Self-Empting Robot Vacuums
It can be a hassle to have to empty your robot vacuum after each cleaning session, especially those who suffer from allergies. Not to mention that dirt and debris are thrown back into air each time you empty the vacuum.
Self-emptying bases limit the risk of dust exposure because the robot will transfer debris from its onboard trash bin into a larger trash bin once it is full.
The Samsung Jet Bot+
Samsung's robot is the most advanced robot we've ever examined. It is a great filtration system along with a brilliant navigation system, as well as hand-free emptying of the dustbin. It has HEPA filtering and can trap in dust particles from the air to lessen allergies. The rotating brush bar on the top of the device can penetrate the tightest of spaces. It also comes with self cleaning extractors which grind up hairs in order to avoid tangles.
When I tried the Jet Bot, it picked up a lot of dirt from my carpets and hardwood floors. It missed a few tiny things in my dining room's corner and required me to go over them once more however, it did an excellent job overall. It was able to win my tests in comparison to the Roomba because its side brush could more effectively along edges, and was more efficient in picking small debris.
The Samsung Jet Bot is controlled via the SmartThings app and can be configured to automatically clean at times that are convenient for you. It can be programmed to clean specific areas or rooms. You can also set physical and virtual no-go zones as well as ones.
It utilizes LiDAR sensors that are similar to those used by self-driving cars for navigation and mapping as well as a camera in the front for intelligent object recognition. This feature helps it avoid collisions with furniture or other objects and to find the most efficient way to move between rooms. It also flags objects that it believes to be "poop" and provides an educated guess (it can select from three recurring options: towel, sock or a cup/plate).
The SmartThings application lets you organize cleaning times easily and monitor the condition of the robot and keep an eye on what's happening on a map. The app can be programmed to alert you when the robot's bin is full. It will then return to its dock to empty itself, before continuing the cleaning process. The 0.3L dust bin is easy to empty and cleaned, since it's sealed to ensure it's clean.
The iRobot Roomba 960
The Roomba is the most expensive robot. It's also a top performer, easily placing it in the same league with the top self-emptying robotic vacuums, when it comes to cleaning power. This is due to its HEPA filters and powerful battery. It also has a handy small feature called CarpetBoost that automatically increases power when it detects that it's on carpet, which is nice.
This model is similar to previous models, with an oval frame with a clear window on top with cameras. It's the camera that provides this model with real technological capabilities. It uses the camera to perform VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization Mapping) by looking out for distinct features and storing them. It then compares this information to relative positioning gyro, IMU and wheel odometry information to build an outline of the space it's in.
It's a smart system that works well, even on carpets which is where the Roomba isn't able to cope. The 980 also comes with other innovative features, including the ability to create the weekly routine for cleaning and play a sound to help you locate your robot. There's a big "Clean" button at the front that'll get your robot started up and there are indicators for when it's charging or connected to Wi-Fi and when its bin is full.
The 980 comes with a basic spot cleaning feature that can be used to clean up small messes. However, it does not provide the same level of coverage as more sophisticated options. If you have wires that could be a danger to your robot, you can use the virtual wall feature to create a wall that will tell it to stay away from them.
The software that comes with the 980 is very easy to use and gives you a visual representation of what your robot is doing. You can also create your schedule and play with other settings, such as bin capacity as well as reduced power mode and many more.
The iRobot Roomba 960
iRobot is a brand that is synonymous with robot vacuums. The Roomba 960, which costs $700, is in the middle. It's a little less expensive than the 980's top model, but packs in many of the same features, such as a camera for navigation and a smartphone application with detailed cleaning maps and reports. It also comes with Virtual Wall which creates a barrier that the Roomba can't penetrate.
The 960 performed well, especially on floors that were not bare. It was able to absorb a lot of cat litter, food crumbs and tracked-in dirt. It's also adept at climbing obstacles, such as stair runners and the legs of tables and chairs. It also sucked up pet hair, as well, though it had to contend with smaller particles like baking soda.
The 960 differs from other Roomba models in that it has a separate trash bin to hold large pieces of debris. This makes it less requirement to maintain it. You can empty it at the press of a button, through the iRobot HOME app, or using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands.
You can use the iRobot HOME app to tailor each cleaning cycle and set the number of passes and select between various modes like edge clean or a full-room sweep. It will also send an alert when it's about to empty the dirt container.
The 960 is easy to use and has buttons on top and controls available in the iRobot Home app, or via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It's also simple to maintain, with an indicator at the top that shows battery's lifespan and docking station that automatically transfers debris from the dirt compartment to the trash bin when you're ready to empty it. The iRobot HOME app will also show you the exact location of each object it has gathered and offers how-to videos for various maintenance tasks. The battery life of the 960 isn't great but it's enough for most people to run through the day without worrying about recharging it before bedtime. The iRobot HOME app is available for both iOS and Android devices.
The iRobot Roomba 970
If you're looking for a robotic 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 technology as other recent iRobot vacuums and is able to detect stairs. It uses a centrally located camera to scan the floor while it moves and can identify furniture walls, furniture and other obstacles. It also has the virtual wall tool to establish limits that the robot isn't able to traverse.
One of the main differences between this model and the previous Roomba models is that it uses an lithium-ion battery, not the nickel metal hydride batteries that were used in older ones. It's now able to run longer between charges and also has more endurance when cleaning. It's not as fast as the Shark AI Robot but it can still navigate around the space effortlessly.
Like the other models of the 960 series, the 970 can be operated via the iRobot app and connects to your Wi-Fi network without installation needed. self-emptying robot vacuum comes with a small handle which you can use to manually return it to its charger. Spot-cleaning features allow you to focus on a specific area in your house. The 960 series robots also come with the same three-stage cleaning process like other iRobot models, which combine the power of suction and agitation to thoroughly clean the floor and remove dirt.
The 960 is a great choice for carpets that are clean and can pick up a great deal of hair, dust, and other debris with its brushrolls and powerful suction. However, it has a difficult time with high-pile carpet and tends to leave some sand behind in its tunnel. It has a decently-sized dirt compartment and will notify you when it's full, either via the app or a indicator on the top of the robot. It can be programmed to clean up on a regular basis and we found it to be easy to set it up during our tests.