For more than a decade, millions of robots built by iRobot Corporation (IRBT -2.48%) have autonomously wandered through their surroundings using bumpers, lasers, and infrared and acoustic sensors.
But what if there was a better way for robots to get around?
And no, we're not talking about remote controls. According to the Fool's Steve Symington in the video below, iRobot has just the thing with vSLAM, which stands for "visual simultaneous location and mapping." By using its patented vSLAM technology in conjunction with low-cost cameras to build visual maps of the surrounding area, recent comments from iRobot indicate it's planning to introduce an entirely new generation of self-navigating automatons.
To hear Steve's take on what this means for robotics fans and investors alike -- including where iRobot acquired the necessary intellectual property behind vSLAM -- please watch the full video below.
