Window-cleaning robot launched in Taiwan

A window-cleaning robot that won a gold medal at the 2010 iENA Nuremberg International Trade Fair was launched in Taiwan Thursday. Dubbed the "Winbot," the robot is a creation of local inventor Chao Chih-mo. It uses magnets to attach to windows up to 10 mm thick. K.E. & Kingstone Co. and Hobot Technology, which introduced the product, expect to cash in on yearend promotions in major department stores, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported. The robot is priced at under NT$10,000 (US$330), and can operate at least five times more quickly that human window cleaners, the company said. It is also able to detect the cleaning area on its own using automatic navigation technology and infrared sensors, the company added. — TJD, GMA News