"Roomba j7 +" is a robot vacuum cleaner suitable for Japanese houses

From the iRobot Japan robot vacuum cleaner "Rumba" series, new models "Rumba j7" and "Rumba j7 +" (hereinafter referred to as "j7 series") have appeared. We will deliver it from online presentations and hands-on sessions. Takeshi Yamada, General Manager of Marketing Division and New Business Development Office of iRobot Japan, is confident that "Roomba j7 is the perfect robot vacuum cleaner for Japanese homes."

The price of the official online store is 129,800 yen for j7 +. It is a set with a clean base that sucks up dust from the main body and collects it in a paper pack. The clean base also charges the Roomba body. On the other hand, j7 is 99,800 yen. A home base with only a charging function is included. Both models will go on sale on February 10th.

The j7 series is a robot vacuum cleaner that was developed based on this idea, "it depends on the feelings of the user." The biggest feature is the "Precision Vision" navigation. This is a function that uses a camera mounted on the front of the main body of Roomba to identify obstacles such as cords and pet excrement (only solid feces) in front of you and clean them while avoiding them.

The camera mounted on the i7 series of the conventional model was on the top surface of the main body, and the angle was such that it turned diagonally upward. It is an arrangement to catch the outline of the wall and furniture and make a floor plan map of the room. On the other hand, the j7 series this time has a built-in camera that faces straight ahead, so it is now possible to grasp objects on the floor.

For example, the old i7 series is walking while looking up, and the new j7 series is like walking while facing down. With the j7 series, you can check your feet and avoid obstacles.

When an obstacle is visible in front of you, it is recognized by machine learning and image processing technology. Obstacles are checked with a red square frame, and the distance to the object is calculated while observing the shape change of the red frame.

The j7 series works with smartphone apps and communicates with the cloud. In addition to obstacle information managed on the cloud, the j7 series itself is equipped with a machine learning processor to recognize objects in real time.

[Video] Stop cleaning and avoid obstacles

Obstacles recognized by the j7 series at the time of launch are shoes (slippers), socks, charging stations (j7 series and Braava jet m6), cables (headphone cord, power cable), and pet excrement (solid matter). This will increase in the future.

The key technology of this function is "iRobot Genius", which is a function to regularly update the functions of Roomba and Braava. Learn the user's usage environment and floor plan information on the cloud.

Currently, the functions made possible by iRobot Genius include "a function to start cleaning when going out based on the GPS information of the smartphone" and "a proposal for a no-entry area". Of course, when obtaining various information from the user's rumba, privacy is taken into consideration and a method is adopted so that no individual is identified.

The catch phrase of the j7 series is "The best slogan in the history of Roomba, which cleans even on a messy floor.

Colin Angle, CEO of iRobot, who participated online from his home in Massachusetts, said, "IRobot Genius and the front camera of the j7 series will tell you what objects to avoid. It tells the user what obstacles there are. Instead of sucking everything up, it leaves the objects it recognizes as obstacles on the floor. There is no need for the user to manually set the obstacles. Cleaning It will be a reliable partner to be entrusted with, "explained the performance of the j7 series.

To add a little bit, when the j7 series finishes cleaning, it will notify the app where the obstacles have been avoided (cannot be cleaned). Eventually the room will be cleaned up, so the next time you move the j7 series, it will clean it properly in the same place if there are no objects left in the previous cleaning.

Perhaps the best thing to recognize an obstacle and leave it on the floor is pet excrement (the j7 series only supports solid feces). In developing the j7 series this time, I was surprised that I made more than 100 models of pet droppings and machine-learned more than 100,000 images to improve recognition accuracy.

"IRobot, which boasts a cumulative sales volume of 40 million units, knows all kinds of floor materials, floor plans, obstacles, etc. around the world. It takes a lot of data to improve the accuracy of image recognition by machine learning. Without such data, it would not be possible to recognize as high as the j7 series. The more users there are, the smarter the j7 series will be. ”(Mr. Hiroshi Yamauchi, Senior Manager, Product & Marketing Strategy, iRobot)

The j7 series was launched in the United States four months ago, ahead of Japan. By using it by users in the United States, shoes (slippers) and socks have been added to objects that are recognized and avoided as obstacles. Obstacle information will be updated in the future, and obstacles that can be avoided will increase.

"Pet Owner Guarantee" and 3-month free subscription campaign

Takeshi Yamada of iRobot Japan says, "I think Precision Vision is a function that eliminates the doubts of Japanese customers about robot vacuum cleaners."

Compared to China, Europe, the United States, etc., the penetration rate and utilization rate of robot vacuum cleaners are low in Japan. The background to this is that "in Japan, the value of cleaning by yourself is important" (Mr. Yamada).

When iRobot researched "why customers do not use robot vacuum cleaners", it came to one conclusion that "complete cleaning without stopping somewhere in the robot vacuum cleaner leads to satisfaction". I arrived.

Previously, Roomba used a physical part called a "virtual wall" to set a no-entry area, but it is no wonder that some people find it troublesome to set it. This j7 series solves these complaints.

"Japanese houses are complicated. They have various floor plans and steps. There are various flooring materials such as tatami mats, flooring, and carpets. In addition, since we live barefoot, we often put things on the floor. The j7 series is a robot vacuum that avoids things placed on the floor. I don't think there is a robot vacuum that suits the Japanese residential environment like this. "(Mr. Yamada)

Obstacle data is updated once every three months, so the accuracy of obstacles recognized and avoided by the j7 series will increase, and the number of new obstacles that can be recognized and avoided will increase. If the user does not agree, the image data of obstacles when cleaning the user's house will not be uploaded to the cloud, and the data will be encrypted and stored so that it cannot be identified by an individual. Also, it seems that images of people are not left as data.

"The value of home appliances up until now is at its peak when you buy them, but the j7 series is a home appliance that keeps learning and its functions evolve one after another. In that sense, it goes well with subscriptions. For customers. You can continue to have a relationship of trust with regular payments. If you don't like the features, you will return the product. Therefore, we must continue to provide better service. " (Mr. Yamada)

IRobot has its own subscription service, "Robot Smart Plan." There is a 2-week "trial 2-week course" and a 3-year "safety continuation course", but the use of the 3-year long-term plan is increasing explosively. A campaign (below) will be held along with the release of the j7 series.

In addition, the j7 series offers a "Pet Owner Security Guarantee" for purchasers. If you inhale the solid excrement of your pet, we will replace the main unit free of charge only once within the manufacturer's warranty period. A very drastic campaign. I feel the confidence of iRobot.

IRobot Japan has long set a medium-term goal of increasing the household penetration rate of robot vacuum cleaners to 10% by 2023. Mr. Yamada believes that the j7 series will support the spread of robot vacuum cleaners.

"With the j7 series, you can clean even in an environment where the robot vacuum has not worked well, such as when there are many things on the floor. Try it for those who think that" we are not suitable for using the robot vacuum ". I want you to have it "(Mr. Yamada)

Until now, the main purchasers of robot vacuum cleaners were young families in their 20s and 30s, but now it seems that replacement needs and purchases in their 40s and 50s are increasing. In addition, it is widely used in single and senior households.

"We are expanding the lineup so that you can choose according to your environment and lifestyle. For example, if you have a single room or a house with few rooms, I think Roomba e5 is sufficient, and a house with a large room or a lot of floor plans. I recommend the Roomba s9. If you often put things on the floor, please use the Roomba j7 series. The j7 series is recommended not only for pet owners but also for families with small children. "(Yamada) Mr)