Accessories: Vacs that Go Vroom

Once upon a time, a robot vacuum cleaner that could tidy up a room was enough to capture the attention of consumers. Yet, for a certain consumer segment, that’s yesterday’s news. They need excitement. They need action. They need…NASCAR.

Vesture’s TracVac remote-controlled cleaner features high-horsepower vacuum suction and a rolling brush underneath for primary cleaning as well as two side brushes for rubbing walls and drafting underneath ledges. Designed to work on floor surfaces from ceramic tile to hardwood to vinyl to most short pile carpets, the vacuum is created around the form and decoration of NASCAR racers. Given that most folks do their cleaning on the weekend, TracVac gives NASCAR fans the opportunity to run their racer vac at the same time as their favorite drivers are working the track. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price runs between $259 and $279.

Yet, licensing doesn’t necessarily trump technology, at least for some people, and iRobot continues to upgrade its capabilities in its quest to liberate consumers from drudgery. And an amphibious invasion isn’t beyond its scope.

The iRobot Verro Pool Cleaning Robot requires no installation and uses artificial intelligence to clean swimming pools efficiently, the company states. The line includes two models, the Verro 300 and Verro 600, at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $799 and $1,199, respectively.