Atvel Zorro Z7: A Window Cleaning Robot with Automatic Water Supply

Atvel Zorro Z7 is the third robotic window cleaner in the manufacturer's lineup. Previously tested Atvel Zorro Z5 And Z5 SlimSo, this new product has received a very important design upgrade: an automatic water supply system that delivers water to the cleaning cloth during window cleaning. This design solution maintains the cleaning cloth's moisture level, thereby improving the quality of window cleaning. Below, I'll thoroughly test the Atvel Z7, after which I'll express my opinion on whether this robotic window cleaner is worth buying. It's worth noting that sales begin in September, and the estimated price is $250. So, let's get started!

Equipment

Let's start with the package contents. In addition to the robot itself, which already has a safety rope and a long cord attached, the package includes:

1. Power adapter.
2. Cord for connecting the adapter to the network.
3. Spare microfiber cloth.
4. Bottle for pouring liquid into the robot.
5. Remote control.
6. And the operating instructions.

Standard equipment.

Appearance

Now let's take a look at the Atvel Zorro Z7's design. It's square, gray, and has a matte finish. The body stands just 7 cm from the floor.

The robot's soft red handle immediately catches the eye. This design solution allowed for a reduced height, typically 9-10 cm. Its 7-cm thickness allows it to be used even on windows with bars. I'm not sure how well this handle will hold up in terms of wear and tear; reviews will reveal that after a while of use. But I can say it's a unique and creative solution.

A mechanical Start/Pause button is located next to the handle. The power cord and safety cable are not removable.

In the top right corner, there's a hole with a sealed valve for filling the robot with water. The tank holds up to 150 ml of water, enough for cleaning approximately 80 square meters of area.

Edge detection sensors are located at the bottom corners. The robot moves using tracks. Surprisingly, they have no treads. The rubber is smooth. In the center are ventilation holes for the main motor, which provides suction to the surface. Below are the power on/off button, a robot status indicator light, and a service port protected by a plug.

And the most important feature of the Atvel Zorro Z7 is its automatic water supply system. Eight nozzles are located in a special slot in the cleaning cloth. This way, water is sprayed not directly onto the surface in front of the robot, but directly onto the cleaning cloth. This design, in my opinion, is more effective, as the sprayed liquid doesn't get on the window frame or get blown away by gusts of wind, as is the case with similarly designed robotic window cleaners. While this design isn't unique, it can be found in robots like Xiaomi Hutt W66.

The cloth is quite thick and holds its shape, and is easily attached to the base of the robot with Velcro.

Overall, I have no complaints about the Atvel Zorro Z7's design. The build quality is high, and I found no looseness or unsightly gaps.

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of the Atvel Zorro Z7, as declared by the manufacturer:

• Backup battery: Li-Ion, 650 mAh.
• Power consumption: 90 W.
• Suction power: up to 2600 Pa.
• Water tank: 150 ml.
• Battery life: up to 20 min.
• Minimum window size: 40*60 cm.
• Maximum window size: lifting height up to 9 meters.
• Dimensions: 231*231*70 mm.
• Travel speed: 2.5 min/1 sq.m.

It's worth noting the robot's very long power cord when connected to an extension cord. This allows it to be used on very large panoramic windows.

Functional capabilities

Let's move on to an overview of the Atvel Zorro Z7's features. The window cleaning robot is controlled via a remote control, and the manufacturer is currently working on an upgrade that will allow the robot to be controlled via an app.

The remote control includes functions such as manual button control, start/pause, dry cleaning mode, voice alerts on/off, wet cleaning mode, water supply on/off, and a double pass mode of the area to be cleaned, first along an N-shaped trajectory, and then along a Z-shaped trajectory.

The only thing I'd like to see missing is a separate option to select N- or Z-pattern driving modes, suitable for different window shapes. But that's not a deal-breaker. It's helpful, though, that the Atvel Zorro Z7 speaks Russian and reports its operating status, as well as specific problems.

Testing

A detailed video review of the Atvel Zorro Z7 has already been prepared and published on the channel:

Navigation

And finally, let's move on to the tests. First, we'll test the Atvel Zorro Z7's navigation on windows of various sizes. Even though the manufacturer specifies a minimum window width of 40 cm, when tested on a 38 cm window and a section of a door, the robot is able to turn around and completely cover the cleaning area.

Also, no problems were found with navigation on windows measuring 150*90 cm and walls measuring 250*200 cm.

There's just one caveat, which has less to do with navigation than with the robot's movement on the surface. It's extremely rare for the robot to fail to reach window frames for some reason. As far as I know, this is a common characteristic of models with tracks. They are sensitive to how smoothly the cleaning cloth is installed, the cleanliness of the tracks themselves, the roughness of the glass, and the presence of water or detergent residue. Therefore, the same robot may slip in different conditions, while working perfectly in others. While testing different robots with tracks, I encountered such issues several times. Incidentally, the manufacturer is also aware of this and has included instructions on how to handle such situations.

But I'd also like to highlight a key advantage of the Atvel Zorro Z7. Its algorithm makes a double pass along window frames, allowing for better cleaning of dirt in the frame area.

So, a plus for navigation, a minus for grip.

Washing windows from the outside

The quality of exterior window cleaning is above average. You can see the window condition before and after:

The robot collected the bulk of the dirt and dust, leaving only the corners and small areas along the frame near the corners unwashed, a problem with most existing robotic window cleaners. However, thanks to the water supply system, if the windows are not in particularly poor condition and you wash them weekly, you can first turn on the dry cleaning mode and then, without removing the robot from the window, run a second pass in wet cleaning mode if the cloth is not too dirty. This is very convenient.

You can evaluate the robot's effectiveness yourself by looking at the condition of the napkin after testing.

Noise level

The actual noise level is lower than that of similar robots, ranging from 69 to 71 dB. The robot is not particularly noisy and is practically inaudible when cleaning windows from the outside. By comparison, the noise level of many similar robots reaches 80 dB.

Application on other surfaces

Well, I'll show you how else you can use the Atvel Zorro Z7.

Firstly, it can be used to clean horizontal surfaces. You might find it useful for this purpose. However, sometimes the body goes over the edge, and the robot goes into emergency mode. However, compared to similar robots, many spin in place when started, while this one moves smoothly in a serpentine motion.

Secondly, the Atvel Zorro Z7 can be used to clean frameless vertical surfaces. It safely detects the edges of the cleaning area and moves away from them. There's just one important point, noted in the instructions: if you have windows with crooked glazing beads or other similarly tricky elements on the work surface, there's a high risk of the robot falling over or, at best, entering emergency mode due to a sudden loss of traction. For example, in my case, it was the plugs on the mirror; if the robot drove over them, it would fall off the mirror. Be careful. This isn't a problem with the Atvel Zorro Z7 specifically, but with virtually all window cleaning robots.

It can also be used to clean tiled walls, glass shower partitions, or even mirrors.

And finally, I'd like to mention how it operates in emergency mode during a power outage. In this situation, the robot emits loud voice alerts, and the status indicators on both sides of the robot turn red. This allows you to promptly detect the problem and remove the robot from the window. Don't forget to install the safety cable. This is very important!

Personal opinion

The Atvel Zorro Z7 was thoroughly reviewed and tested. I'll share my personal opinion on the new product. I liked the following:

1. An automatic water supply system that is more efficient than similar systems.
2. Slim body.
3. Good navigation.
4. A very long cord allows you to wash large windows.
5. Thorough wash of the frame area.
6. Low noise level.
7. Possibility of washing frameless surfaces.
8. Suitable for washing horizontal surfaces.
9. Voice notifications in Russian.
10. Availability of warranty and service support.

Speaking of drawbacks, the main one, typical of all robotic window cleaners on the market, is the inability to fully clean corners due to the design of these devices. It's also worth noting that the Atvel Zorro Z7, like other window cleaners, won't handle very dirty windows, such as those with caked-on dirt or old grease stains. However, the automatic cleaning fluid supply improves the window cleaning quality compared to many similar products. I have one more specific complaint about this model: the tracks can slip on the surface. This doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Finally, I'd like to point out that smartphone control is currently unavailable.

However, overall, the test results were on par with similar devices, and no critical comments were found. So, I see no reason not to recommend this robot, especially if the price is very attractive at launch.

On that note, I'd like to end this review. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments. Happy shopping. Bye!