The Electrolux Trilobite is a domestic robot vacuum cleaner manufactured by the Swedish corporation Electrolux. It takes its name from the extinct arthropod, which scoured the ocean floor. The original prototype cleaner was first seen on the BBC television programme, "Tomorrow's World", in 1996; when it was demonstrated by presenter Philippa Forrester.
The Trilobite contains a vacuum cleaner and a removable roller brush capable of working on deep-pile carpet. It has the ability to map rooms and avoid obstacles by using ultrasonic sensors (on the Mark 2 model also infrared). It recharges itself on a charging base, which it automatically finds when has completed its cleaning task or its power runs low. The Trilobite will indicate when the dustbin needs to be emptied.
Its ultrasonic sensors allow it to come within 1" of objects without colliding with them. This makes the Trilobite appropriate for rooms containing delicate or valuable furniture. This object detection is fairly reliable, but sometimes fails if the robot approaches an object with a sharp corner. In this case, the ultrasonic beam is not reflected, and the Trilobite will gently bump into the object. Because the Trilobite stops a short distance from walls and other objects, it has been criticized for leaving small areas that are not fully cleaned.who?
Magnetic strips are used to block off areas that the Trilobite should not enter, and infrared sensors (on the Mark 2 model) protect it from falling down stairs or off ledges.
Compared to Roomba
Unlike robots such as the Roomba, the Trilobite is capable of mapping rooms and determining where it has cleaned, rather than cleaning them randomly.
An advantage over early-generation Roomba models (and other less expensive robotic vacuums) is the Trilobite's removable roller brush and two replaceable air filters for the dustbin and motor. Without the filters, fine dust particles are known to cause mechanical failure after sustained usecitation needed. The later-generation Roomba also contains removable brushes, and a single replaceable dustbin air filter.
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