This means they can work out the most efficient route before getting started and don’t need to cover the same spot twice, as can happen with robots without these sensors. This includes a hand with soft graspers that look an awful lot like a human hand and, naturally, a vacuum irobot vacuum cleaner attachment. As the firm notes, the robotic stuff doesn’t come out of nowhere, exactly — a surprising amount of vision processing, AI and autonomy go into something like a robot vacuum. But from a purely investment standpoint, this could be much more than simple baby steps.
If you’re looking to dip your toe in the water of automatic vacuum cleaning but don’t want to spend in the region of £500, this is the next best thing. Its cameras and lasers build up a detailed map of your floor as it performs its initial clean. This is then saved by the smartphone app, so you can send the X8 to clean individual rooms and set virtual boundaries to cordon off no-go areas. This simple and intuitive operation, accompanying an affordable and capable robot, makes for a compelling package that’s excellent value for money. During testing each robot is connected to Wi-Fi and controlled through the supplied app, where available.
This is combined with data from infrared sensors to let the machine’s internal computer make sense of its position and surroundings. Set to be on the market by 2030, the company envisions that the robots will save people time and improve lives. British manufacturer Dyson has announced that it is “supercharging its robotics ambitions” by developing home robots and building the UK’s largest robotics research centre. What’s much more solid is the FCC filing, which gives a good sense of what we can expect from a Dyson robot vacuum in the near future.
Dyson 360 Heurist is the second-ever robot vacuum cleaner launched after its Dyson 360 Eye. It has an intelligent learning system that maps your home with every cleaning session. Even so, the Moosoo M X6 cordless bagless vacuum packs a respectable punch, considering its low price. Despite costing much less than competing cordless vacuum cleaner options, the M X6 was the fourth-best performer in our test group of eight models.
The Roomba’s run time is 75 minutes, but charge time is only 90 minutes, so you can schedule it to clean up twice a day or more. Alternatively, command it ad hoc to pick up crumbs after mealtimes. Selecting a zone gives you a rough cleaning time and the estimated number of charges that it will take, with the 360 Heurist able to return to its dock and top up its battery if needed. In my house (a Victorian terrace), there’s enough battery to clean every floor on Max if needed. However, the rumor is that the company is set to launch a third one soon. Your choice of Dyson vacuum depends on your budget, preference, needs, and other factors.
The very best Dyson you can buy right now is the V15 Detect Absolute (£599). The highlight of this vacuum is hinted at in its name, using a laser to reveal microscopic dust – making sure you can spot everything and get it picked up. The V15 irobot vacuum cleaner also smartly adjusts its suction power, ramping it up when needed. Fancy tech doesn’t drain the battery life either, with up to 60 minutes – which should be plenty, even if the laser has you meticulously cleaning every nook and cranny.
James Dyson has said that current robotic vacuums are just gimmicks, saying that “they’ve got whiskers sticking out of them – whiskers don’t clean anything they just disturb the birds”. All robot vacuums employ bumpers and sensors to help them navigate their way around your home and to prevent them coming to grief by falling down the stairs. But some are more efficient at finding their way around than others. On this page, we’ve picked out our favourites – all fully tested by our experts.