Self-Empting Robot Vacuums
Having emptying your robot vacuum every cleaning session can be a hassle, especially for people with allergies. Not to mention that dirt and debris are tossed back into the air each time you empty the robot.
Self-emptying bases minimize your exposure to dust. They do this by having the robot move debris from its bin into a larger trash bin when it's full.
The Samsung Jet Bot+
Samsung's robot is one of the most advanced that we've tested and it is equipped with superior filtration, brilliant navigation and hands-free dustbin emptying. It comes with HEPA filtering and can lock in airborne dust particles to reduce allergies. The top of the device has a rotating brush bar, with soft bristles that can be able to reach into the tight corners. It also has self-cleaning extractors that grind hairs to keep them from getting tangled.
The Jet Bot picked up a lot of debris on my carpets and hardwood floors when I tried it. It missed a few small things in my dining room corner and had to go over them again however, it was a great job overall. Comparatively to the Roomba it snuck in the win on my tests as its side brush reached better along edges and it was more efficient in terms of removing smaller debris.
Samsung Jet Bot can be operated via the SmartThings App and set to clean itself automatically at times that are convenient for you. It can also be scheduled to clean certain rooms or areas, as well as adding virtual no-go zones (and physical ones if you want).
It utilizes LiDAR sensors similar to those used by self-driving cars for navigation and mapping as well as a camera in the front for smart object recognition. This feature helps to avoid collisions with furniture or other objects and to 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 organize cleaning times easily and monitor the condition of the robot and keep an eye on what's happening on the map. It can also be configured to notify you when the bin is full and it will return to its dock at this point to empty itself prior to resuming the cleaning process. The 0.3L dustbin can be easily emptied and washed as it is fully enclosed.
The Roomba 980 from iRobot
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's top of the top of the line robot, and it's also the most expensive. It is also a fantastic performer, putting it in the same class as the best self-emptying robotic vacuums, when it is able to clean. This is due to its HEPA filters and powerful battery. It also has a neat little feature called CarpetBoost, which automatically increases power when the vacuum senses that it is on carpet.
Like previous Roomba models, this's frame is circular, and it has a single opening at the top that carries the camera. This model is clever due to its camera. It uses the camera to perform VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) by identifying distinct features in a space and then remembering the features. It compares the data with the data from the relative position gyro and IMU and also wheel odometry to create an outline of the location of the camera.
It's a very clever system, and it actually does a great job - even on carpet, where the Roomba typically has a harder time than on hard surfaces. The 980 also comes with other innovative features, including the ability to design the weekly routine for cleaning and play a sound to help you find your robot. The front has a large "Clean" that will get your robot started. There are also indicators that show the time it's charging or connected to Wi-Fi as well as when the bin is full.
The 980 has basic spot cleaning features that can be used to clean up small spills. However, it does not cover as much as more sophisticated options. If you have wires that pose a danger to your robot, you can use the virtual wall feature to create a wall that tells it to stay clear of wires.
The app that comes with the 980 is also very easy to use and will give you an impressive visual overview of how your robot is running and what it's up to. You can also create your schedule and experiment with other settings, including bin capacity and reduced power mode, and many more.
The Roomba iRobot 960 from iRobot
IRobot's name is virtually synonymous with robot vacuums and the $700 Roomba 960 is somewhere in the middle of the company's vast range of models. It's a little less expensive than the top-of-the-line 980 but packs in many of the same features including a camera to navigate and a smartphone app that provides detailed cleaning maps and reports. It also has a Virtual Wall, which creates an invisible barrier that the Roomba will not cross.
The 960 performed well, particularly on floors with no. It sucked up a lot of food crumbs, cat litter and tracked-in dirt. It also excels in climbing over obstacles such as stair runners and the legs of chairs and tables. It also was able to suck up pet fur though it struggled with finer debris, such as baking soda.
The 960 differs from other Roomba models because it has a separate trash bin to store large amounts of debris. This makes it less requirement to maintain it. You can empty the bin by pressing a single button, via the iRobot Home app or with voice commands from Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
You can make use of the iRobot HOME app to personalize each cleaning cycle by setting the number of passes and select among different options like edge clean or a full-room sweep. It also sends an alert when it's time to clean the dirt compartment.
The 960 is easy to use, with buttons on top and control options in the iRobot Home app, or through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It's also simple to maintain and has an indicator at the top that shows battery's lifespan and a docking station that automatically transfers debris from the dirt compartment to the garbage bin when you're ready to empty it. The iRobot HOME app also shows you the exact location of each object it has collected and offers how-to videos for different maintenance tasks. The battery time of the 960 isn't particularly impressive but it's sufficient to let you enjoy it throughout the day without worrying about charging it before the bedtime. The iRobot HOME App is available on both iOS and Android devices.
The Roomba iRobot 960 from iRobot
If you're looking for a robotic vacuum that will automatically empty its own bin and is compatible with Google Home or Amazon Alexa, the Roomba 970 is worth checking out. It uses the same advanced navigation system that is used in other new iRobot models and can detect stairs, which is something that can be a problem with other vacuums. It uses a centrally located camera to scan the floor as it moves and can identify furniture walls, furniture and other obstacles. It can also set boundaries for the robot with a virtual wall tool.
One of the biggest distinctions between this model and the previous Roomba models is that it utilizes a lithium-ion battery rather than the nickel metal hydride batteries used in older ones. This means that it can last longer between charges, and has more endurance when cleaning. It's not as fast as the Shark AI Robot, but it's still fairly quick and can move around an area with ease.
The 970, like the other models of 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 an incredibly small handle that you can use to return it manually to its charger. Spot-cleaning features allow you to concentrate on a specific area in your house. The 960 robots employ the same three-stage process as the other current iRobot machines, combining agitation and power-lifting to clean the floor thoroughly and get rid of dirt.
The 960 is great on clean floors. Its brushrolls and powerful vacuums are able to remove a lot of dust, hair and other particles. However, it isn't a great choice for carpet with high pile and will leave a little sand in its tunnel. official site has a decently-sized dirt compartment and will let you know when it's full, either via the app or a light that appears on top of the robot. It can be programmed to clean on a schedule and we found it easy to set this up during our tests.