Rico and Raul's Retirement

We bought a Roomba four or five years ago and liked it so much that when we had to get a second house in Albion for Darwin's job, we got one for that house, too. We named them Rico and Raul. Here at the new house, we set Raul on the main floor and Rico in the basement.

They've had some problems.

We have a couple of large area rugs with abstract patterns that include black squares. Raul's radar sees these squares as the edge of a staircase, or "cliff," as the Roomba company calls it. When the Roomba's IR sensor picks up a cliff, it backs away. Unfortunately, Raul reads the black squares as cliffs, but he doesn't just back away from them; he just gives up and stops. Then I get a text message from the app that says Rico is stranded. I have to go nudge him away from the fake cliff. And a few minutes later, it happens again.

Additionally, though, both of them are running down. Their motors are getting louder and making clicking noises. And they don't pick up debris like they used to.

Time to remand Rico and Raul to the Roomba retirement residence.

I've ordered a new pair. They should be here soon. And Rico and Raul can rest.

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