you can remove the dustbin from the unit's rear and empty it into a trash can.

Points to Remember: The Roomba cannot clean any dirt from under the carpet or area that is too narrow.