Elextrolux anounced a new version of the Trilobite. The green-metallic Trilobite 2.0 is programmable like a VCR and can clean at pre-set times. Its new sensors lets it deal with stairs. The metallic silver-green Trilobite 2.0 can be found in shops from the middle of May in Europe. Its recommended retail price is around 1400 EUR.

The first model, the Electrolux EL520A Trilobite Robotic Vacuum is starting to ship on Amazon.com June 1st with a hefty price tag of $1,799.99.

We reported about the Electrolux Trilobite Vacuum Robot last year in June.
There is already another Vacuum robot on the US market for quite a while, the iRobot Roomba.

Unless Amazon's Trilobite Price-tag of $1,799.99 is a typo (which it is not), why is this robot 10 times more expensive than the Roomba ($159.99) ?

Update 06/01/04:
Read Answers to why the Trilobite is so expensive.


The only big feature difference I found is that the Trilobite can recharge itself. The robot finds its way back to the charging station and automatically docks-on. On the technical side the Roomba uses a combination bumper sensors and a infrared sensor to detect it's surroundings. The Trilobite uses ultrasound like a bat at 60khz as a sensor.
Both vacuum robots look pretty similar, maybe the Electrolux one looks a bit slicker, but is it worth 10 times more money? If you know a good reason for the price difference please email us.

So Amazon.com is not even starting to sell the latest version. They offer the orange Trilobite, which is the first model.
More details on Elextrolux and RoombaVac.

Trilobite Version 1.0

Electrolux Trilobite Version 1.0 Specification: Robotic vacuum cleans hard floors and carpet without supervision Bright red color; 3 cleaning modes; reusable dust box; LCD display 90 watts; vacuums for approximately 60 minutes on 1 charge Automatically returns to charging station, recharges, then resumes cleaning Measures 14 by 5 inches, weighs 11 pounds; includes 2 internal battery packs Buy the Trilobite at Amazon.com. The Roomba Vacuum robots come now in 3 models. The original Roomba, the Roomba Pro and teh Roomba Pro Elite with remote control.