Times of Oman announces Hitachi's new vacuuming cleaning robot. The little guy is about 1 foot in diameter (25cm) and about 6 inches tall (13cm) and little a little like a birthday cake. The little guy has a NiMH battery that can run just short of an hour and when it runs low it runs back to its charging and dumping station. Hitachi says you don't have to touch it for a month! It comes in various colors and has features like an automatically extending nozzle to get corners and sonar and other sensors to map and avoid obstacles. It won't be available for two to three years and it will cost about $1700.

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A first: No where in the article does it mention being the first vacuum cleaning robot, however their claim to fame is that they're the smallest vacuum cleaning robot.

A little more on Hitachi's vacuum cleaning robot:

• Japan Today: Hitachi develops vacuuming robot with memory function
• Hindustan Times: Hitachi unveils world's smallest cleaning robot
• Indian Express: Hitachi's smallest robot is ready to help you in cleaning up
• IAfrica: New robot set to clean up
• Business Day: New robot cleans up
• MSN: New robot set to clean up

Older Robots.net robotic vacuum cleaner articles:

• Trilobite Vacuum Uleashed on the UK,
• Plenty of Roomba on Mother's Day!,
• Roboking vs Roomba,
• World's First Robot Vacuum Cleaner,
• Karcher's Robot Vacuum Cleaner Lives?,
• Let's Get Ready to Roomba!,
• Robot Vacuum Cleaners.