What Makes a Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best?

The best robot vacuum for vinyl plank floors robot vacuums have a powerful engine and a robust set of bristles or rollers. They also have large dustbins as well as a long battery life.

Certain models employ smart mapping to map homes, and they can stop, recharge and then resume cleaning right where they started. They can also set up no-go zones, and identify different surfaces.

Object Avoidance

Object detection is an essential feature for robot vacuums as it helps them avoid hitting small objects such as socks, shoes, toys or cords that aren't found on the floor vacuum robot, but instead on furniture or other objects. 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 uses a combination of sensors, such as 3D Time of Flight, which sends light pulses into the room to determine the distance and the depth of objects, and 3D Structured Light, which emits a pattern of light onto the room, analyzing the light distortion, to build a map to steer clear of obstacles.

A recent addition to the obstacle avoidance arsenal is artificial intelligence and visual interpretation, which allows robots to recognize and understand what they're observing. This software uses cameras that are either double or single to look around and analyze 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 to navigate. The technology emits laser beams and measures the amount of time it takes them to bounce back at surrounding surfaces to create a live, 3-D map of the environment. This is helpful in the detection of furniture, walls and even stairs. However, it may not be as effective in dim lighting or when working with transparent or reflective objects.

Whatever sensor or cameras are being used regardless of the camera or sensor, a long battery life is crucial to ensure that your robot can completely fill your home without having to return to its dock to recharge. Find a model that can run for at least 80 minutes or more, depending on the dimensions of your living space.

Self-Emptying Bases

Some robot vacuum cleaners feature self-emptying bases, which could decrease the frequency you need to empty your bin. They're considered a premium feature that typically increases the cost of the robot.

The most effective robots have bases that hold either bins or a removable dustbin. You can open it and empty it once full. This can cut down on the amount of time that you spend worrying about when you should empty your trash bin and can make a big difference if you have a high-mess household.

All the robots we reviewed have self-emptying bases, except the Roomba I3+. That's a shame, because this robot is extremely efficient. It had the best mapping results out of all the robots that we tested and has excellent navigation capabilities. It also has good mower power and a docking station that can automatically empty the water tank whenever required.

It's not equipped with iRobot's innovative obstacle avoidance or digital keep-out zones, though it is hung up on cables and rugs and doesn't have the ability to detect rogue socks and shoelaces. However, it's the perfect choice for a small, well-maintained house.

Other strong points of the product include its navigation technology, including bump sensors and drop sensors, as well as its ability to map out your entire house using cameras and laser. It's also easy to set up, has numerous settings and modes, and provides outstanding mowing and vacuuming performance. Another benefit is its smart-home connectivity which allows it to work with voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This can make it easier to use if have multiple smartphones or tablets and don't want to grab an additional remote.

App Controls

Some robots are Wi-Fi enabled which allows you to control them using your tablet or smartphone. This feature is particularly beneficial in homes with a lot of floors, in which you may have to navigate down a flight of stairs before the robot can get to the bottom. This removes the need for an extra long cord to move furniture with no worries about the robot becoming tangled in it or running out power while cleaning.

The app acts as a one-stop control center for monitoring and scheduling tasks. The app lets you customize the cleaning mode, power and water level of your robot cleaner. This feature is especially useful inside homes that have multiple floor types -- for instance, carpet and tile -- because you can set the robot to clean each area with the appropriate power and mode.

Some models have a built-in video camera that can send live feeds directly to the app. These models are a great choice for pet owners or parents of children who wish to keep an eye on the robot while it's in operation. Some smart robots utilize sensors to detect when they've reached the edge 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 in your home.

Certain models automatically empty the dustbin and blow dry and wash its mop heads between cleaning sessions. This eliminates the requirement for manual maintenance and the robot cleaner will function better for a longer time. You can also select a model with a longer battery life that will allow you to avoid the hassles of mid-cleaning recharge.

Sensors

Many robot vacuums use sensors to navigate your home and work their magic on hard floors such as laminate, tile, and wood as well as low pile carpets and area rugs. They're not a replacement for an actual upright or canister vacuum cleaner, but they offer great suction on dust and dirt and are a wonderful way to keep your floor clean between deep cleanings with an upright machine.

Sensors allow the robot to navigate through your home by detecting obstacles and also avoiding falling down the stairs. You can also create virtual and physical "no go" zones using boundary strips or virtual wall (like the ones used by eufy) to prevent the cheap robot vacuum from entering certain areas within your home. Some robots have cliff sensors that alert you when your robot is about to fall into the edge of a cliff.

The kind of navigational system the robot utilizes is determined by your budget and the layout of your home. The most advanced robotic vacuums use LiDAR-based sensors to map and scan rooms, which ensures accurate and efficient navigation. These systems are costly, but they provide the most effective results. Budget models with rudimentary navigation bumps are less precise and can miss some places. They're good for avoiding major obstacles, but they can still miss dirt in crevices and around baseboards.

Select a model with a an extensive dust bin as well as long battery life. You can find models that recharge and dock and then pick up where they left off. This saves time. In addition to navigation and cleaning, you can make the most of your robot vacuum by prepping for each cleaning session. Make sure that power cords and toys are kept away from the robot's path. Also, empty the bin every cleaning. Wipe down the sensors and charging port to keep your robot healthy.

Navigation

The top robot vacuums utilize mapping technology to create a digital map of your home during the initial cleaning session. It allows them to recognize patterns like carpets or hard floors and ensures that all areas are clean. The mapping also stops your robot from having to clean the same spots which increases efficiency and can reduce battery usage. A lot of high-end models offer the option to save the map of your home for future use which is a great feature for larger homes.

Most robotic vacuums feature some form of obstacle avoidance, which keeps them from crashing into cords, shoes, or socks. However, these sensors can't always recognize smaller objects. In the past few years manufacturers began adding more sensors to their robots, which allowed them to detect and avoid household items that standard sensor systems couldn't. These include wall and cliff sensors, which operate by bouncing infrared light beams off of surfaces to determine distances.

Some sensors are built directly into the robot base, however, others require being purchased separately. These sensors aid the robot navigate in a safe manner and avoid falling off stairs, and stay clear from clutter. Certain models also have anti-drop sensors, which automatically stop the robot vacuum cleaner review from colliding with furniture or walls.

LiDAR mapping is the most recent and most advanced navigation technology and is an option to look for in 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 the walls and furniture. This helps in planning efficient routes and clean your entire house.