THESE FEATURES are essential for every robot vacuum cleaner! Top 5 unique features!

Hello to all readers of this project! In this review, I'd like to share the most useful robotic vacuum cleaner features that would be great to implement in all existing models. I'll be discussing features that, in my opinion, are feasible to add to the existing software of robots from various brands. I've compiled five existing solutions that would significantly improve the efficiency of robotic vacuum cleaners, their autonomy, ease of use, and add variety to the routine process of automated cleaning! I'd be grateful if you'd appreciate my efforts by subscribing and liking after watching the video. So, let's get started!

Cleaning behind light obstacles

Let's start with a feature that's sorely lacking in almost all lidar robot vacuums on the market: the ability to navigate around light obstacles to clean behind them. These are typically curtains, drapes, and drapes, but could also be, for example, a bedspread hanging from a tall bed. When detecting such light obstacles, most robots carefully navigate around them, leaving behind the uncleaned areas we always pass through during manual cleaning.

Several robot vacuum manufacturers have addressed this issue. For example, 360 added an "Obstacle Avoidance Mode" switch to the app. When turned off, the robot brushes against objects more forcefully, thereby bumping into curtains and drapes while cleaning behind them. It's a good solution, but not ideal, as it makes the robot less accurate.

Hobot, however, has taken a more sophisticated approach to cleaning behind curtains and drapes. The map displays rectangular zones where the robot vacuum cleaner should avoid obstacles using signals from its mechanical bumper alone. This bumper, however, is not triggered by light obstacles. As a result, the robot vacuum cleaner can thoroughly clean behind curtains and drapes in selected areas while gently touching objects within the remaining cleaning area.

Currently, this feature is supported by robotic vacuum cleaners. Hobot LEGEE 7, Hobot LEGEE D7 And Hobot LEGEE D8, and I would really like to see a similar feature added to robot vacuum cleaners from other brands too.

Washing the floor along the baseboard

An equally important feature, sorely lacking in almost all robot vacuums on the market, is the ability to clean floors right up to baseboards and furniture. The most advanced solution in this area is a sliding cloth holder, like the one in Dreame Bot X20 Pro Plus, which cannot be solved by improving the software.

However, Ecovacs was the first to offer its own approach to eliminating the blind spot between the edge of the cleaning cloth and the baseboard. It involves the robot's rear end entering the perimeter, just where the cleaning cloth meets the edge. The first model to support this feature was... Ecovacs Deebot X1 OmniThen it was added to the senior one. Ecovacs Deebot T20 Pro.

And then, unexpectedly for everyone, the company Dreame has implemented exactly the same functionality in its app., which is currently supported by the Dreame Bot L10s Ultra and Dreame Bot X10 Pro. Incidentally, Xiaomi's new XIAOMI MIJIA Omni Robot Vacuum Mop 2 (part number C102CN) also supports this feature. Overall, I hope these rear-facing slanted mops will become a feature for all robot vacuum cleaners, including those with standard, straight mops.

Driving through black surfaces

Another common problem with robot vacuums is their fear of black floors. Anti-fall sensors detect black surfaces as a chasm, and the robot begins to back away when it encounters black carpets or tiles. 360 has found a solution here too, adding an "Anti-fall Mode" feature to the app, which is supported by the model. 360 S10By disabling this feature, the fall protection sensors stop working, eliminating the problem of avoiding black surfaces.

This is a great solution for those living in apartments and houses without stairs or elevation changes. There's no need to cover the sensors yourself. Ideally, this feature would be further developed to allow for setting specific zones where the robot should disable its fall protection sensors, such as on black-patterned carpets or tiles.

Branded voice assistants

The next feature that several brands are starting to implement in flagship robot vacuums in 2023 is a built-in voice assistant. Voice control itself is a crucial feature for many, simplifying robot operation. And the idea of ​​a built-in voice assistant represents a new level of robot vacuum control. This technology allows users to either issue voice commands directly from an app or directly to the robot vacuum itself, which is constantly monitoring sounds around it and awaiting a new task.

Ecovacs pioneered this approach with its own voice assistant, YIKO. But just a year later, Dreame followed suit with a similar solution. List of models that support this feature:

• Ecovacs Deebot X1 OMNI
• Ecovacs Deebot X1 Pro OMNI
• Ecovacs Deebot X1 Turbo
• Ecovacs Deebot T10 Plus
• Ecovacs Deebot T20 Pro
• Ecovacs Deebot T20 OMNI
• Ecovacs Deebot X2 OMNI
• Dreame Bot X10 Pro
• Dreame Bot X20 Pro (Pro Plus)

We're waiting for Dreame's flagship global model to test its voice assistant, as Ecovacs' YIKO only accepts English, and even then, it's still crude. If every robot vacuum cleaner were equipped with a proprietary voice assistant, it would greatly simplify its operation, especially since connecting to popular voice assistants like Yandex.Alice is difficult.

Unique voice packs

Finally, rounding out the top five features, the reason many choose Xiaomi robot vacuums is the ability to install creative voiceovers instead of the default voice prompts. This way, the robot vacuum not only cleans but also entertains its owners. An even better solution is the ability to not only install one of the creative voice packs available for download online, but also record phrases for each voice command. Or, ideally, download audio tracks in high quality for each phrase.

And you can do this not through third-party programs, but directly from the robot's app without any complicated steps. Of the robots I tested, they definitely support this feature. REDMOND RV-R660S, REDMOND RV-R670S, Hobot LEGEE D7 and Hobot LEGEE D8. Here's how it works:

It's a really cool feature that allows you to personalize your robot. And many people, including myself, would like to see this feature supported by all robot vacuum cleaners. Engineers, what's so complicated? :)

So, we've covered the five most interesting features that I'd love to see implemented in all robot vacuums currently on the market! If we missed any equally popular existing solutions, please share them in the comments! And if you enjoyed this topic, let us know in the comments! If there's increased interest in such videos, I'll soon share the top 10 design solutions implemented in robot vacuums in 2023. Happy shopping, everyone. Bye!