Self-Empting Robot Vacuums
It can be frustrating to have empty your robot vacuum after each cleaning session, especially if you suffer from allergies. Not to mention that dirt and debris are tossed back into the air every time you empty the vacuum.
Self-emptying bases reduce the risk of dust exposure because the robot will transfer debris from its trash bin into a larger trash bin after it is full.
The Samsung Jet Bot+
Samsung's robot is among the most advanced we've tested and it is equipped with superior filtering, superb navigation and hands-free dustbin emptying. It comes with HEPA filtering and can seal in dust particles that are airborne to prevent allergies. The brush bar that rotates on the top of the device can penetrate tight spaces. It also comes with self-cleaning extractors that break up hairs to prevent tangles.
The Jet Bot picked up a lot of debris on my carpets and hardwood floors when I tested it. It missed a few small pieces of furniture in the corner of my dining room and had to go back over them, but it was very effective overall. It won my tests compared to the Roomba because its side brush was able to more effectively along edges, and was more effective in picking up small pieces of debris.
The Samsung Jet Bot is controlled by the SmartThings app and can be set up to clean automatically at times that are convenient for you. It can be programmed to clean specific areas or rooms. You can also add virtual no-go zones and physical ones.
It uses LiDAR sensor technology similar to the one used by self-driving vehicles for mapping and navigation. Cameras are located in front of the device for smart object recognition. This feature helps to avoid collisions with furniture or other objects, and to determine the most efficient route between rooms. It also flags objects that it believes to be "poop" and offers up an educated guess (it can choose between three recurring options: towels, sock or cup/plate).
The SmartThings app allows you to easily schedule cleaning times, monitor the status of the robot, and keep track of what's happening on a map. It can also be set up to inform you when the robot's bin is full and will return to its dock to empty itself before beginning its cleaning cycle. The 0.3L dustbin is easily empty and cleaned since it is fully enclosed.
The Roomba iRobot 960 from iRobot
The Roomba is iRobot’s most expensive robot. It's also a great performer that puts it in the same class as the top self-emptying robot vacuums for sheer cleaning power, thanks to its HEPA filter and powerful battery. It also has a cool small feature known as CarpetBoost, which automatically increases the power of the vacuum when it detects that it's on carpet.
As with previous Roomba models, this's frame is circular and has a single clear opening at the top that carries cameras. This model is a smart choice due to its camera. It uses the camera for VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization Mapping) by looking out for distinct features and then storing them. It then compares this information to the relative positioning gyro IMU and wheel odometry data to build an image of the space it's in.
It's an extremely clever system, and it actually does pretty well on carpets, which is where the Roomba generally has a longer time than hard surfaces. There are other clever features on the 980 as well, such as the ability to create an annual cleaning schedule and play a tune that will aid in finding your robot. There's a large "Clean" button on the front that'll get your robot started up and there are indicators that indicate when it's charged or connected to Wi-Fi and when it's full of bins.
If you're looking to tidy up a small mess, the 980 also has the ability to clean up spots that are pretty basic, even though it's not as thorough in covering ground as the most sophisticated options out there. In the event that you've got some wires that are dangerous to your robot, there's a virtual wall feature that lets you create a barrier that warns it not to go near it.
The app that comes with the 980 is very user-friendly and gives you a visual overview of what your robot is doing. You can also set your schedule and experiment with other settings, such as bin capacity, reduced power mode and more.
The Roomba iRobot 960 from iRobot
iRobot is a name that is synonymous with robot vacuums. The Roomba 960, priced at $700, falls somewhere between the two. It's less expensive than the top-of-the-line 980 however it has many of the same features, like a camera for navigation and a smartphone app with detailed cleaning maps and reports. It also comes with a Virtual Wall, which creates an invisible barrier that the Roomba will be unable to cross.
The 960 performed well during our tests, particularly on floors that were not paved. It sucked up lots of food crumbs, cat litter and tracked dirt. It also excels in climbing over obstacles such as stair runners and the legs of tables and chairs. It was able to suck up pet hair, too, although it had to contend with finer debris like baking soda.
The 960 is different from other Roomba models in that it has a separate dust bin to hold large pieces of debris. This eliminates the necessity for regular maintenance. It can be empty at the press of a button, through the iRobot HOME app or by using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands.
The iRobot HOME App allows you to customize every cleaning cycle. You can set the number of passes, and choose from different options like edge clean, or a full room sweep. It can also send a notification when it's time to empty the dirt compartment.
The 960 is easy to operate, using buttons on the top and controls within the iRobot HOME app or through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is also simple to maintain, with an indicator that shows the battery's life on the top, and a docking system that automatically moves debris out of the dirt compartment into the garbage bin when it's ready to empty. The iRobot HOME App also provides you with instructional videos and also show the location of each object it has gathered. The battery time of the 960 may not be ideal but it's sufficient to let you enjoy it throughout the day without having to worry about charging it prior to bedtime. The iRobot HOME app is available on both iOS and Android devices.
The Roomba 970 from iRobot
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 utilizes the similar advanced navigation system used by other new iRobot models and is able to detect stairs, something that could be a hassle with other vacuums. It makes use of a centrally placed camera to scan the floor while it moves and can identify furniture, walls and other obstacles. It can also set boundaries for the robot with a virtual wall tool.
One of the main differences between this model and the previous Roomba models is the fact that it uses an lithium-ion battery, not the nickel metal hydride batteries that were used in earlier models. This means that it will last longer between charges, and also has more stamina during cleaning sessions. It's not as fast as the Shark AI Robot but it can navigate a space with ease.
The 970, like the other models of the 960 series can be controlled using the iRobot App and can connect to the Wi-Fi network without any setup required. The robot comes with an incredibly small handle that you can utilize to return it manually to its charger. Spot-cleaning features allow you to concentrate on a particular area of your house. The 960 robots utilize the same three-stage process used by the other iRobot machines, combining agitation and power-lifting to thoroughly clean your floor and get rid of dirt.
The 960 is fantastic on carpets that are not bare. Its brushrolls and powerful vacuums are able to remove a lot of dust, hair, and other particles. However, it has a difficult time with carpets with high piles and tends to leave a little sand in its tunnel. It has a decent-sized dirt storage compartment and will notify you when it's full via the app or a light on the top of the robot. It can also be programmed to clean at a predetermined time and we had no problem installing this feature in our tests.