Self-Empting Robot Vacuums
It can be a hassle to have empty your robot vacuum after every cleaning cycle, especially if you suffer from allergies. And, of course, debris and dirt are thrown back into air every time you empty the vacuum.
Self-emptying bases minimize the risk of dust exposure because the robot will transfer debris from the onboard trash bin into a larger trash bin after it is full.
The Samsung Jet Bot+
Samsung's robot is one of the most advanced that we've examined and has excellent filtration, brilliant navigation and hands-free dustbin emptying. It also comes with HEPA filtration and can lock in airborne particles to reduce allergies. The rotating brush bar at the top of the device is able to reach into tight spaces. It also has self cleaning extractors that grind hairs to prevent knots.
The Jet Bot picked up a number of pieces of debris on my carpets and hardwood floors when I tried it. It missed a few minor things in my dining room's corner, and had to go over them once more however it did an excellent job overall. Compared to the Roomba it took the win on my tests as its side brush reached better on edges and was more efficient in terms of removing smaller debris.
The Samsung Jet Bot is controlled via the SmartThings app and can be set to automatically clean at times that are most convenient for you. It is also possible to schedule to clean specific areas or rooms as well as establishing virtual no-go zones (and physical ones if you prefer).
It makes use of LiDAR sensor technology similar to that utilized by self-driving vehicles to aid in navigation and mapping. The camera is located in front of the device for intelligent object recognition. This feature helps it avoid collisions with furniture or other objects and to find the most efficient way to move between rooms. It will also recognize any objects it believes to be "poop" and make an educated guess.
The SmartThings application lets you organize cleaning times easily and monitor the condition of the robot and keep track of what's happening on the map. It can also be configured to notify you when the robot's bin is full and will return to its dock to empty itself before beginning its cleaning routine. The 0.3L dustbin is simple to empty and cleaned since it's enclosed to keep it hygienic.
The Roomba iRobot 960 from iRobot
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's top of the line robot, and it's also the most expensive. It's also a great performer that easily puts itself in the same category as the top self-emptying robotic vacuums for sheer cleaning power, thanks to its HEPA filter and powerful battery. It also comes with a clever little feature known as CarpetBoost that automatically boosts the power of the vacuum when it detects that it is on carpet.
Like the previous Roomba models, this model's frame is circular and it has a single, clear opening at the top that houses the camera. The camera is what provides this model with some serious smarts. It uses the camera to perform VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) by identifying distinctive characteristics in a room and then remembering them. It then compares this information to the relative positioning gyro, IMU and wheel odometry data to create an image of the space it's in.
It's an extremely clever system, and it does pretty well on carpet, where the Roomba generally has a tougher time than on hard surfaces. There are other smart functions on the 980 too, like the ability to create the weekly schedule for cleaning and play a tune that'll help you locate your robot. The front of the unit has a big "Clean", which will turn on your robot. There are also indicators that show when it is charging and connected to Wi-Fi, as well as when the bin is full.
The 980 comes with an easy spot cleaning feature that can be used to clean up small messes. However, it does not provide the same level of coverage as more sophisticated options. If you have some wires that pose dangerous to your robot, you can utilize the virtual wall feature to create a wall that tells it to stay away from wires.
The software that comes with the 980 is simple to use and provides you with an excellent visual overview of how your robot is running and what it's up to. You can also set your schedule and play around with other settings, such as bin capacity and reduced power mode, and more.
The Roomba iRobot 960 from iRobot
iRobot's name is practically synonymous with robot vacuums and the $700 Roomba 960 falls somewhere in the middle of the brand's large range. It's not as expensive as the top-of-the-line 980, but it has many of the same features. These include the ability to use a camera for navigation and a mobile app that provides detailed cleaning maps. self.emptying robot vacuum has a Virtual Wall, which creates an invisible barrier that the Roomba will be unable to cross.
The 960 performed well in our tests, particularly on bare floors. It sucked up a lot of food crumbs, cat litter and tracked in dirt. It also has the ability to climb obstacles such as tables legs, stair runners and chair legs. It was able to suck up pet hair, too, although it was unable to handle some smaller particles like baking soda.
One thing that sets the 960 apart from other Roomba models is that it uses a separate dustbin for large debris which reduces maintenance needs. You can empty the bin by pressing a button using the iRobot Home app or using voice commands from Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
The iRobot HOME App allows you to customize every cleaning cycle. You can set the number of passes and select from a variety of modes such as edge clean, or a full room sweep. It can also send an alert when it's time to empty the dirt container.
The 960 is simple to operate, with buttons on the top and controls in the iRobot HOME app as well as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It's also easy to maintain with an indicator that shows battery life on the top of the display and docking technology that automatically removes debris from the dirt compartment to the trash bin when it's time to empty. The iRobot HOME app will also show you the location of every object it has gathered, and also provides videos on how to do a variety of maintenance tasks. The 960's battery life isn't stellar, but it's still good enough for the majority of people to use through the day without worrying about having to recharge it before going to sleep. The iRobot HOME App is available on both iOS and Android devices.
The Roomba iRobot 960 from iRobot
If you want a robot 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 similar advanced navigation system used by other new iRobot models and can even detect stairs, which is something that can be a problem with other vacuums. It utilizes a centrally-located camera to scan the floor while it moves, and can detect furniture walls, walls, and other obstacles. It also has an artificial wall to define boundaries that the robot cannot traverse.
One of the biggest differences between this model and previous Roomba models is the fact that it uses a lithium-ion battery rather than the nickel metal hydride batteries found in the older models. This means that it can run for longer between charges, and it has more endurance during cleaning sessions. It's not as fast as the Shark AI Robot, but it's still pretty quick and can navigate around an area with ease.
Like the other models of the 960 series the 970 is controlled using the iRobot app and can connect to your Wi-Fi network without installation needed. It has a small handle on its front of the device that you can use to return it manually to its charger and a spot-cleaning feature that lets you concentrate on a specific area of your home. The 960 robots utilize the same three-stage process as the other iRobot machines, combining the power-lifting and agitation to clean the floor thoroughly and get rid of dirt.
The 960 is great on carpets that are clean and can pick up a large amount of dust, hair, and other debris, thanks to its brushrolls and suction. However, it struggles with high-pile carpet and tends to leave some sand behind in its tunnel. It has a large dirt storage compartment that can be notified when it's full via an app or a indicator on the top of the robot. It can be programmed to clean according to a set schedule, and we found it easy to set up this during our tests.