Alongside the new navigation, iRobot has added rotating discs to the Plus 405 and 505 Combo robot vacuums which allows them to lift up the mops to avoid getting carpets wet. The new iRobot Roombas also have 7,000Pa suction power and will come with AutoWash docking stations for emptying and self-cleaning.

After its latest financial figures were worse than forecast, the company said there’s “substantial doubt” it can survive another 12 months.

Robot's success spawned a whole new industry, and it didn't take long for competitors to bring rival cleaning bots to market – often at lower price