New iRobot Roomba 510, Roomba 530, Roomba 560 Models on the Way!

UPDATED: New iRobot Roomba 510, Roomba 530 and Roomba 560 Models will be released in September and feature upgraded navigation, an optional Lighthouse feature to remember which rooms it has cleaned, vastly improved reliability, easier cleaning, and, possibly, an automatic emptying option, according to a mystery poster at Roomba Review. (The original post was later deleted at the poster's request.)

NEW UPDATE 8/21/07!: The new Roombas HAVE BEEN RELEASED.

Earlier: He shows pics of a Red model, and lists prices: $299 Canadian for Roomba 510, $349-$399 for the Roomba 530 and $399-$449 for the top of the line Roomba 560. The poster, named "Arsenic" had earlier called the model numbers Roomba 520, Roomba 530 and Roomba 540.

The posts, which are accompanied by photos but still only qualify as rumor, states that the new Roomba models will work an average of 1500 hours of use, versus 350 hours for the current generation. The poster also talks of upgraded virtual walls that will turn themselves on and a snazzy, reworked user interface.

The information is allegedly from an insider but has not been confirmed by the company. Will it be discussed at tomorrow's analyst day? Will iRobot try and find/punish the leaker? Will it dampen sales of existing Roombas? Will it be accompanied by an increase in the price, a la the new Scooba 380? Will a lower-end Discovery series Roomba still remain, such as the Roomba 400, for the Wal-Mart crowd?

All very exciting, if it's true.

Tags: iRobot, robot, Roomba