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As robotic vacuums go, these ones are quite dark and I’m not talking about the color. Samsung has teamed up with the Star Wars franchise to create two Star Wars-themed robot vacuum cleaners.
The POWERbot Star Wars Limited Edition robot vacuums will only be available in limited quantities when they are released towards the end of the year. There is a Darth Vader inspired version and a Stormtrooper one too.
You can pre-order on Amazon or the official Samsung website. On Amazon, they will be available on December 15th while on the Samsung portal, they are being shipped in the first week of November.
Design
Underneath the Star Wars colors and symbolism, the two limited edition robot vacuums are POWERbot VR7000 robot vacuum models originally launched at the start of 2017.
For comparison, here is the regular POWERbot VR7000 vacuum robot.
And here is the new Darth Vader POWERbot.
And here is the Stormtrooper POWERbot.
The main changes are superficial – different colors, a new top design and a few other aesthetics to properly induct the robots into the Star Wars universe. But dimensions are similar. You also get the same capabilities, vacuuming power and smart features as the original VR7000.
Sound Effects
The robot vacuums come complete with Star Wars movie sound effects for the full experience. You can hear the Sith Lord’s breathing, light sabers clashing and even some of the most iconic lines from the movies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJDSMJnTniI
It’s hard to know how realistic the sound effects are from just the video. What may sound cool in the video may sound different from the floor of your home. We’ll just have to wait until they are released.
All the same, this is a cool addition. The colors and design would have been great on their own. The sound effects complement them perfectly.
Smart Voice Control
More and more robotic vacuums are incorporating voice control. iRobot has Alexa compatibility in several of its Roomba models.
Samsung says that users will be able to control the POWERbot Star Wars vacuum robots via Alexa or Google Assistant when they launch.
You’ll need to have a Google Home or Amazon Echo speaker to use their voice control features. And of course you also need a WiFi connection.
If you don’t want to use the smart speakers, you can also control it using the Samsung Smart Home or Connect apps available for both Android and iOS.
There will also be a POWERbot app where you can remotely control the robot vacuum and track the robot’s coverage.
Clearly, these are appliances designed to fit perfectly in the age of the smart home. If you love Star Wars and are currently putting together your smart home, the POWERbot VR7000 robots are perfect additions.
Intelligent Cleaning
The POWERbot vacuums are not just good for their looks. They are some of the smartest robotic cleaners you can buy.
They are equipped with several sensors and software that intelligently navigate the robot around the house. They can weave between furniture legs, go under the sofa and even pick dirt from a corner using a retractable shutter.
There are nine sensors in total plus a built-in digital camera. The camera is used to map out your home, noting where everything is and calculating the best and fastest path to take. The sensors help the robot avoid obstacles and keep it away from the stairs. They also guide the vacuum back to the charging dock when the battery runs low.
This combined with the powerful CycloneForce suction technology leaves us expecting a lot from the POWERbot vacuums in terms of efficiency and thoroughness.
Quick Specs
- Multi-surface cleaning (hard floors and carpets)
- Self-docking
- Running time: 1 hour
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 13.4″ X 3.8″ X 13.7″
- Digital display
- Mapping technology and cliff sensor
- Edge cleaning
- Integrated digital camera and smart sensors.
Prices, Availability and Release Date
As I mentioned, the robot vacuums are on pre-order right now. You can place your pre-order at Amazon or visit Samsung’s official website.
The Darth Vader edition is more expensive, costing almost $800. The Stormtrooper one is around $100 cheaper.
The vacuums will be released on December 15th on Amazon but you can get them a month earlier when you buy on the Samsung official site.
Note that these are limited edition models so there aren’t many of them in stock. Knowing how popular Star Wars is, you might want to get your wallet out now.
