Self-Empting Robot Vacuums
Having to empty your robot vacuum on each cleaning cycle can be very annoying, especially for people with allergies. Not to mention that debris and dirt are thrown back into air every time you empty the vacuum.
Self-emptying bases limit your exposure to dust by letting the robot move debris from the bin on board into a bigger trash bin when it's full.
The Samsung Jet Bot+
Samsung's robot is the most advanced robot we've ever examined. It has excellent filtration as well as a fantastic navigation system and the ability to empty the dustbin without hands. It also has HEPA filtration and can lock in airborne particles, which can reduce allergies. The top of the device is a rotating brush bar, with soft bristles that can reach into corners that are tight. It also comes with self-cleaning extractors which grind up hairs to prevent tangles.
When I tried the Jet Bot, it picked up a significant amount of dust from my carpets and hardwood floors. It missed a few minor items in my dining room corner and required me to go over them again, but it did an excellent job overall. Comparatively to the Roomba it snuck in the competition in my tests as its side brush reached better on edges and was more effective in terms of picking up smaller particles.
Samsung Jet Bot can be controlled through the SmartThings App and set to clean itself automatically at times that you prefer. It can also be scheduled to clean specific areas or rooms, as well as adding virtual no-go zones (and physical ones if you prefer).
It utilizes LiDAR sensor technology that is similar to the one used by self-driving vehicles for navigation and mapping. Cameras are located in front of the device for intelligent object recognition. This feature helps to avoid collisions with furniture or other objects, and to find the most efficient path between rooms. It also flags any object that it believes to be "poop" and offers up an educated guess (it can choose between three recurring options of towel, sock or cup/plate).
The SmartThings App lets you set cleaning times and keep track of the robot's performance. You can also monitor the events happening on maps. It can also be set up to notify you when the robot's bin is full, and it will return to its dock at this point to empty itself before beginning the cleaning process. The 0.3L dustbin is simple to empty and cleaned, since it's enclosed to ensure that it is hygienic.
The Roomba 980 from iRobot
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's top-of the line robot, and it's also the most expensive. It's also an excellent performer that is in the same league as the top self-emptying robot vacuums in terms of cleaning power due to its HEPA filter and powerful battery. It also comes with a clever small feature called CarpetBoost which automatically boosts the power when it detects it's on carpet, which is nice.
This model is similar to previous models, in that it has an oval frame with a transparent window with cameras. The camera is what gives this model some real intelligence. It uses the camera to perform VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) by looking for distinctive features in a room and then remembering the features. It then compares this information with the relative positioning gyro IMU and wheel odometry data to build a map of the room it's in.
It's an extremely clever system, and it performs pretty well - even on carpets, which is which is where the Roomba generally has a longer time than hard surfaces. There are other useful features of the 980, for instance the ability to set up a weekly cleaning schedule and play a sound that will help you locate your robot. The front has a large "Clean", which will start your robot. There are indicators that indicate the time it's charging, connected to Wi-Fi and when the bin is full.
The 980 comes with a basic spot cleaning feature that can be used to get rid of small messes. However it doesn't provide the same level of coverage as more sophisticated options. If you have wires that could be a danger to your robot, you can utilize the virtual wall feature to create a wall that will tell it to stay away from wires.
The app that comes with the 980 is also very easy to use and provides you with an excellent visual overview of the way your robot is operating and what it's up to. You can also build a schedule and play around with other settings, such as bin capacity and reduced power mode.
The iRobot Roomba 960
iRobot is a name that is synonymous with robot vacuums. The Roomba 960, which retails for $700, is between the two. It's a little cheaper than the top-of-the-line 980, but it comes with many of the same features. killer deal includes a camera to navigate and a smartphone application with precise cleaning maps. It also comes with a Virtual Wall, which creates an invisible barrier that the Roomba will not cross.
The 960 did well in our tests, especially on floors that were not paved. It was able to absorb a lot of cat litter, food crumbs and dirt that had been tracked in. It is also adept in climbing over obstacles such as stair runners and the legs of chairs and tables. It also took in pet fur, but it was unable to handle smaller pieces of debris, like baking soda.
One thing that sets the 960 apart from other Roomba models is the fact that it has a separate dustbin for large debris, which cuts down on maintenance needs. You can empty it with the touch of a button, either through the iRobot HOME app or using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands.
The iRobot HOME App allows you to personalize each cleaning cycle. You can set the number passes and choose between different options like edge clean, or a complete room sweep. It will also send an alert when it's time to empty the dirt container.
The 960 is easy to use and has buttons on top and control options within the iRobot Home app or through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It's also simple to maintain, with an indicator on the top that displays the battery's lifespan and a docking station that automatically moves debris from the dirt compartment to the garbage bin when you're ready to empty it. The iRobot HOME app will also show you the location of every object it has gathered, and also provides videos on how to do various maintenance tasks. The battery life of the 960 isn't great however it's enough to let you use it all day long without worrying about charging it before bedtime. The iRobot HOME app is available for both iOS and Android devices.
The iRobot Roomba 970
If you want a robot vacuum that can automatically empty its own bin and is compatible with Google Home or Amazon Alexa, the Roomba 970 is worth checking out. It has the same advanced navigation system that is used in other new iRobot models and can even detect stairs, something that could be a problem with other vacuums. It also uses an internal camera to scan the floor as it moves around and is able to detect walls, furniture, and other obstacles, so that it doesn't hit things. It also can use an artificial wall to establish boundaries that the robot cannot cross.
One of the biggest differences between this model and previous Roomba models is the fact that it uses an lithium-ion battery, not the nickel metal hydride batteries used in older ones. This means it can last longer between charges, and has more endurance for cleaning. It's not as fast as the Shark AI Robot but it can still navigate around an area with ease.
The 970, like the other models of the 960 series, is controlled by the iRobot App and can connect to the Wi-Fi network without any setup required. It has a small handle on its front of the device that you can use to return it manually to its charger and a spot-cleaning feature that allows you to focus on a specific part of your home. The 960 series robots feature the same three-stage cleaning process like other iRobot models, which combine power-lifting suction with agitation to thoroughly clean your floor and eliminate dirt.
The 960 is great for carpets that are not bare. Its brushrolls and powerful vacuums are able to take up a lot of dust, hair and other particles. It struggles with high pile carpets and tends leave some sand in its tunnel. It has an enormous dirt compartment that can be notified when it is full by an app or a light at the top of the robot. It can be programmed to clean according to a set schedule and we found it easy to set it up during our tests.