A Robot Vacuum Cleaner That Also Mops

A robot vacuum cleaner that also mops the floor, this model from German manufacturer Karcher is a stunning debut. Its clever features like cliff detection and AI mapping enabled it to effortlessly eat biscuit crumbs and pet hair, but dust proved more difficult.

The app is user-friendly since it lets you create virtual walls to help the robot stay clear of furniture or stairs and also schedule cleaning times. However, the noise levels aren't too great.

Self-emptying

You can save time and energy by using a robot vacuum that automatically empties itself. The docking station is equipped with a large storage bag which is filled and can be removed and replaced. This eliminates the need to empty a tiny dustbin on the robot, and it can reduce hygiene and health concerns when in contact with dust and hair of pets. It also stops a full bin causing a loss of suction and possibly spitting debris back into the living space.

A vacuum that is able to be automatically emptied is worth considering when you have family members who suffer from allergies or hay fever to prevent the reintroduction of dirt back into your home. It's also a great choice for those who lead busy lives and would like to reduce the time spent cleaning their home.

The majority of robot vacuums are controlled by a mobile app and voice commands, which allows you to turn them on, off or return them to their dock. Certain robot vacuums will inform you if they're tangled with a piece of furniture or if their battery is depleted.

The most expensive models scan their surroundings with cameras and laser sensors, which allow them to determine the most efficient route to take before entering every room. This prevents them from getting stranded on cables or being tripped up by furniture and also allows you to set up a zone for mopping.

Most modern robot cleaners can create detailed maps of your house that can be accessed through the app. You can typically save several maps, and you may be able to create "exclusion zones" which the cleaner is able to avoid. More advanced cleaners with mopping capabilities also be able to create zones areas for cleaning and add specific pieces of furniture to the map to ensure they are cleaned.

Smart apps

Many robot vacuum that mops vacs are compatible with smart home technology, so you can use an app to control them. They may also be able to work with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant which means you can ask them to clean. This is helpful for those who want to avoid having to constantly press the vacuum button or are worried about your children and pets accidentally setting the vacuum on fire.

The bins of most compact robot vacuums are small and you'll need to empty them regularly. Some of the better models come with auto vacuum and mop-empty features. This means they can take themselves back to their docking station and have their onboard bin completely empty. This feature is ideal for those suffering from hayfever and allergies as it reduces dust that you come in contact with.

Another feature of some robot vacs is the ability to clean your floors. They are typically more expensive however they can be useful for people who aren't keen on vacuuming clean up messes from wet floors. Some robots that have mopping features include an additional water tank while others can combine both functions to create one. They are able to double as a mopping device and save you from the necessity of swapping out attachments.

A good robotic vacuum cleaner utilizes the map of your home to guide it. Utilizing a combination of sensors such as cameras, lasers and cameras to create an image of your room before starting to mop or vacuum. You can then see the maps in your smartphone's app, and even add exclusion zones to make sure it doesn't be in close proximity to certain pieces of furniture.

This feature isn't available on all robot vacuums however it's a great alternative for those who struggle with manual cleaning or aren't able to manage an entire vacuum each day. It's especially useful for those with cluttered areas that are high up because it can clean under tables and other hard-to-reach areas. The nozzle from the robot can be very close to furniture and walls without causing damage, and the intelligent directional system ensures it is able to reach those difficult-to-reach corners.

Obstacle avoidance

Robots can keep their eyes clear of debris and clutter by using technology to avoid objects. It keeps them from slurping something that could damage or block internal components, and it saves you from having to pull stuck objects from their suction or move them underneath furniture. A lot of the latest models of robot vacuums and other smart home appliances are now equipped with high-tech obstacle avoidance technology that operates in real time.

When you are looking for the top robotic vacuums, look for ones with advanced obstacle detection technology. These robots are able to work in different lighting conditions and can recognize many different objects. The best smart robots are equipped with a variety of sensors that assist them in gaining an understanding of their surroundings. They are also able to avoid obstacles when the layout of a room changes. Examples of the most advanced obstacle avoidance technology include crossed IR sensors 3D structured light and ToF (time of flight) sensors.

Crossed IR sensors send out focused beams of infrared lights, which are reflected off by objects, and help the robot detect them. This type of sensor is widely used in robot vacuums and other cleaning robots, and is especially efficient in dark rooms. Some of the most expensive robots feature 3D structured lights that emit light pulses in a pattern that are distorted by the objects in the room. 3D structured lights are often paired with cameras, crossed IR sensors, and other obstacle-avoiding systems.

Cameras are another popular technology for mopping and robotic vacuums. These sensors can be monocular or binocular, and they're able to capture images of the surroundings and apply image processing to identify obstacles. The most effective robotic vacuums that have camera sensors provide a more comprehensive solution for obstacles and can be paired with other technologies for better results.

One of the most advanced obstacle-avoidance systems is provided by IRobot's Roomba j7+. This model comes with a built-in video camera that can detect objects of different sizes and shapes, including pet waste. iRobot is so confident in its technology that it offers a warranty called "Pet Poop Promise". If the robot accidentally runs into pet waste, iRobot will replace the device for free.

Cleaning

The best robot vacuum cleaners employ a combination of sensors and lasers to map out the area they're cleaning. This makes it easier to avoid bumping into furniture, stairs and other obstacles. They can also determine if an area needs to be cleaned and even return to their dock if they're low on power or when their bin is full.

You can connect your robot vacuum to your smart assistant, such as Alexa, Google Home or Siri and control it with the app on your phone. This is particularly helpful if you're away from home and want to schedule an easy clean or begin a more detailed cleaning. A lot of models let you manually trigger a cleaning from the app, in case you're looking to tackle spills or stains.

You can get robot mops that are as common as robot vacuums. These usually come as separate, specialised robot mops, or hybrid versions with an inbuilt mop attachment. Traditional robot mops are plates that clip onto the underside or back of the vacuum, with small water tanks and mop pads. They're great to shine freshly cleaned floors, but they aren't able to remove a sticky stain such as ketchup.

Robot mop cleaners that are more advanced come with tanks and are designed to mop while they move. They are more suitable for stubborn stains but may take longer to clean a whole room. Some models will automatically fill their tanks when they're empty. This is beneficial if you suffer from allergies or hay fever.

A top pick is the iRobot Scooba 450. It was the only robot vacuum to make our Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner UK Buy list, and it performed well on both hard floors and carpets. It's not cheap, however its performance in our tests means you'll save money on cleaning and power. It also self-empties so you don't have to empty it manually each time.