Robot vacuums are made to automatically clean your home on the schedule you set or when you call them to action. They are powered by a rechargeable battery and usually sit on a dock when not in use.
Some robotic vacuums also clean your floors. We tested models with a self-emptying platform to see how efficiently they disposed of debris from the dustbin to the garbage.
Self-Emptying Base
Self-emptying bases are an excellent addition to any robot vacuum that is compatible if you have allergies or are unable to empty the bin. Not only does it eliminate the hassle of emptying the bin manually however, it also means you’re less likely to reintroduce garbage from the bin’s contents into your home. It’s particularly beneficial for those who live in larger house.
Self-emptying bases are becoming more common among robotic vacuums, but they’re typically considered to be a luxury feature. They can cost a few hundred dollars more than a regular robot vacuum and are usually required to be purchased separately. However, they are worth it for those who are often unable to empty their robot’s trash bin and live in a big house.
Some models come with self-emptying bases that can hold weeks or months’ worth of dirt until it needs to be emptied. This means that there is less necessity for frequent emptying and gives your robot more time between cleaning sessions.
Many of the self-emptying robots we’ve tested have a smart home connection that lets you control them using your existing devices, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Some of them may also have other features that make them an ideal option for your smart home. For example, they might be equipped to schedule cleaning times or create no-go zones.
The most effective robots are outfitted with advanced features that allow them to navigate your home more efficiently. They’ll have a laser scanner that scans your floor to create an image of your floor and avoid obstacles and stairs. Certain models also feature intelligent object recognition, which helps to avoid rogue wires, furniture and other items.
The most advanced robots are equipped with high-resolution cameras that can detect tiny dirt particles. They are more effective in cleaning up messes, and also collect hair from pets. They also can improve the air quality by reducing the amount of dust and allergens they release into the air.
App Control
A robot will save you time and effort if you stay on top with it’s maintenance. For optimal performance, it is essential to clean the rotating brushes and replace the batteries. If you take good care of your robotic vacuum, you’ll be able to enjoy it for a long time. The site of the manufacturer should have an estimate of its lifespan and care instructions. Many owners of robot vacuums we’ve spoken to have the same machine for 10 years or more, and have upgraded it with new brushes, wheels and battery.
The best robots have a wide range of features for navigation that will can help your robot avoid hitting into walls and furniture while moving around the house. Higher-end models have built-in sensors that scan the space and map the space. This information is used to develop an action plan for the upcoming cleaning cycle to ensure that your robot doesn’t run into the same obstacles again. The most advanced models are able to recognize objects and can learn to avoid them over time.
Robots equipped with advanced mapping technology, such as 360 LiDAR can also work faster, completing coverage of rooms in a fraction of the time as less expensive models. Based on your budget, you can also choose one with spot or zone cleaning to target a specific part of the room (like under the dining table) or create recurring schedules for cleaning every day or twice daily, or weekly.
When the robot docks its base at the conclusion of cleaning, it typically automatically empties itself into a bagless robot vacuum cleaner self-emptying base which can hold several cleaning sessions’ worth of dirt and debris. Usually, you can track the progress of your app and hear a sound when it’s full. The bases are more substantial than charging stations on conventional robot vacuums, the aesthetics of your home is a priority you’ll need to be mindful of where you put it.
Some robots also integrate with smart devices like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant to let you start a cleaning session with a speaking. They can also sync up with your smartphone to show the complete details of each cleaning task, including the start and end times, battery usage, and job duration. You can also organize and remove old jobs if they’re no longer required.
Battery Life
The battery lifespan of the robot should be enough to clear your entire home in a single charge. It’s crucial that the robot is able to recharge itself so it won’t run out power during your cleaning session. The best robot vacuum for pet hair self-emptying bagless robots can accomplish this in under an hour, while other require several hours for a full recharge.
You should be able change the settings of the robot to tailor it for the floor type you have. Some robots, such as the $799 Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo 8 AIVI and $499 Roomba 690 from iRobot automatically increase suction power when mopping or vacuuming rugs. Certain models, such as the Shark IQ Robot Auto-Emptying Vac+Mop come with three modes of power: Max Normal and Eco. The Max mode is the most powerful, but consumes batteries fast, whereas Eco mode has the least power and lasts the longest.
Some robots also offer “dirt sense” and other advanced machine learning capabilities that help keep their surfaces clean. For instance, the Shark IQ Robot uses an algorithm called Freo to make “cleaning decisions,” such as returning to floors that are dirty to mop them. The iRobot Roomba 690 also uses a similar algorithm, called iAdapt 2.0 that allows it to alter the water jet’s pressure based on surface material. For instance, it will make use of more power to mop tile, and less power for hardwood when mopping.
Robots that utilize laser navigation systems, like the iRobot Roomba 690, create 2D and 3D maps of your home during their first cleaning session. These systems let the robot better navigate, especially in darkened rooms. You can also utilize the companion app to set up virtual no-go zones, and direct the robot to specific rooms.
Another robot we tried the Shark IQ Robot XL RV1001AE, utilizes Matrix Clean and Precision Home Mapping technology that has incredible suction power to sweep and mop multiple kinds of floors such as carpet with a high pile. It also comes with an emptying base that is bagless modern vacuum that can hold up to 45 days of dirt and other debris. This is significantly more self-sufficient than other robots that have bags-style dustbins, which requires you to empty the bin after every use.
Obstacle Avoidance
The best robot vacuums aren’t only able to remove dirt and debris but also swerve around tangled power cords, pet waste, furniture legs and other obstacles that can cause them to get stuck. This is why we include each model through our torture test for obstacle avoidance. In this test, we put up a series of blue and red items on the blue carpet in a tangled pattern to see how well each robot resisted them.
The most advanced models use sensors that work together to create maps and detect obstacles. The most advanced technology uses LiDAR which scans your surroundings and creates a 3D image of the room. This helps the robot understand its surroundings more accurately than other mapping systems.
Other mapping technologies include 3D Time of Flight sensors (ToF), and structured light. 3D ToF sensors emit infrared signals that bounce off objects and determine their height, size and depth. This allows the robot to know exactly where it is and what it’s doing with. 3D Structured Light works similarly, projecting patterns and analyzing the distortions of those patterns to generate maps. It is also able to detect translucent and reflective surfaces, though it can be challenged by pet waste and other messes.
Find models with advanced mapping and navigation capabilities when choosing a robot bagless sleek vacuum. These systems are particularly important when you have a bigger home because they can aid the robot in its navigation and clean your entire house without the need to re-map it every time.
A quality system can make the difference between a robot which is able to effortlessly clean your entire home, and one that has trouble navigating and gets stuck frequently. It could be the distinction between robots that are able to avoid pet messes or other household obstacles, and those that aren’t able to do so, causing damage or the internal components to become jammed. Fortunately even at the low price point, there are still plenty of options that can do well in staying clear of obstacles.