Tank cleaners beware, there's a new robot in town, and it's going to take your jobs away.
We’ve been following this one for a while now, and I was pleasantly surprised when a shiny, brand new RoboSnail turned up in the post from our friends over at Maidenhead Aquatics.
Is it self-aware? I don’t know, because I haven’t plugged it in yet. I’ve seen videos of these devices in action, periodically hopping out from their recharge point to give the front pane a thorough once over, before retiring themselves back to their power source.
Think of the doodling robots that skittered about in Star Wars, pick one up and stick it on the glass of your tank, and that’s almost what you have. A magnet attaches it to the cleaning element inside the tank, and away it goes.
I’m dying to put this one through its paces, so I’ve drafted in the help of fishkeeping’s very own anonymous Stig to test it – to death if that’s what’s required.
First thoughts? It’s smart. Not as heavy as I thought it would be, it has adjustments for glass thickness, and most of all it doesn’t look like it needs endless bothersome programming before it agrees to even turn on.
Is it worth the £249.99 asking price? Good question. Currently I don’t know. It feels like it’s worth it, but the proof will be very much in the pudding.
In the meantime, I’ve half a mind to charge it up and let it roam around on the floor so I can wander about in skin tight lycra and get all Buck Rogers for a bit.
Watch this space. And if you just can’t wait and need one for yourself, get down to Maidenhead Aquatics and buy one, and tell me what you think of it.