Robotic Vacuum – What is it and why would you buy one?
August 30th, 2009 by John Johns
Robotic vacuum or automated vacuum cleaners as they are known, are those little disk shaped devices you might have seen scurrying about the floors in some movies. Thanks to dwindling prices, these gadgets are well within the domain of affordability now. For as less as $100 you can get a basic robotic vacuum. But if you are looking for specialized functionality, you will have to shell out a tad bit more- another $2000 or so!
Although the robotic vacuum cannot completely replace manual cleaning, it is a boon to many office-goers. Also, it has it own slew of advantages. Imagine returning home from work all tired and then having to get down to the boring business of cleaning floors. That feeling is a thing of the past with these gadgets around. Whether you’re at home or not, the robotic vacuum switches itself on at the timed hour, goes about cleaning your floors, covering spaces underneath cots, sofas and tables with brilliant ease- a job that you would have struggled to finish and when it is done, it ‘intelligently’ finds its charging base and docks to it, to auto recharge. All you will need to do now is clear the dust bin at your convenience. And of course, you must make sure too many large objects are not cluttered about the floor since that would largely reduce cleaning efficiency.
Some simple models may not have the auto docking to charger unit feature, but this comes as an add on feature and is highly recommended since it almost fully automates the process. Other add ons include remote controls and wall-docking units. Depending on your use, you can go for them accordingly.
Going for a simple model makes it easy on your pocket but can have its downsides too- lower end models are not equipped with the more advanced radar technology which allows for collision avoidance. With these simpler models, an obstacle is recognized only after ‘bumping into’ and only then the course is changed. If you have a lot of breakables, it might be silly to go for this robotic vacuum- your house will only be a bigger mess after the cleaning. The same radar technology also makes sure the vacuum does not fall off a staircase. Also, extended battery life comes with better models, though it is not always the case.
If your living space is large, you may want it all cleaned in one sitting rather than have the unit recharge frequently. If cleaning up frequently is an issue, you should make sure you go for a model that comes with a relatively larger ‘dustbin’. Bags are almost completely obsolete with robotic vacuum cleaners. Simpler models also lack good ‘transitional’ capabilities. This means that when they encounter a rug, they tend to get stuck. They work well only on constant flooring. If you have a lot of carpets, you will need a higher-end model. On the downside, most of the higher-end vacuums tend to be typically larger in size and may not be able to access certain zones with the same ease.