What Makes a Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best?

The best robot vacuums come with an efficient engine and a durable set of bristles or rollers. They also have decently sized dustbins and long battery life.

Certain models employ smart mapping to identify homes, and they can be able to pause, recharge and resume cleaning right where they stopped. They can set up no-go zones, and recognize different surfaces.

Object Avoidance

Object detection is a crucial feature of robot vacuums, because it allows them avoid crashing into small items like socks, toys, cords or shoes that are not on the floor, but on furniture. The machines use a built-in camera to recognize objects that appear in an AI database, and then teach the vacuum to avoid them. The Eufy S1 Pro, for instance, makes use of a variety of sensors, including 3D Time of Flight (sending light pulses to measure the distance and depth of nearby objects) and 3D Structured Light (beaming a pattern of lights onto the room and analyzing the light distortion to build an image) to efficiently steer clear of obstacles.

Artificial intelligence and visual interpretation are a more recent addition to robot obstacle avoidance. They enable robots to understand and identify what they encounter. This software uses a single or dual camera to see the world around them, and analyzes it in real time. The ECOVACS DEEBOT uses this software to detect up to 30 different kinds of objects including cables, shoes, and pet poop.

Certain models employ LiDAR for navigation. This technology emits lasers and determines the amount of time it takes for them to bounce off the surfaces around them in order to create a 3-D map. This is able to detect walls, furniture, and even stairs. It may not work well in low light or with reflective or transparent objects.

Whatever cameras or sensors are employed, it is important that your robot has a long battery life so that it can last the duration of a home without having to return to the dock to recharge. Look for models that can run for at least an hour or more, based on the size of your living space.

Bases that self-empty

Certain robot vacuum cleaners come with self-emptying bases. This can decrease the frequency you have to empty your trash. They're considered a premium feature and typically add to the overall price of the robot.

The most effective robots have bases that can either hold bins or a removable dustbin that is easy to open and empty when it's full. This can save you time by decreasing the amount of time you spend worrying about when to empty the dustbin.

Self-emptying bases are present on all the robots in our review, except for the bare-bones Roomba I3+, which doesn't have one. This is a shame because this robot is extremely efficient. It had the best mapping results of all the robots we tested and has excellent navigational capabilities. It also has excellent mower power, as well as docking stations which can automatically empty the water tank when it is required.

It lacks iRobot’s advanced obstacle avoidance technology and digital keep-out zone, but it can get tangled up in cables and rugs and it isn't able to detect shoes or socks that are not in good order. That said, it's an excellent option for a small, well-maintained home.

Other strong points of the product include its navigation technology, which includes bump sensors and drop sensors, and the ability to map your entire house using cameras and a laser. It is easy to use, has a range of settings and modes and is a great choice for cleaning or mowing. Another perk is its smart-home connectivity, that allows it to function with voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. That can make it easier to use if you have multiple smartphones or tablets and don't want to grab the remote.

App Controls

Some robots connect to Wi-Fi. This allows you to control them with your smartphone or tablet. This convenience is especially helpful in homes with a lot of floors, where you may need to walk down a flight of stairs before the robot is able to get to the bottom. It also removes the need for a lengthy cord, so you can move furniture around without having to worry about the robot getting caught up in the cord or running out of energy during cleaning.

The app serves as a central control point to monitor and schedule tasks. The app allows you to customize the power, cleaning mode and the water level of your robot cleaner. This feature is particularly useful for homes with multiple flooring types, such as carpet and tile. You can assign the robot the right power and cleaning mode for each area.

Certain models come with a built-in video camera that sends live video directly to the application. These models are perfect for pet owners and people with children who need to keep an eye on the robot as it operates. Other smart robots use sensors to detect when they are near the edges of an area and return to their docking station. This stops them from sweeping over the area and also ensures that they've cleaned all the surfaces of your home.

Some models can empty the dustbin automatically and wash their mop heads and blow dry them between cleaning sessions. This will reduce the requirement for manual maintenance and the robot cleaner will work better for longer. There is also a model that has an extended battery duration which allows you to avoid the hassle of having to recharge mid-cleaning.

Sensors

A lot of robot vacuums are fitted with sensors that let them navigate around your home. They can be used on carpets, area rugs, and hard floors like tile and wood. They're not a replacement for a full-size, canister or upright vacuum cleaner, but they do offer excellent suction on dirt and dust and can be a great way to keep the floor clean between deep cleanings with a traditional machine.

Sensors enable the robot to navigate through your home by detecting obstacles and also avoiding falling down steps. You can also create physical and virtual "no go" zones by using boundary strips or virtual wall (like those employed by Eufy) to prevent the robot entering specific areas within your home. Some robots have cliff sensors that alert you when the robot is close to running into an edge.

The type of navigation system the robot employs is contingent on your budget and home layout. The most advanced robotic vacuum Cleaner Best vacuums utilize LiDAR-based sensors to scan and map rooms, ensuring precise and efficient navigation. These systems are expensive, but they provide the most efficient results. Cheaper models with basic bump navigation systems are less precise and can miss spots. These models are good at avoiding major obstacles but can miss dirt in crevices or around baseboards.

Find a model that has an extra-large dust bin and a long battery life. There are models that can recharge and resume where they left off when they dock to help save time. In addition to navigation and cleaning, you can get the most out of your robot vacuum by prepping for each cleaning session. Make sure that power cords, toys and other debris are kept out of the robot's path, and empty the bin after each cleaning. Clean the charging port and sensors to ensure your robot is in good health.

Navigation

The most effective robot vacuums create a digital mapping of your home using mapping technology in the initial cleaning session. It allows them to recognize different the different textures, like hard floors and carpets, and ensures that all areas are thoroughly cleaned. Mapping also saves your robot from having to clean the same areas which increases efficiency and may reduce the use of batteries. Many top models come with the option to save the map of your house for future use, which is great for larger homes.

Most robotic vacuums have an obstacle avoidance system that prevents them from running over cords or socks or shoes. However, these sensors don't always recognize smaller objects. Manufacturers added sensors to robots in the past few years. This allowed them to recognize and avoid household objects that standard sensor systems could not. These include cliff sensors as well as wall sensors that function by reflecting infrared beams of light off surfaces to determine distances.

Certain sensors are integrated directly into the robot's base while others must be purchased separately. These sensors aid the robot to navigate safely and avoid falling down stairs, and stay away from clutter. Some models even include anti-drop sensors that will stop the robot from colliding with furniture or walls.

LiDAR mapping is the most recent and most advanced technology for navigation and is a feature that you should look for in robot vacuum. This system uses a spinning sensor mounted on the robot to map out your home. By bounced infrared beams off furniture and walls, it can sense the layout of your space. This helps to plan efficient routes and clear your entire house.