Fred Langa: Israeli Roomba Saves Children From Deadly Viper

Heroic Israeli Roomba Saves Children From Deadly Viper

Writing by Evan Ackerman on Friday, 20 of November , 2009 at 2:19 pm

This article, from Israel’s Yediot Acharonot newspaper, is titled “‘A Vacuum Cleaner Captured a Snake.” It looks like “captured” is a bit of an understatement… The Roomba 560 appears to have totally pwned what we’re told is a deadly viper threatening some kids (and possibly a cat) by sucking it up around one of its rotating brushes. There are more graphic pics of the, uh, end result over on Facebook, but suffice it to say that the poor little snakey came to a rather violent, and probably really confusing, end. I’m not sure I’ll be able to look at my Roomba the same way again (and neither will my pet snake), but it’s good to know that our robot vacuums have our backs when it comes to poisonous reptiles shaped like electrical cords.

Update- Commenter Shmuel provided a translation:

A few days ago Efi Frida(39) returned to her home in Mizpe Avtalyon in the Galilee and tried to turn on her Roomba. after a few failed tries Efi opened the machine and to her surprise found that during one of the vacuuming sessions it caught a Vipera palaestinae. The Roomba is built to vacuum the dust independently under beds and cabinets.

About six months ago Efi and her husband Eli(41) purchased the robot in order to assist them in the household cleaning where two children Jonathan (7) and Yael (4) in addition to two cats and two dogs. “its like having an au pair” Eli says.

One evening last week Efi turned the robot on and left the house. When she returned she tried to turn it back on though it kept beeping and getting stuck. When she opened the machine she discovered that the machine prevented the small viper from occupying the home and hurting her young children. “He was probably looking for a place to hide in one of the rooms because of the upcoming winter.” Eli explains.

The snake was wound thoroughly around the cleaning wheel and has received injuries to his head. by the time Eli returned home the viper died of its wounds. “I like snakes, so for me its somewhat a tragic ending” says Eli.

Eli quickly informed “IRobot” of the situation who were excited to hear of the story and sent the Frida family a remote as compensation. “We were very lucky”. sums Eli. “If the snake would have hid in the house and bitten one of the children it could have ended badly”

[ iRobot PackBot on Facebook ]

Thanks Dave!

Comments (7)

Category: Consumer

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7 Comments

Comment by Andy

Made Saturday, 21 of November , 2009 at 4:03 am

Wow that’s awesome.

Comment by NE

Made Saturday, 21 of November , 2009 at 7:05 pm

If you post the link to the article, perhaps I can translate. The photo’s resolution is too low to read.

Comment by Evan Ackerman

Made Saturday, 21 of November , 2009 at 8:45 pm

Unfortunately, all I’ve got is that picture… iRobot says that they’re working on getting a source for the actual article, and if they do, I’ll be sure and post it.

Comment by Shmuel Shoshtari

Made Sunday, 22 of November , 2009 at 2:01 pm

Here is a rough translation. Please excuse the grammar.

A few days ago Efi Frida(39) returned to her home in Mizpe Avtalyon in the Galilee and tried to turn on her Roomba. after a few failed tries Efi opened the machine and to her surprise found that during one of the vacuuming sessions it caught a Vipera palaestinae. The Roomba is built to vacuum the dust independently under beds and cabinets.

About six months ago Efi and her husband Eli(41) purchased the robot in order to assist them in the household cleaning where two children Jonathan (7) and Yael (4) in addition to two cats and two dogs. “its like having an au pair” Eli says.

One evening last week Efi turned the robot on and left the house. When she returned she tried to turn it back on though it kept beeping and getting stuck. When she opened the machine she discovered that the machine prevented the small viper from occupying the home and hurting her young children. “He was probably looking for a place to hide in one of the rooms because of the upcoming winter.” Eli explains.

The snake was wound thoroughly around the cleaning wheel and has received injuries to his head. by the time Eli returned home the viper died of its wounds. “I like snakes, so for me its somewhat a tragic ending” says Eli.

Eli quickly informed “IRobot” of the situation who were excited to hear of the story and sent the Frida family a remote as compensation. “We were very lucky”. sums Eli. “If the snake would have hid in the house and bitten one of the children it could have ended badly”

Comment by Shmuel Shoshtari

Made Sunday, 22 of November , 2009 at 2:02 pm

Oh yea and higher quality pic in hebrew
http://www.irobot.co.il/images/pdf/ynet1.pdf

Comment by Evan Ackerman

Made Sunday, 22 of November , 2009 at 9:42 pm

Awesome, thanks!

Comment by Mo

Made Friday, 27 of November , 2009 at 3:33 am

That was no viper but a non venomous snake.

I guess the Roomba owner thought it was a viper and the journalist was happy for a more dramatic story.

It was a “Coluber jugularis” – http://bit.ly/7752TD .

The Roomba can still be considered a hero, though, since it couldn’t have known the difference :-)

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