Nowadays, robotic vacuum cleaners have become generally available, they can be purchased for objectively little money.
Smart gadgets have finally entered our life and have become an integral part of it for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Smart appliances and electronics allow us to use kettles, sockets, heaters or light bulbs from a distance. And some gadgets are designed not only to make everyday life easier, but also to literally take over some of the work.
This statement applies, for example, to robotic vacuum cleaners. These small devices keep your home clean without your intervention and almost invisibly.
Manufacturers of robotic vacuum cleaners offer many models at affordable prices, but when choosing a gadget, you should pay attention to its main characteristics.
So that the purchase does not turn out to be useless, let us consider the main features of such robots using the example of models present on the Ukrainian market.
Hard choice
As is the case with other electronic devices, price is not always the determining factor for robotic vacuum cleaners. When buying this gadget, you must first of all pay attention to what kind of design it has, what kind of cleaning is it intended for, how the navigation system works and a few more defining categories.
Let's explore some of them.
Cleaning types
There are three main types of robotic vacuum cleaners on the market: the actual vacuum cleaner, the floor polisher and the wet vacuum cleaner.
The first type is the most popular, as it is designed to collect dust and small debris indoors. In most cases, these robots are equipped with rotating cylindrical roller brushes to help pick up debris. If there is no brush, the quality of cleaning will be noticeably worse.
The robot floor polisher is only needed for wet cleaning. Even stubborn dirt and grease stains can be removed with this device. Special wipes, which are attached to the vibrating surface of the polisher, and dosed spraying of water or cleaning products, allows you to clean any hard floor covering.
The robot vacuum cleaner with the function of wet cleaning is a mixture of the previous two types of devices, but its effectiveness is much lower. Such models moisten the attached napkin to the vacuum cleaner with water and wipe the floor, so the quality of cleaning leaves much to be desired.
The classic robot vacuum cleaner is the most practical smart device that is suitable for dry cleaning in the home. And for general cleaning it is better to buy two separate devices.
Where to begin?
To determine what the robot vacuum cleaner is capable of, it is enough to turn the device upside down (more precisely, with the wheels).
In the center of the vacuum cleaner, you will see the dust container opening through which debris enters the tank. The most practical models are equipped with one or two main turbo brushes for picking up the finest debris, hair and wool from carpets and other surfaces.
Figure: 1. The working surface of the Panda robot vacuum cleaner - there is no brush for collecting debris (the location area is highlighted in red dotted line)
Robot vacuum cleaner without brushes (Fig. 1) will not be able to lift heavy debris and will be useless on the carpet. The cleaning result is fundamentally different for vacuum cleaners with one and two brushes. On carpet, the difference reaches 40%.
A robotic vacuum cleaner with one brush is also ineffective for picking up sand and large debris on rough surfaces (Fig. 2).
Figure: 2 The working surface of the Miele Robot Vacuum Cleaner - one brush for collecting debris (the area of the brush is marked with a red dotted line)
The principle of operation of two brushes is patented by the American company iRobot and is that the brushes move one towards the other, lifting and grabbing all the debris from the surface and throwing it up into the vacuum cleaner tank (Fig. 3).
Figure: 3. Working surface of the robot vacuum cleaner IRobot (2 brushes)
The side brushes are usually located at the front of the robot cleaner.
These accessory tools are designed for hard-to-reach areas such as corners, along walls and furniture.
They grab the debris and direct it to the turbo brushes, which then throw all the debris into the bin.
One of the best layout options in Ukraine robot vacuum cleaners is offered by the American brand iRobot. The system of two turbo brushes is used in all models, ranging from the budget (with one bristle brush and rubber roller) to the top models with two rubber rollers. The rubber rollers make the robot vacuum cleaner easy to care for: hair and animal hair will not get tangled and the rollers are easy to clean. Due to iRobot's patent on the design of their brushes, competitors cannot offer similar options to customers. In addition, only iRobot has a Dirt Detect system for detecting dirty areas: when the vacuum cleaner gets on particularly dirty areas of the floor, it passes several times for a more thorough cleaning.
Consider the quality of the wheels: large and flexible chassis options will help the vacuum cleaner overcome the most difficult obstacles. As practice shows, the most effective gadgets can pass obstacles up to 2 cm high.
Navigation
There is an opinion that the robot that "draws the map" is the most technologically advanced. However, the main purpose of a robot vacuum cleaner is to keep your home clean.
Navigation is, of course, important, but for small apartments (40-55 sq. m) this function is not always useful and there is no point in overpaying for it.
To work without a camera, the robot vacuum cleaner uses a set of sensors and sensors that help you navigate in space, avoid obstacles and clean the room.Navigation (camera or laser rangefinder) is required in apartments from 60 sq. m or for houses with several floors, where the vacuum cleaner needs to remember several different cards.
Also, navigation is useful in that the vacuum cleaner can be sent to a specific room for cleaning.
The most effective and advanced navigation tool remains optical sensors, which process and analyze all information about the room and create a visual map of it.
IRobot models are equipped with vSLAM and iAdapt smart navigation technologies, which allow robotic vacuum cleaners of this brand to navigate and clean rooms as efficiently as possible.
Power and autonomy
Manufacturers, as a rule, indicate data on the area of the premises for which their robotic vacuum cleaners are designed. The more obstacles there are in the house, the more distance it will cover, so it is better to choose a robot vacuum cleaner with a margin in its characteristics.
Additional functions
For most models of robotic vacuum cleaners, there are applications for smartphones with different functions, - from simple on / off, to integration with voice control and settings for all kinds of cleaning parameters, designating rooms on the map and setting forbidden zones where the robot should not call in. In the application, you can see a report on each cleaning and check the efficiency of the robot vacuum cleaner. Not to mention the more common features like setting the time and frequency of cleaning. There are robotic vacuum cleaners with automatic garbage disposal systems designed for several months of cleaning.
Conclusion
When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, it is important to rely not only on its brand, price and declared characteristics, but also independently check the technical data: the layout of the working surface and all elements.
Don't forget to determine what type of surface and cleaning options you need a robot vacuum cleaner for, as well as estimate the area of your room and compare it with the power of the device.With patented technologies and unique features that no other manufacturer can offer, iRobot offers models in different price segments that will provide the highest quality and high-tech cleaning of your home.
Now you know everything you need to know to choose a robot vacuum cleaner that's great for your daily cleaning and keeping your home clean. All that remains is to choose the model that suits you and enjoy the benefits of modern technology.
