Square roomba

Roombas have evolved over the years into a fairlyimpressive product, except when it comes to corners. Apparently bothered by this, iRobot's engineers have patented a Roomba with a corner specialty. The secret trick: it's square.

Roombas have traditionally avoided angular designs in the pursuit of maneuverability, settling on circular shapes that lend themselves well to the vacuum's omnidirectional cleaning habits. This new, squared-off tank-like design might necessitate more complicated vacuuming approaches for certain scenarios, but it's not like efficiency of movement is their forte anyway.

Source: gizmodo.comAdded: 28 May 2009