First robot cleaner goes on sale

The world's first robot vacuum cleaner goes on sale in Britain today with a £1,000 price tag.

The Trilobite navigates its way around rooms and has no problem getting to those hard-to-reach spots underneath tables and beds, says maker Electrolux.

The machine uses sound waves - similar to the navigation signals bats rely on - to detect obstacles in its path, such as the dog's water bowl or the legs of a chair - and then calculates a new route.

When turned on, the battery-powered cleaner heads for the nearest wall and cleans along the edges of the room, creating a picture in its memory which it uses to do the rest.

Patrick Le Corre, Electrolux Floorcare UK managing director, said: "The Trilobite transforms domestic chores, especially when you consider we spend on average two hours a day cleaning, including vacuum-cleaning."

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