Robot Vacuum Cleaners: What You Should Know

We have seen some remarkable advancements in technology over the past couple of years, and the cleaning industry is not an exception to it. With new technologies developing, we don’t need a full-fledged cleaning schedule to keep the house clean. Gone are the days of brooms and mops, dust-pans and dust-bins. Now we have moved to robot vacuum cleaners who clean your floors on our behalf quite effortlessly, saving us our precious time and energy. They are much more capable than the traditional vacuum cleaners and have become a must-have addition to smart homes. 

We shall have a detailed look at the robotic vac, capabilities, and cleaning power. But first, let’s address some fundamental questions. 

What Are Robot Vacuum Cleaners, And How Do They Function?

A robotic vacuum cleaner is a device or a small disc, to be well-defined, which travels through the length and breadth on almost all types of floors to carry out its cleaning duty. It is a compact, battery-operated vacuum cleaner that automatically manages itself all over your home. Like any ordinary cleaning device, it pulls up dirt and dust particles with its spinning brushes and suction power. 

Cleaning Process

It has side brushes mounted on both sides of the body that drives the dust beneath the device. Once that gets done, two additional counter-rotating brushes working in the opposite directions collect dirt and direct it to the robust vacuum, which then sucks it and puts it away in the in-built storage bin. Unlike the regular upright vacuums, a robotic vacuum drives itself throughout your house with a pair of tractor-like wheels, each one freely operated by different electrical motors. The wheels can spin in opposing directions, which allows cleaning almost any area it drives. Thus, it can easily collect dirt, dust particles, and even pet hair, for that matter. 

Navigation

Robotic vacuum cleaners do not have cameras installed in their bodies to navigate the house; it does not work like that. Alternatively, numerous sensors have fitted that guide it in detecting and measuring the area in which it operates and manages to progress through it. 

There are primarily four types of sensors involved.

1. Cliff Sensor: It alerts the robot that a cliff or edge like-surface is approaching at a certain distance, and the robot automatically backs off to avoid a fall. 
2. Bump Sensor: Whenever the robot bumps into an object or wall, the frontal portion of its body backs up and triggers the bump sensors. The robot then moves behind and changes its direction.
3. Wall Sensor: It senses the wall and its stretch such that the robot can follow it along while cleaning all the boundaries and corners. 
4. Optical Encoders: These are the most crucial ones as these sensors are present on the robot’s wheels and inform how far it has traveled. These are called optical encoders as they utilize a light sensor for detecting the number of rotations made by the wheels. The robot figures out how far it has traveled from these bits of information, ensuring complete house coverage. 

These were the fundamental sensors that are present in all robotic vacuums that help them navigate their route. However, some models may offer some additional sensors for dust detection, stain detection, and so on.

Battery

The devices have a rechargeable battery, which keeps them going. If it runs out of charge during its cleaning cycle, the basic ones will stop working, and you would have to look for the dead device lying in some corner of your house. However, some advanced models automatically come back to their charging unit when the battery reaches a certain low and then depart again once it is sufficiently charged. 

Now that we know about robot vacuum cleaners’ functioning and capabilities, let’s consider the advantages and disadvantages. 

Advantages

Cleans Without Manual Interference

Since there are so many highly efficient sensors involved, the robot requires no manual assistance. All you need to do is switch it on, and the robot takes care of everything else. As a result, a robotic vacuum cleaner is a perfect purchase for older adults or those who undergo mobility problems. 

Ensures Maximum Convenience And Saves Time

Since they perform every aspect of cleaning independently, it ultimately saves a great deal of your time and effort. Besides, features like voice command and phone-control do your job of controlling the device whenever needed. 

Automatic Adjustment As Per The Changing Surfaces

Different types of flooring need different vacuum settings. The robot vacuums have sensors that can effectively identify shifts in floor coverings and automatically adjust the setting. From wood and tiles to pile carpet, a robotic vacuum does it all!

Disadvantages

Short Battery Life

Robotic vacuum cleaners offer a relatively shorter battery life, and in some devices, they may not be capable of completing the cleaning process in one charge. It lasts for about two hours on a single charge and may require some more hours to recharge. 

They Take A Long Time To Clean

Robotic vacuums spend an extended period cleaning the floor of a room because of the way it functions. Besides, it may not be able to hold a generous amount of dirt or dust because of its compact size. 

They Are Expensive

Undoubtedly, high-quality robotic vacuum cleaners are quite costly. The more features and the lesser the inconvenience a robotic vacuum cleaner gets, the more expensive it is. 

Conclusion

Robotic vacuum cleaners have genuinely been a game-changing addition to the house cleaning market. More and more people shift from traditional vacuums to robotic ones each day due to the convenience and top-notch features.