Self-Empting Robot Vacuums
It can be a hassle to have empty your robot vacuum after every cleaning cycle especially when you are suffering from allergies. Not to mention that debris and dirt are thrown back into the air each time you empty the vacuum.
Self-emptying bases limit your exposure to dust since the robot moves debris from the onboard trash bin to a bigger trash bin once it is full.
The Samsung Jet Bot+
Samsung's robot is among the most advanced that we've examined and has excellent filtering, amazing navigation and hands-free dustbin emptying. It comes with HEPA filtering and can trap in dust particles that are airborne to prevent allergies. The rotating brush bar on the top of the device is able to be able to reach into small spaces. It also has self cleaning extractors that crush hairs to avoid hair tangles.
When I tried the Jet Bot, it picked up a good amount of dust from my carpets and hardwood floors. It missed a few small things in the corner of my dining room and needed to go back over them however, it was very effective overall. It topped my tests when compared to the Roomba because its side brush could more effectively along edges, and it was more effective in picking up small pieces of debris.
Samsung Jet Bot can be controlled via the SmartThings App and set to clean automatically at times that are convenient for you. It can be programmed to clean certain rooms or areas. You can also add physical and virtual no-go zones as well as ones.
It is equipped with LiDAR sensors similar to the ones used by self-driving vehicles to map and navigate, plus a camera at the front for smart object recognition. This feature helps it avoid collisions with furniture and other items and find the most efficient way to move between rooms. It can also detect objects it believes to be "poop", and make an educated guess.
The SmartThings App lets you schedule cleaning times and monitor the robot's condition. You can also track what's happening on a map. The app can be programmed to alert you when the robot's bin is full. It will return to its dock to empty itself before continuing the cleaning process. The 0.3L dust bin can be easily emptied and washed as it is completely enclosed.
The Roomba iRobot 960 from iRobot
The Roomba is the most expensive robot. It's also a top performer, easily placing it in the same category as 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 the power when it detects it's on carpet, which is nice.
This model is like previous models, in that it has a circular frame and an open window on top with an camera. It's that camera that provides this model with real smarts. It uses the camera to perform VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) by analyzing distinct features in a space and then storing them. It compares the information with the data from the relative positioning gyro, and IMU and also wheel odometry to produce a map of the location of the camera.
It's a clever device that works well, even on carpets which is where the Roomba has a hard time. There are other useful features of the 980 as well, such as the ability to set up the weekly schedule for cleaning and play a tune that will help you locate your robot. There's a big "Clean" button at the front of the device that will start your robot as well as indicators for when it's charging or connected to Wi-Fi, and when its bin is full.
The 980 has an easy spot cleaning feature that can be used to get rid of small messes. However, it does not provide the same level of coverage as more advanced options. In robot vacuum with auto empty that you've got some wires that are dangerous to your robot there's a virtual walls feature where you can place a barrier that warns it not to go near it.
The app that accompanies the 980 is easy to use, and it'll give you a nice visual overview of the way your robot is operating and what it's working on. You can also set up your schedule and play around with other settings, such as bin capacity and reduced power mode, and many more.
The Roomba iRobot 960 from iRobot
The name iRobot is almost synonymous with robot vacuums and the $700 Roomba 960 falls somewhere in the middle of the brand's vast range of models. It's a little cheaper than the top of the line 980, yet it has many of the same features. It comes with the ability to use a camera for navigation and a smartphone app with precise cleaning maps. It also comes with Virtual Wall which creates a barrier that the Roomba will not cross.
The 960 performed well during our tests, especially on floors that were not paved. It was able to absorb a lot of food crumbs, cat litter and tracked-in dirt. It is also adept at climbing obstacles, like stair runners, and the legs of chairs and tables. It also was able to suck up pet fur however, it had a difficult time with smaller particles, like baking soda.
The 960 is distinct from other Roomba models in that it has a separate trash bin to collect large debris. This makes it less requirement for maintenance. It can be empty at the push 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 every cleaning cycle. You can set the number passes and choose between different modes such as edge clean, or a complete room sweep. It can 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 easy to maintain and comes with a display on the top that displays the battery's life and docking station that automatically transfers dirt from the dirt compartment to the trash bin when you're ready to empty it. The iRobot HOME App will also provide you with instructional videos and also show the location of every object it has gathered. The battery time of the 960 may not be ideal however it's enough to let you use it throughout the day without worrying about charging before the bedtime. The iRobot HOME App is available on both iOS and Android devices.
The iRobot Roomba 960
The Roomba 970 is a robot vacuum cleaner that works with Google Home and Amazon Alexa. It uses the same advanced navigation as other recent iRobot vacuums and can detect stairs. It uses a centrally located camera to scan the floor as it moves, and can detect furniture, walls and other obstacles. It also sets boundaries for the robot using the virtual wall tool.
This model differs from previous models because it uses lithium-ion batteries instead of nickel metal Hydride. It's now able to run longer between charges and has greater endurance in cleaning sessions. It's not quite as fast as the Shark AI Robot, but it's still quite fast and can navigate around the room without difficulty.
The 970, as with other models in the 960 series, can be controlled via the iRobot App and connects to the Wi-Fi network with any setup required. The robot comes with a small handle which you can utilize to return it manually to its charger. A spot-cleaning feature allows you to focus on a particular area of your house. The 960 series robots feature the same three-stage cleaning procedure as other current iRobot models, which incorporates power-lifting suction with agitation to thoroughly clean the floor and eliminate dirt.
The 960 is a great choice for unfinished floors and picks up a lot of dust, hair, and other debris, thanks to its brushrolls and powerful suction. However, it isn't a great choice for carpets with high piles and tends to leave some sand behind in its tunnel. It has a large dirt storage compartment which can be notified when it's full through an app or light on the top of the robot. It can also be programmed to clean at a set time, and we had no problem installing this feature in our tests.