Hate Vacuming? - These robotic friends can help out!
In the early 19th century, an unhappy group of textile workers waged war on technology and any machines they feared would steal their jobs. They smashed machines and vowed to stop technology from taking over their lives.
If they were alive today, what would they think of the world? Technology dictates how we live, and robots like the Roomba robot vacuum ensures your house stays clean without you making any effort.
Types of Roombas
What is iRobot Roomba?
Roomba is a popular vacuum cleaner that guides itself around the house until its battery runs out. The device is computerized, so you don’t need to push it or guide it to where dirt and grit lies. For the most part, Roomba works like a regular vacuum cleaner.
The device features spinning brushes that pick up dirt as it moves around the house. Underneath the brushes is a vacuuming system that sucks up the dirt and drives it into a storage bin. The Roomba moves around with the help of two wheels, powered by one or two electric motors.
It also features sensors that help it dodge obstacles. What’s more, the device scampers back to its docking space when power is about to run out. Find out more what perks Roombas offer in this iRobot Roomba review.
What are the Main Features of iRobot Roomba?
Sensors
The iRobot Roomba features several sensors that help it avoid hitting objects or falling down staircases. On one side, the robot has a visible infrared beam attached to a sensor. Near it, there is a bumper that brings the robot to a sudden stop should the Roomba hit an object.
According to the device’s patent documents, Roomba’s sensors differentiate between dirt and big objects based on the level of impulses they produce. A big object produces huge amounts of electric impulses, which forces the gadget to halt.
Mapping System
Early versions of robot vacuums used to clean houses randomly. They would jump up and down in all directions. Modern Roomba iRobot versions are different. They use an elaborate system of following dirt called Vision Simultaneous Localization and Mapping.
The system involves taking pictures of your room to know where they need to clean, and areas they’ve already cleaned. Modern Roombas mostly follow dirt in straight lines, which makes them as efficient as human cleaners.
Mechanical Parts
The Roomba is a circular-shaped robot that conceals several kinds of brushes underneath. The bot’s housing is hard plastic or a combination of plastic and light metal parts. Roomba devices also come with small wheels for easy movement.
Wi-Fi Connectivity for Programming
Modern Roomba devices are Internet-enabled and linked to apps for easy configuration. You can set your bot to clean up your home at a particular time, or to clean a specific room. The best iRobot Roomba gadgets are also voice-enabled, meaning you can control it with the help of Alexa.
What reviewers say
Why should you get an iRobot Roomba?
Earlier in this review of iRobot Roomba gadgets, we said modern Roombas are like human cleaners. They can map your home and identify where dirt is located. They pay more attention to heavily-used areas and come with angled brushes to remove dirt from the corners and along floorboards.
Additionally, these devices don’t fall down staircases or hit table legs and topple over. They have powerful sensors that differentiate small obstacles from large ones. They have wheels to maneuver around objects and can be configured to clean up at particular times.
Important Features
Choosing the best iRobot Roomba
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Powerful Cleaning System
IRobot Roomba gadgets all work on similar principles. They all boast of powerful cleaning systems. Unfortunately, they don’t always offer efficient cleaning. Some get stuck in the middle of your carpets.
The ideal Roomba should feature powerful brushes that work in tandem to provide an efficient cleaning system. Find out what technology is used for cleaning and the types of sensors the gadget uses to map your home. These details can help you distinguish between an effective cleaner and an inefficient gadget.
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App Configuration
Almost every modern robot cleaner is Internet-enabled, so don’t bother buying one that isn’t. Wi-Fi connectivity helps you schedule cleaning in your home accordingly. If it supports voice connectivity, the better the robot. You can make cleaning schedules without even accessing your phone.
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Unique Features
Most iRobot gadgets have some type of unique technology that makes them different from the rest. Some can pick up fur and pollen to protect you from allergens. Others filter out debris to improve air quality inside your house. Look for unique features that can improve air quality, or can lead to better value for your money.
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Pricing
Although most iRobot gadgets cost $200-$400, some varieties cost up to $1500. The differences in price boil down to performance and power. The more expensive gadgets feature more powerful cleaning systems. Cheaper devices are designed for light cleaning. Read the features offered by each device, and decide whether its price is worth it before making a purchase.
Main Pros and Cons of iRobot Roombas
Pros
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Simple-to-use gadgets
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Cleans small rooms without guidance
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Powerful sensors keep it away from staircases and obstacles
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Self-charging device
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More affordable than conventional vacuum cleaners
Cons
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Takes up to 90 minutes to clean one room
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Features fairly small storage bins
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Roomba brushes need to be cleaned frequently
Top-Rated Brands
Top 5 iRobot Roombas
iRobot Roomba 690
Roomba 690 is a sleek device that utilizes a 3-stage cleaning process to collect minute dirt particles and large debris alike. The device also features special sensors that detect where dirt is more concentrated. It has more sensors to guide it through your home, especially under the floors.
Because Roomba 690 is designed for convenience, it’s Internet-enabled and supports an app compatible with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Roomba 690 is designed to keep power for 90 minutes, after which it docks back to its destination for recharging.
iRobot Roomba 675
Roomba 675 is one of the most popular robot vacuum cleaners. It's also top rated and ranks high on the best iRobot Roomba review sites for cleaning hard floors efficiently, including floors with pet hair. Like the Roomba 690, this gadget is circular-shaped and Internet-enabled. It also uses a 3-stage cleaning process to loosen, pick up and suck up dirt from your hard floors.
To ensure you can also clean carpets, Roomba 675 features an adjustable head. It also comes with the multiple sensors that detect high-traffic areas used by its Roomba 690 sister. Again, it features a 90-minute charge life and will dock back into auto charging at the right time.
IRobot Roomba 960
Roomba 960 is an even more popular gadget from the iRobot line of vacuum cleaning bots. It’s Wi-Fi configured, and works with both Alexa and Google Assistant. Roomba 960 is built for power cleaning and delivers 5x the performance the other gadgets offer.
Like its sisters, this device features an intelligent home mapping system that takes pictures of your home and cleans all dirty areas. Additionally, Roomba 960 has a special pet fur filter that ensures your home remains free of pet hair and dander most of the time.
iRobot Roomba 614
Roomba 614 promises great value for your money with its 3-stage cleaning process that eliminates all manner of dust, dirt, and hair from your floors. The device features multi-surface brushes that work efficiently on both hard floors and carpets.
At a price of $349, Roomba 614 falls under the same category as its more popular relatives. However, this device features a special edge-sweeping brush that bends 27 degrees to remove debris in the corners.
iRobot Roomba S9+ (9550)
The Roomba S9+ is a third generation robot vacuum cleaner that claims to trap up to 99% of pollen in your home. It’s relatively more expensive than its peers, but packs much more power than other iRobot devices. It uses a 3-stage cleaning process, but sucks dirt 40 times better than its relatives.
The Roomba S9+ is equipped with high-end sensors that detect high traffic areas, and digs deep to remove all manner of dirt. The device uses a special navigation technology to map your home. Unlike other devices, it keeps some of the data to adapt to your home and improve its cleaning pattern after each session.
Final Verdict
The iRobot Roomba is a futuristic cleaning gadget that has been around for a while now. The early versions of the device were mostly ineffective. They cleaned houses randomly and got stuck on carpets often. But modern Roomba devices offer a whole new meaning to robot cleaners. They feature more powerful cleaning systems. Their sensors and mapping systems are robust, while they are also Internet-enabled for easy management by means of phone apps.
