Swap & Mop Combo Bin
Apr 2022 - Dec 2023
A compatible accessory design enables robots to perform combo missions with the simple swap of a bin
The Combo Bin marks an extension of iRobot's core business, enhancing the cleaning capabilities of the Roomba Combo and extending functionality to our vacuum-only robots. Inspired by the design of the Combo j7+ 2in1 bin & tank, the Combo Bin ensures consistent ID and CMF throughout the 2in1 robot portfolio. This customer-centric product prioritizes affordability, offering thoughtfully designed cleaning accessories that enable Roomba Combo functionality, making advanced cleaning accessible to all future and existing users.
Role
Lead ID
Contribution
Concept Development
Industrial Design
User Experience
Prototyping
Color, Material and Finish
Design For Manufacture
A Combo Bin Is All You Need
A Visual Walkthrough of The Design
Crafted with inspiration from the Combo j7 tank, this component seamlessly integrates into the iRobot product family, boasting a consistent ID and CMF. Carefully designed, the pad plate features raised tips on both corners, facilitating smoother threshold traversal. Its dark gray tint, complemented by a frosty finish, effortlessly harmonizes with the robot's CMF, ensuring optimal aesthetics while maintaining the user's ability to easily monitor water levels. The thoughtful design extends to the pad plate and wick caps, offering a user-friendly experience with effortless press-in installation and pop-out removal.
The Best Compatibility
With a refined parameter and a carefully crafted pad plate design, the Combo Bin effortlessly adapts to both i-series and j-series robots. The mopping pad spans the entire width of the cleaning rollers and wheels, ensuring an optimized cleaning performance seamlessly.
Attention to Detail
A Deep Dive Into The Details
From the elevated tips at the corners to the touch point on the bin door, every detail, spanning the pad plate's bottom layout to the illustrated UX graphic for the pad plate and wick cap removal, has been thoughtfully designed with care.
Water Refilling UX
Enrich the user experience with the Combo Bin by incorporating the user-friendly MAX FILL line. This distinctive marker not only prompts users when and where to stop but also enhances their understanding of the total tank volume and the ideal mixing ratios for various cleaning solutions. Furthermore, the water cap, seamlessly connected to the bin, offers a 360-degree rotation, guaranteeing users won't misplace it and ensuring a smooth refill process without any disruptions.
Thoughtful Design
A Drip Tray to Give You A Peace of Mind
The drip tray stands as a thoughtful accessory, preserving your floor from the wet mop pad. This allows users to initiate combo missions with peace of mind, especially when they are away from home. Ensuring a seamless post-mission cleanup. The transparent CMF not only minimizes its presence but also effortlessly integrates into diverse home settings, enhancing overall aesthetics.
Design Process
The design process began with an in-depth exploration phase and multiple research sessions, seeking insights to determine the most user-friendly pad plate installation and replacement experience. With the chosen UX method (slider card + Velcro) solidified, our focus turned to refining the geometries of the bin, pad plate, and overall pad design. Following a comprehensive review of the Engineering Prototype (EP) build samples, we meticulously enhanced the product's CMF and intricate details, paving the way for the commencement of mass production.
Post Launch Design-To-Value
New Design Opportunities
Following the 2023 product launch, the design journey continued to unfold. The core team actively explored potential design enhancements, such as investigating new materials for the drip tray and slider card, refining the finish treatment for the illustrated UX graphic on the pad plate & bin, and introducing a new surface finish on the bin door throughout the iRobot RVC product line. These design-to-value initiatives not only resulted in cost savings during production but also upheld the premium look and feel in its own class.
Your Clean Your Way
It’s designed for both wet and dry floor cleaning. Converting from an all-floor vacuum to a hard floor vacuum + mop, with the simple switch of a bin. Just pop in the Combo Bin and the robot will automatically detect it's time for a combination clean mission. Spend less time worrying about your floor and more time in control of the clean you want.
Release News
Dive into the Combo Bin's debut with these curated press and news screenshots. Experience the buzz, key moments, and media reactions that marked the successful launch of this innovative product.
