What Makes a Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best?

The best robot vacuums come with a powerful motors and a set of bristles or rollers that are tough. They also have large dustbins as well as an extended battery life.

Some models use smart mapping to create maps of homes. They can be able to pause, recharge and pick up cleaning exactly where they left off. They can also set up no-go zones, and determine the different surfaces.

Object Avoidance

Object detection is a crucial feature of robot vacuums since it assists them in avoiding getting into small objects like socks, shoes or toys that aren’t in the floor, but instead on furniture or other things. These systems employ an integrated camera to recognize objects in an AI database, and then teach the vacuum to avoid them. The Eufy S1 Pro, for example, utilizes a mix of sensors, including 3D Time of Flight (sending light pulses to determine the distance and depth of surrounding objects) and 3D Structured Light (beaming a pattern of light onto the room and analyzing the distortion of light to create a map) to efficiently steer away from obstacles.

Artificial intelligence and visual interpretation are a newer addition to robot obstacle avoidance. They enable robots to better comprehend and recognize what they come across. This software works with a single or dual camera to view the world around them, and analyzes it in real time. The ECOVACS DEEBOT uses this software to detect up to 30 types of objects including cables, shoes and pet poop.

Certain models also employ LiDAR to navigate. This technology emits lasers and analyzes the time it takes for them to bounce off the surfaces around them to create a 3-D map. This is useful for the detection of furniture, walls and even stairs. However, it may not work as well in dim lighting or with transparent or reflective objects.

No matter what sensors or cameras are used regardless of the camera or sensor used, a long-lasting battery is essential to ensure that your robot can complete the entire house without needing to return to its dock to recharge. Choose a model with a battery life of at least 80 minutes, or more, depending on the size and shape of your home.

Bases that Self-Empty

Some robot vacuum cleaners come with self-emptying bases that can reduce the frequency you must empty your dustbin. They’re considered to be a luxury feature and typically add to the overall price of the robot.

The best robots have bases that can either house bins or a removable dust bin that you can open and empty when it’s full. This can save you time by decreasing the amount of time you spend worrying about the time to empty a bin.

You’ll find self-emptying bases on all the robots in our review, except for the basic Roomba I3+, which doesn’t have a self-emptying base. It’s a pity, since this robot is otherwise a very strong performer. It got the best results in mapping of all the robots we tested and it has excellent navigating abilities. It also has a good mowing power and a docking station which can automatically empty the water tank if needed.

It doesn’t have iRobot’s advanced obstacle avoidance system or digital keep-out zones, though it is hung up on cables and rugs and can’t see shoes and socks that aren’t in order. It’s still the perfect choice for a small, well-maintained house.

Other strong points are its navigation technology, which includes bump sensors as well as a drop sensor, and the ability to make your home a map using cameras and lasers. It is easy to use, has a range of options and settings, and performs well when cleaning or mowing. Its smart-home feature allows it to be controlled via voice commands made using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. This can make it easier to use in the event that you own several tablets or smartphones, and don’t wish to pick up the traditional remote vacuum.

App Controls

Some robots are Wi-Fi enabled which allows you to control them from your tablet or smartphone. This is particularly beneficial in large homes that have several floors. You may have to climb an elevator to reach the robot before it can reach the bottom. This will eliminate the need for an extra long cord, allowing you to move furniture with no worries about the robot becoming tangled in it or running out power while cleaning.

The app functions as a central control point for monitoring and scheduling tasks. The app also allows you to customize your robot cleaner’s cleaning mode, power and water level settings. This feature is particularly useful inside homes that have multiple automatic floor cleaner types — for instance, carpet or tile because you can designate the robot to clean each room using the appropriate power and mode.

Certain models have a built-in camera that transmits a live feed to the app. These models are great for pet owners and those with children who need to watch the robot while it functions. Some smart robots utilize sensors to know when they reach the edges of an area and return to their docking station. This stops them from overrunning an area and ensures they’ve cleaned every surface within your home.

Certain models are able to automatically empty the dustbin and blow dry and wash mop heads between cleaning sessions. This minimizes the frequency of manual maintenance and helps keep the cleaner running smoothly for a longer period of time. You can also choose a model that has a longer battery life that will allow you to avoid the hassles of mid-cleaning recharge.

Sensors

Many robot vacuums come with sensors that let them navigate around your home. They can work on carpets, area rugs and hard floors such as tiles and wood. They’re not a replacement for an actual canister or upright auto vacuum cleaner cleaner, but they do offer great suction on dust and dirt and are a wonderful way to keep your floor clean between deep cleanings using a traditional machine.

Sensors aid the robot in navigating your space by spotting obstacles and avoiding falling down stairs. They also let you define physical and virtual “no-go” zones using boundaries or virtual walls (like the ones used by Eufy) to block the robot from entering certain areas of your home. Certain robots also come with cliff sensors, which warn you when the robot is close to crashing into an edge.

The kind of navigational system the robot uses is determined by your budget and the layout of your home. Some of the most advanced robotic vacuums utilize LiDAR sensors to scan and map areas, ensuring accurate navigation. These systems are costly, but they provide the most efficient results. Cheaper models with basic bump navigation systems are less precise and could miss some spots. They’re great for avoiding big obstacles, but they could still be unable to detect dirt in crevices or around baseboards.

Choose a model that has an enormous dust bin and long battery life. You can find models that can dock and recharge and then resume where they left off. This can save time. You can get the most value from your robot vacuum in addition to navigation by making sure that you are prepared for each cleaning session. Make sure that power cords, toys and other debris are tucked away and out of the robot’s path, and empty the bin after each cleaning. Also, clean the charging ports and sensors to ensure that the robot is healthy.

Navigation

The best robot vacuums use mapping technology to create digital maps of your home during the initial cleaning session. It assists them in recognizing textures such as carpets or hard floors and ensures all areas are cleaned. It also prevents your robots from having to clean the same areas repeatedly to increase efficiency and reduce battery consumption. Many top models come with the option to save the map of your house to use in the future which is ideal for homes with larger spaces.

The majority of robotic vacuums come with some kind of obstacle avoidance, which prevents them from running into shoes, cords or socks. However, these sensors don’t always recognize smaller objects. Manufacturers added sensors to robots in the past few years. They were able to identify and avoid objects that sensors could not. These include cliff sensors and wall sensors that operate by reflecting infrared beams of light off surfaces to determine distances.

Certain sensors are built directly into the robot base, however, others require being purchased separately. They generally assist the robot to navigate in a safe manner and avoid falling down steps, and stay clear of clutter. Some models have anti-drop sensors that automatically stop the robots from crashing against furniture and walls.

LiDAR mapping is the latest and most advanced technology for navigation and it’s something you should look for in the robot vacuum. This system uses the spinning sensor on the robot to map your home. It can map your home’s layout by bouncing infrared rays off your walls and furniture. This helps to plan efficient routes and clear your entire house.