Robot vacuum cleaners: choose your favorite method of testing

A year ago we tested 3 models of robot vacuum cleaners and answered frequently asked questions about robots: what they can and can’t do, what they’re for, how they navigate, do they need maintenance and extra supplies, etc.p. Today we test other models and talk about the features and functions of robots: what is convenient and what is not what is worth paying for, and what only seems to be an advantage. In other words – what to look for when choosing a robot vacuum cleaner in the price range from 18 000 to 35 000 Dollars.

“Oh, they’re so cute! And what is our name??”

– K&auml rcher rc 4.000,

– Lg hom-bot square vr6270lvm,

– Robzone roomy silver,

– Samsung navibot silencio sr8895.

exterior

Robots are built differently, hence the external differences. Most models include only a compact charging station and a robot itself exit ramp with a plastic container-cleaner, the volume of which from 0.6 to 1 l. Those in our test include models from LG, RobZone, Samsung. Even together with a charging station they occupy little space.

The volume of the dust canister is limited max – 1 liter in the RobZone, which is very convenient for the daily maintenance of purity in apartments where there are real four-legged pets, especially large dogs or fluffy Persian cats .

Model K&auml The dust container in the body is very small – only 0.25 liters, but there is a large charging station, which houses a removable paper dust bag of 2 liters. The robot drives up to the base and periodically unloads the garbage from the plastic bin into a paper bag.

This is made to increase the volume of the dust canister, while maintaining the minimum dimensions of the robot, so it can penetrate under low furniture and pass through quite narrow areas. It is inconvenient that the charging station takes too much space – as much as a full-sized vacuum cleaner.

Until recently all the robots were round, but just this winter the sale of a robot conventionally square shape with “smoothed” corners – from LG. The purpose of this shape is to improve the quality of cleaning in corners: after all, the robot cleans only where it can reach, and with the round shape of the body the corners remained untouched even with side brushes similar in shape to windmill blades.

It should be said that the model from K&auml The shape of half of the body also “tends to the square”, it can not be called purely round, but the side brushes are absent completely: a strange defect of practical Germans! They have this model as far back as 2004 ! of the year with side brushes, they would be the first to solve the problem of cleaning corners, not the Koreans.

Dimensions robots namely exit ramps, as it is called technically are similar, but still worth paying attention to their height: the lowest model can penetrate under the furniture with legs height from 9 cm LG , then follow in ascending order Samsung from 9.3 cm , K&auml rcher from 10 cm , RobZone from 11 cm .

The diameter of the robot can prevent you from penetrating into certain areas of your apartment: for example, into the gaps between furniture and walls, etc.p. Here is the smallest and, therefore, the most “nimble” among the tested ones – K&auml rcher 28.5 cm , followed in ascending order by LG 34 cm and almost equally by RobZone and Samsung 35 and 35.5 cm .

Intelligence

All robots are equipped with certain cleaning programs, but as we have seen in our testing, the approach to programming by manufacturers differs. The cleaning programs of LG, Samsung and RobZone models include algorithms, when the robot moves along a certain trajectory: zigzags or squares LG , along the walls Samsung, RobZone , cleans a certain area 1h1 m RobZone or 1,5h1,5 m LG, Samsung .

Robot programs K&auml The robots are not built according to the algorithms of movement but by the duration of cleaning cycle 3, 6, 9 hours or continuous cleaning . During any cycle the robot chooses the algorithm of movement depending on the size, peculiarities and the level of dirt in the room. However, along with the algorithms, the Samsung robot also has programs where the robot moves randomly and cleans the whole apartment or cleans until the battery is fully discharged.

Both Korean models Samsung, LG have remote-controlled cleaning programs: the user makes the robot “outline” the problem area, and then the robot cleans within this area by itself. From a technical point of view, it is interesting and very like children and men who adore machines with remote control, but in practice it will be faster to remove heavy dirt by hand or with a regular vacuum cleaner.

The K-models&auml If there is a spot or a pile of dust, these robots go to the problem area several times until the dirt is gone.

For all the intelligence of the Korean models Samsung and LG – 39 and 45 sensors-sensors, respectively – they do not have sensors to detect dirt and with the same intensity work differently soiled areas.

Most of the Koreans’ sensors are responsible for the robots’ routes and help them navigate the room. For example, the improved overhead camera on the LG vacuum cleaner prevents it from going astray or getting lost in the dark and under furniture. Cameras adjust for light intensity and scan the ceiling, get clear images in any light and minimize disruption from the route, allowing you to track the route taken and form a new one, regardless of lighting.

The built-in camera of the Samsung robot creates a map of the entire apartment and individual rooms. Both models memorize the space and choose the best route for further cleaning, minimizing time and rationally consuming the battery.

Walking on schedule

All test models except K&auml RobZone and Samsung can be programmed to clean at a certain time, while Samsung and LG can be programmed to clean once a week at a set time. On the one hand, this is convenient: the robot can clean without you and not interfere, but then you need to prepare the room for cleaning as carefully as possible: remove everything that can prevent the vacuum cleaner from moving around and fence off the areas you do not want it to go.

You can’t go in there!

In our opinion, the presence or absence of the Virtual Wall limiter – beacons that send an infrared signal to block the robot’s path to a certain place – can be considered neither an advantage nor a disadvantage of the vacuum cleaner. Some people need this option, some do not. It is necessary, as a rule, the owners of apartments-studios and country houses, where there are large spaces, and sometimes it happens that some area needs to be blocked.

In a normal apartment, all you have to do is close the doors to keep the robot out. Looking at the ratio of robot price to its set of “services” and capabilities, it seems a bit strange that a 35,000-rub. K&auml The robot does not have such a feature. And not cheap and in all respects a great robot vacuum cleaner LG 25 999 Dollars. could have provided such a thing.

Especially since our direct competitor, the Samsung robot 23,990 Dollars , has not a limescale cartridge. , there is a movement limitation “virtual wall” and Guard mode, when the vacuum cleaner cleans one room first and can not pass to the second then the barrier is removed, and the robot goes on. RobZone 17,890 Dollars . does not have any limiters, but you can buy the “virtual wall” device separately for this model or choose a little more expensive model RobZone Roomy Gold, which has two “walls” in its set.

Instinct of self-preservation

Not a single mid-range or high-end robot falls down the stairs as all models including the ones we tested have height-deflection sensors. It’s very interesting to watch when they get to the edge of a step or a table if you test on a table : the robot carefully “sticks out” 2-3 cm beyond the edge of the surface as if it is “looking down” and then quickly drives away saying “no, I won’t go, it’s dangerous!”.

Robot K&auml The robot can safely descend steps or a threshold of not more than 10 cm in height – it is convenient if there is such a height difference in the house, and the robot can start cleaning from this high spot t.k. It won’t be able to climb back up . LG robot at the approach to obstacles or precipice decreases speed, touches an obstacle very “softly”, protecting them and himself.

But the Samsung robot is so cautious that during the test it never tried to run under the furniture, apparently, perceiving it as an obstacle. RobZone and K&auml rcher run over obstacles – walls, furniture, baseboards – but do not damage anything, because they are equipped with rubberized bumpers. Robot K&auml rcher perfectly gets out from under the furniture and is generally well oriented in the space with obstacles: it has contact sensors that detect obstacles.

All models in this price category can let the owner know if there is some technical problem: for example, on the displays RobZone and Samsung appear error codes, and what they mean can be found in the instructions. K&auml The rcher gives short or long red or green light signals again, you have to refer to the manual to recognize this light “Morse code”: the robot is stuck, runs out of charge or the dust canister is dirty .

But the “smart” LG will complain almost like a human – for this there is a voice assistant, and, of course, this method of communication saves time and nerves and quickly gets the robot “back on track.

Some robots follow the precept of Matroskin the cat “I’ll save my energy…” and save battery power if, for instance, they get tangled in wires, trapped by chair legs or stuck under low furniture. In this case, they give a signal, try to get out on their own, but if they can’t and there is no help from the “owner”, they turn off so that the battery drains idly.

For example, both Korean models and the LG model also informs about the difficulties with a voice signal, and Samsung shuts down after 5 minutes if something interferes with the movement . Robot K&auml rcher gives light signals of error and stops.

Appetite

In general, all the robots clean up well – it concerns the passage of dirty areas, and suction power in combination with sweeping main and side brushes. Each model offers solutions in case of heavy localized soiling or just a long time without cleaning. It can be either an extended cleaning program or a spot cleaning program.

All robots have rotating brushes in the shape of a shaft like turbo brushes which sweep up the trash and push it towards the suction hole. The K robot has a&auml This brush is significantly shorter than the other three models of the test, and we were bloody delighted: we found the flaw! But as the minimum cleaning time of this model is 3 hours and the sensor of dirt detection works perfectly, the quality of cleaning from a short brush does not suffer but, as it was said above, this model does not capture the corners at all .

I would also like to highlight the presence of LG robot turbo cleaning mode increasing suction power and brush rotation speed . This mode can be activated by pressing the appropriate button, and on carpets it turns on automatically.

The LG and Samsung models have the ability to clean fine dust with a microfiber cloth. This is very effective for smooth floors, RobZone has the same feature – but you have to buy an extra wipe or choose the RobZone Roomy Gold model which includes one. has a “but”: a wipe is put on the holder attached to the bottom of the robot, and the whole construction reduces the permeability of the robot and its ability to traverse thresholds, run over slippers and wires which, of course, should not be on the floor, but – what can you do?? – sometimes you can’t do without it . By the way, all the models quite successfully cope with thresholds up to 1-1,5 cm in height e.g. drive on carpets or overcome thresholds .

Cleaning carpets is quite feasible for robots – of course, not to the bottom of the pile, but rather preventive and hygienic. The height of hair should not be more than 1-1.5 cm and the brushes need to be bent, otherwise the robots get tangled in them. LG robot vacuum cleaner on carpets sets turbo mode automatically and cleans more thoroughly, while RobZone model disinfects them as well as smooth floors with UV lamp.

The manufacturer recommends it as a fighter against dust mites and flea larvae, if there are pets in the house.

Care

If you’re looking for a “favorite” that requires little or no maintenance, check out the LG. As you can see from Table 3, this model has the most conveniently located container-dust collector, it is easy to remove and clean, the procedure is quite hygienic and absolutely safe for manicure.

The Samsung robot has the ability to pump dust with a regular vacuum cleaner, it’s convenient, hygienic, and nails will not be damaged. If you do everything manually, you have to put down newspaper: some of the garbage will inevitably fall out. Same with cleaning the container at RobZone, where the container is located as standard – on the side.

As for the main brushes, in all the models tested, they can be taken out and cleaned easily. We were a little bit amused that all the producers state it as an advantage, but we can safely say that now it is the norm, non-removable brushes-rollers are the reality of life of cheap or low-quality models.

As for the filters, it is the only “consumable” for the LG model change once a year . The Samsung robot’s filter and dust-collector can be washed, while LG’s cyclone dust-collector is also washable, as is the RobZone’s outlet filter. As for the inlet filter of this robot there is a dry cleaning you can use a regular vacuum cleaner , but if you use it frequently it should be changed once every three months.

The robot K&auml rcher has an outlet filter in the base, it needs to be cleaned and replaced as it gets dirty, and the dust bag itself is also an extra filtering layer – and, alas, an extra consumable.

The Road Home

All robots are pretty good at finding their way to their “breadwinner” charging stations – but only if the doors are left open, the robot and the charging station are kept clean, and the charging station is installed in a free space and is not blocked by furniture and furnishings. During the test, there were times when the robot didn’t have enough battery power to make it back to the base, like when it wasted energy in an unequal fight with a wire.

To be fair, in most cases where a robot has trouble getting “home”, the “host” is to blame: not clearing obstacles, closing the door, not making sure the sensors are clean – and they just can’t pick up the station’s signal. Some models have a “push-to-run” program where you push the button and the robot goes to recharge LG, RobZone, Kilburn, Dizengine, and so on &auml rcher . This is necessary if you plan to interrupt the cleaning cycle or after programs which do not include a return to the station at the end RobZone’s short programs .

Hush, hush, the cat’s on the roof..

In our test there are 2 “silents” with noise level up to 60 dB, they are LG and Samsung models, the name of which even has the word “silence” in it – Silencio. They really do not irritate your hearing, with them you can talk or watch TV, but not sleep. Robot K&auml K robot vacuums very quietly, even quieter than the Koreans, but it passes the garbage into the paper bag in the body of the station quite loudly.

True, there is a noise reduction button on the base for this procedure, but it doesn’t get much quieter. The garbage disposal procedure is not long at all, the noise lasts only 10-12 seconds. But the RobZone robot, alas, makes a rattling noise. The manufacturer “justifies” itself by the fact that cleaning can be programmed for a time when no one is at home, but the “Koreans” LG and Samsung also have the ability to program the time of cleaning, but it does not prevent them from being quiet.