Product Description

With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, and particle filtration, the Roomba 550 vacuuming robot picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris with the simple touch of a button. The powerful unit features innovative spinning side brushes that grab dirt and dust from corners and along wall edges, as well as two high-speed, counter-rotating brushes that pick up pet hair, cat litter, food crumbs, and other debris from floors. The vacuum sucks up the debris and deposits it into a large, easy-to-empty bagless dustbin, and its improved fine-filtration system traps dust, pollen, and other allergens inside the unit, reducing infiltration into the living environment. For added convenience, the vacuum's cleaning head automatically adjusts to transition from wood, tile, and linoleum to carpets and rugs, while improved anti-tangle technology ensures it won't get stuck on cords and rug fringe. If the unit begins to pick up a cord or carpet tassel, it will automatically reverse the direction of its brushes to extract the item. A gentle-touch bumper system senses obstacles so the vacuum automatically slows its approach, gently touches the obstacle, then redirects to continue cleaning under or around the object. Because it cleans under beds, couches, and other hard-to-reach areas, it actually vacuums more of the floor than a standard upright. The vacuum also senses dirtier areas and spends more time cleaning them, and it uses built-in cliff sensors to avoid stairs and other drop-offs. In addition, invisible barriers can be set using the unit's Virtual Wall Lighthouse system. To mark off-limit areas, simply place a Virtual Wall at a doorway or other opening and adjust the infrared beam setting to the distance of the opening. The unit automatically detects the beam and will not cross it.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21530 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Irobot
• Model: 550

Features

• Vacuuming robot picks up dirt and debris with the touch of a button
• Easy-to-empty bagless dustbin; fine-filtration system traps allergens
• Anti-tangle technology; gentle-touch bumper system; built-in cliff sensors
• Self-charging Home Base, 2 Virtual Wall Lighthouses, 3 extra filters
• Measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Customer Reviews

Worked fine... At first...
Believe me. If I had reviewed this product when I first got it, I too would have given it 5 stars. It sucks up dirt, it runs like a dream, and totally helped vacuum up the dog hair. Even if I disliked cleaning the hair out of the brushes, it still was worthwhile, because it can go can go places your regular vacuum can't.

Unfortunately, after about the 8th mission, Roomba started making a thumping sound. I read online about hair being in the gear box (a cheaply made piece of plastic), but after cleaning it thoroughly, still made the sound. We returned it to the store and got our money back.

Too bad. I really loved roomba. But there is no way I'm messing with getting replacement parts for a new product that's seen so little action as this thing did. I might get another eventually. But only if a local service center/instore warranty will deal with fixing it when it breaks down. Right now, from what I gather, spare parts are backordered.

WON'T CLEAN BLACK RUGS!
I did my homework before buying a robot-vacuum and came up with the 550 as being the best. I brought it home, charged it up and was looking forward to seeing it clean all the cat hair out of the area rug in the center of my great room. It shows the hair the most because it is black and dark brown in color. Well was I disappointed when the Roomba hit the edge of the carpet, turned around and went the other way! I tried it a few more times without luck then called iRobot Customer Service. It seems that Roombs don't like cleaning black carpets... The edges of my area rug are black and when the Roomba hits it the IR sensor doesn't reflect back from the black so it thinks it has hit a cliff/step/drop-off. Back to manual vacuuming....

Can no longer recommend the Roomba
We bought our first Roomba two years ago and needed replacement parts after seven months. It broke down completely after another five months and then was replaced under the warranty. This replacement lasted less than a year and then was no longer under warranty. When the 500 series came out we were assured that improvements were made and we bought a new Roomba in January 2008. It broke down in February and we received new wheels and a new cleaning head module. By April the arms of the side brush had disintegrated and we were told that no replacement brushes were available. The Roomba kept working till May when the cleaning brushes would no longer turn and the Roomba moved with a loud knock. Customer service now asked us to return the Roomba minus faceplate, battery and all other accessories and at our expense. They said they would send a replacement unit only after receipt of the faulty machine leaving us without a Roomba for who knows how long. If we do get that replacement the warranty will not go beyond the original period and it is not clear whether the replacement is new or merely a rebuild of another customer's return. We will not buy a Roomba again.