iRobot's Roomba 600 Series vacuum cleaning robots are to be made available in the UK. Prices for the automated cleaning machines start at £299 at national retailers including John Lewis and Harrod and at independent retailers via www.irobot.com/uk and from select retailers. For availability, visit the iRobot website at http://global.irobot.com.

The new Roomba 600 boasts improved brush design and optimised airflow to emove more hair from its’brushes, providing more thorough cleaning and reduced maintenance. The robot also has a bult dirt detection system that utilises an acoustic sensor to help find dirtier areas, so it can spend more time cleaning them.

The Roomba 600 also sounds like something of a boon for busier consumers. Not only can users program cleaning schedules for the device, they can even set up 'virtual walls' in their homes, keeping the robot in the rooms they want cleaned. The Roomba 600 also automatically docks and recharges on its own recharging stand when it's finished vacuuming or when its battery is running down.

The Rooma 600 series will be shown off this week in Berlin at the IFA tech and gadget show.