Bagless Robot Vacuums

Robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your home automatically on a regular basis or whenever you tell them to. They're powered by rechargeable batteries and generally are placed on a dock when not cleaning.

Some robotic vacs also mop your floors. We tested models that feature a self-emptying base to see how well they move debris from the trash bin to the garbage.

Self-Emptying Base

Self-emptying bases are a great addition to any robot vacuum that is compatible if you have allergies or dislike emptying the trash bin. Not only does it eliminate the task of emptying the bin manually and re-filling it, but that you're less likely to bring garbage from the bin's contents back into your home. This is particularly beneficial when you have a large home.

Self-emptying bases are becoming common among robot vacuums, but are generally considered to be a premium feature. They can cost several hundred dollars more than standard vacuums and are usually purchased separately. They can be worthwhile for those who have a large house and you forget to empty the robot's trash bin.

A number of models have self-emptying bases that can hold months or weeks of dirt prior to needing to be emptied. This eliminates the need for frequent emptying, and allows your robot to enjoy a longer runtime between cleaning sessions.

Many of the self-emptying robots that we've tested have a smart home connection which allows you to control them with your existing devices such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Some of them may also have other features that make them a great match to your smart home. For instance they could be equipped to schedule cleaning times or create no-go zones.

The most effective robots for smart homes include advanced features that allow them to navigate your home more effectively. They'll include a laser scanner that scans your floor to create an outline map and avoid obstacles and stairs. Certain models also feature intelligent object recognition, which helps to avoid rogue wires, furniture and other objects.

The most advanced robots have high-resolution cameras capable of detecting tiny dirt particles. They are more effective in dealing with messes and remove hair from pets. They also can improve air quality by reducing the amount dust and allergens they release into the air.

App Control

A robot can save you time and effort if you keep up with its maintenance. For optimal performance, it's important to clean the rotating brushes and replace the batteries. If you're meticulous in taking care of your robotic vac then you'll be in a position to use it for many years. The manufacturer's website should list a projected lifespan of the unit and instructions for how to care for it. Many robot vacuum owners we've spoken to have the same model for 10 years or more, with new brushes, wheels and battery.

The most reliable robots come with a range of navigational tools that assist your robot in avoiding bumping into furniture and walls while moving around the house. The more expensive models have sensors that map the room. This information is used to develop an action plan for the following cleaning cycle to ensure that your robot does not run into the same obstacles over and over again. High-end models can even recognize objects and learn to avoid them over time.

Robots that use advanced mapping technologies like 360 LiDAR perform faster and can complete a room in a fraction of the time of less expensive models. You can choose a model that has an area cleaner or a spot cleaner to target a specific part of the room, for instance under the dining table, or you can establish regular cleaning schedules.

When the robot docks in its base at the conclusion of cleaning, it typically automatically emptys itself into a bagless self-emptying base that holds multiple cleaning sessions' worth of dirt and debris. You can often see the progress of your app and hear a ringing sound when it's full. These bases are bigger than the charging stations on traditional robotic vacuums. If you're looking for aesthetics you must be mindful of the location you put them.

Some robots also integrate with smart devices such as Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant to let you start a cleaning session by voice commands. They can also sync up with your phone to show the complete details of each cleaning job including the start and end times, battery usage, and the duration of the job. You can also arrange and remove old jobs if they're no longer needed.

Battery Life

Battery life of the robot must be enough to wash your entire home in one charge. It is also essential that the robot is able to recharge itself, so it does not run out of energy during your cleaning session. Some robots are able to recharge themselves in less than an hour, while others require several hours.

You should be able to change the robot's power settings to optimize its performance on the floor type you have. Certain robots, like the Ecovacs $799 Deebot Ozmo 8 AIVI and $499 Roomba 690 from iRobot automatically increase suction power when mopping or vacuuming rugs. Other models, such as the Shark IQ Robot Self-Emptying Vac+Mop has three power modes: Max, Normal and Eco. The Max mode is the most powerful but consumes batteries fast, whereas Eco mode has the lowest power and runs the longest.

Some robots also have "dirt sense" and other advanced machine learning capabilities that help keep their surfaces clean. For instance the Shark IQ Robot uses an algorithm known as Freo to make "cleaning decisions," such as returning to dirty floors to remop them. The iRobot Roomba 690 also uses an algorithm similar to that, known as iAdapt 2.0, to adjust the water jet's pressure based on surface material. For instance, it will utilize more power to mop tile, and less power for hardwood when mopping.

Laser navigation systems, like the iRobot Roomba 690's allows robots to create maps in 2D and 3D of your home even before they've finished cleaning. These systems enable the robot to navigate more efficiently, particularly in dark rooms. You can also make use of this app to create virtual no-go zones and direct the robot to specific rooms.

Another robot we tried that we tested, the Shark IQ robot XL RV1001AE, uses Matrix Clean and Precision Home Mapping technology with amazing suction power to sweep and mop a variety of kinds of floors such as high-pile carpet. It also comes with a bagless base that can store up to 45 days worth of dirt and debris. It is a lot more self-sufficient than other robots that have bags-style dustbins. This requires you to empty the bin after each use.

Obstacle Avoidance

The best bagless robot vacuum vacuums for robots aren't only able to remove dirt and debris but also maneuver around knotted power cords, pet messes, furniture legs, and other obstacles that could cause them to get stuck. We tested each model with our obstacle avoidance test. In this test, we put the red and blue objects on a blue rug in a complicated pattern to see how each robot resisted the objects.

The most capable models use sensors that create maps and pinpoint obstacles. LiDAR is the most advanced technology, that scans and creates 3D images of your space. This allows the robot to comprehend its surroundings with greater precision than other mapping systems.

Other mapping technologies include 3D Time of Flight (ToF) sensors and structured light. 3D ToF sensors emit infrared light which bounce off objects and determine their height, size, and depth. This informs the robot of where it is and what it's interfacing with. 3D Structured Light also operates similarly by projecting patterns and analysing the distortions of those patterns to create an image. It also detects reflective and translucent surfaces, but it has trouble with pet waste and other messes.

When shopping for a bagless robot vacuum, look for models that have advanced mapping and navigation capabilities. These kinds of systems are especially crucial for those who live in a large home as they permit the robot to move around and clean the entire house without having to map every room.

A reliable system can be the difference between a machine that can easily clean your home and one that is stuck and has difficulty moving. It could also be the difference between a machine which is able to effectively avoid pet messes and other household obstacles versus one that slurps them up which can cause damage and blockage of internal components. Even at the lower price range, there are plenty of options that can help you stay clear of obstacles.