What Makes a Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best?

The top robot vacuums feature a powerful engine and a sturdy set of bristles or rollers. They also have decently sized dustbins and large battery life.

Some models map homes using smart mapping. They can pause to recharge, and then clean up where they stopped. They can also set up no-go zones, and recognize different surfaces.

Object Avoidance

Object detection is a crucial feature for robot vacuums because it helps them avoid getting into small objects like socks, shoes or toys, or even cords that aren't found on the floor, but instead on furniture or other items. These systems employ an integrated camera to detect objects in an AI database, and then teach the vacuum to avoid them. The Eufy S1 Pro uses a combination of sensors, such as 3D Time of Flight, which emits light pulses into the room to gauge the distance and the depth of objects, and 3D Structured Light, which emits a pattern of light onto the room and analyzes the light distortion to create a map to avoid obstacles.

Artificial intelligence and visual interpretation are more recent addition to robot obstacle avoidance. They allow robots to better comprehend and recognize what they come across. This software utilizes a single or double camera to look around and analyze 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 laser beams and records the time it takes for them to bounce back from nearby surfaces to create a live 3D map of the surrounding. This is helpful in finding furniture, walls, and even stairs. It might not be effective in dim lighting or with reflective or transparent objects.

Whatever sensor or cameras are used, a good battery life is important to ensure that your robot is able to complete an entire home without needing to return to its dock to recharge. Select a model that has an endurance of at least 80 minutes, or more, depending on the size and shape of your home.

Bases that Self-Empty

Certain robot automated vacuum cleaner cleaners come with self-emptying bases. This could reduce the frequency that you have to empty your trash. They are considered a premium feature and can increase the cost of a robotic vacuum cleaner.

The most effective robots have bases that can either house bins or a removable dustbin that you can easily open and empty when full. This will reduce the amount of time you're thinking about when to empty your dustbin and can be a huge benefit in the case of a messy household.

All of the robots we tested have self-emptying bases, except the Roomba I3+. This is a shame since this robot is extremely efficient. It got the highest mapping performance of all the robots we tested and it has excellent navigating abilities. It also has a good mower power, as well as docking station that automatically empty the water tank if it is required.

It doesn't have iRobot's advanced obstacle avoidance and digital keep-out zone, however it can get tangled up in cables and rugs and it isn't able to detect the stray shoelaces or socks. It's an excellent choice for a smaller home which is well-maintained.

Other strong points of the product include its aforementioned navigation technology, including drop sensors and bump sensors, as well as its ability to map your entire home using cameras and laser. It's also simple to set up, comes with a wide variety of settings and modes, and offers outstanding mowing and vacuuming performance. Another benefit is its smart-home functionality, which enables it to work with voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This can make it easier to operate in the event that you own several tablets or smartphones, and don't want to buy an old-fashioned remote.

App Controls

Some robots are Wi-Fi enabled that allow users to control them from your tablet or smartphone. This is particularly useful in homes with a lot of floors, where you may have to navigate through a staircase before the robot can get to the bottom of it. This eliminates the need for an additional long cord so you can move furniture without worrying about the robot getting tangled in it or running out of power when automated cleaning.

The app acts as a central control point for monitoring and scheduling tasks. The app allows you to alter the cleaning mode, power and the water level of your robot cleaner. This feature is especially useful for homes with multiple flooring types, such as tiles and carpet. You can assign the robot the appropriate power and cleaning mode to clean every area.

Some models come with a built-in video camera that sends live feeds directly to the application. These models are a good choice for pet owners and parents of children who want to keep an eye on the robot while it's working. Other smart robots use sensors to determine when they are near the edges of an area and return to their docking station. This prevents them from taking over an area and also ensures that they've cleaned every surface within your home.

Some models can automatically empty the dustbin and wash and blow dries its mop heads in between cleaning sessions. This will reduce the need for manual maintenance, and the robot cleaner will perform better for a longer time. You can also select a model with a longer battery life, which will help you avoid the hassles of mid-cleaning recharge.

Sensors

Many robot vacuums come with sensors that let them navigate around your home. They can be used on area rugs, carpets as well as hard floors such as tiles and wood. They're not an alternative to the full-size canister or upright automatic vacuum cleaner, but they do offer excellent suction on dirt and dust and can be a great way to keep your floor clean between deep cleanings with the traditional vacuum.

Sensors aid the robot in navigating your space by detecting obstacles and avoiding falling down stairs. They also allow you to set virtual and physical "no-go" zones with a feature called boundary strips or virtual walls (like the ones used by Eufy) to block the robot from entering certain areas of your home. Some robots come with cliff sensors that warn you when your robot is set to fall into a cliff.

The kind of navigational system robot employs is determined by your budget and home layout. Some of the most advanced robotic vacuums make use of LiDAR sensors to map and scan rooms, ensuring accurate and efficient navigation. These systems can be expensive, but they provide the best results. Budget-friendly models with rudimentary bump navigation systems are less precise and could miss some places. They're good for avoiding major obstacles, but they can still be unable to detect dirt in crevices or around baseboards.

Find a model that has an extra-large dust bin as well as a long battery lifespan. You can also find models that can recharge and resume where they left off when they dock to save time. In addition to navigation, you can make the most of your robot vacuum by preparing for each cleaning session. Check that all power cables as well as toys and other debris is tucked out of the path of the robot and empty the bin after each cleaning. Cleanse the charging port and sensors to keep your robot 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 the different the different textures, like hard floors and carpets, and ensures that all areas are clean. The mapping also stops your robot from having to clean the same spots that improves efficiency and can reduce the use of batteries. A lot of high-end models let you save the map to be used in the future. This is ideal for large homes.

Most robotic vacs have some form of obstacle avoidance, which prevents them from running into cords, shoes, or socks. These sensors are not always able to detect smaller items. Manufacturers added sensors to robots around a year ago. This enabled them to recognize and avoid household objects that sensors could not. These include cliff and wall sensors, which operate by bouncing infrared light beams off of surfaces to determine distances.

Some sensors are built directly into the robot's base while others need to be purchased separately. These sensors assist the robot vac to navigate safely and avoid falling off stairs, and stay clear from clutter. Certain models come with anti-drop sensors that prevent the robots from crashing against furniture and walls.

LiDAR mapping is the latest and most advanced technology for navigation and is a feature that you should look for in a robot vacuum. The system makes use of the spinning sensor on the robot to map out your home. By scattering infrared beams across your walls and furniture, it can sense the layout of your space. This information helps it plan efficient routes and clean your entire home.