Xiaomi Lydsto L1: lidar, self-cleaning, object detection system

Hello everyone! Welcome to the channel! In this video, I'll be reviewing the latest product, the Xiaomi Lydsto Sweeping and Mopping Robot L1. Unlike the previously released R1 and S1, this model features a floor detection system. It's mounted on the front mechanical bumper and consists of several laser sensors. Additionally, the Lydsto L1 is equipped with a lidar sensor and a wet mopping function. This combination of features starts at $450. Next, I'll take a closer look at this robot vacuum, after which I'll share my opinion on whether it's worth buying and when it makes sense. I'd be grateful if you'd appreciate my efforts by subscribing and liking after watching the video. So, let's get started!

Equipment

Lydsto L1 arrived in this branded cardboard box:

In addition to the robot and station itself, the delivery kit includes:

1. Nozzle with a cloth for wet cleaning.
2. Operating instructions in English.
3. 30 disposable wipes for wet cleaning.
4. 6 disposable bags for the station.
5. Robot cleaning tool.

The package isn't ideal. For example, there's no spare HEPA filter, which you'll need after just a few months of use. However, a year's supply of bags is included.

Appearance

Now let's look at the Lydsto L1's design. Let's start with the robot vacuum itself. It's available in both black and white. Its body is round and stands approximately 98 mm from the floor.

Wall sensors are mounted on the right and left sides of the bumper. An obstacle detection sensor is located in the center, flanked by laser sensors hidden behind a black trim.

On the top panel, we see two mechanical control buttons. The lidar is equipped with a spring-loaded cover that prevents the robot from getting stuck under furniture.

The combined waste and water container is mounted at the rear. The tank holds 250 ml of water. A pump is installed inside for electronically regulating the flow of liquid. A self-cleaning curtain is also located at the rear of the container at the station. The dust container holds 300 ml of dry waste. The triple filtration system includes a mesh, foam, and HEPA filter.

A cleaning cloth holder can be installed on the bottom of the robot. The cloth is secured using Velcro and a groove.

The Lydsto L1 is equipped with four fall protection sensors. It has a single side brush. There is no UV lamp. In the previous version S1 it was installed.

The central brush unit is floating. The brush itself is made of bristles and petals. Both sides can be removed to remove tangled hair and pet hair. This is a plus.

In general, apart from the object detection system, the robot itself is completely identical to the same R1.

The self-cleaning station remains unchanged. A bag holding up to 3 liters of dry waste is located under the lid. Below is a display that shows the robot's status and battery charge percentage. Below that are the charging terminals and the suction channel, through which waste is emptied from the container into the bag in the station.

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of Lydsto L1, as declared by the manufacturer:

• Li-Ion battery 5200 mAh.
• Suction power up to 3000 Pa.
• Operating time up to 150 min.
• Cleaning area up to 200 sq.m.
• Dust collector 300 ml.
• The water tank capacity is 250 ml.
• Obstacle clearance up to 20 mm.
• Dimensions: 350*98 mm.

Overall, the specifications are standard for a modern lidar robot vacuum. Let's move on!

Functional capabilities

Speaking of the Lydsto L1's features, the robot vacuum is controlled via the Lydsto mobile app. Connecting is effortless. The app interface is in Russian.

Main features of the robot:

1. Self-cleaning.
2. Saving multiple cleaning maps in memory.
3. Automatic zoning of premises into rooms.
4. Selecting rooms and areas for cleaning.
5. Double pass of the cleaned area.
6. User mode.
7. Wash mode.
8. Setting up virtual walls and no-go zones.
9. Separate restricted areas for wet cleaning.
10. Continue cleaning after charging at the base.
11. Automatic power increase on carpets.
12. Adjusting the power and water supply level.
13. Manual control.
14. Setting up cleaning according to a schedule.
15. Voice notifications in Russian.
16. Do not disturb mode.
17. Cleaning log.
18. Monitoring the status of consumables.

I'll go into two features in more detail. The user mode allows you to customize cleaning parameters for each room. This is a very convenient solution. The floor cleaning mode, however, simply turns off the suction during wet cleaning. I was hoping for a Y-shaped cleaning pattern, but no.

By the way, some detection system settings are also missing from the menu, and that's not good. I'll clearly demonstrate why I think so during the tests.

Testing

Finally, let's move on to the tests that will clearly demonstrate the robot's effectiveness. A detailed video review of the Lydsto L1, including all the tests, has already been prepared and published on the channel:

Navigation

First, let's test the Lydsto L1's navigation in a room with obstacles. The robot vacuum cleaner navigated the room's perimeter and then cleaned it in a serpentine pattern. It didn't get stuck on the dryer. It also swept around the dryer and the chair legs. This test was successful!

Speaking of navigating around the house, the Lydsto L1 goes room by room, first along the perimeter, then in a serpentine pattern. Cleaning speed is high, and there are no uncleaned areas. This model has excellent navigation.

Identifying objects on the floor

The object detection system was tested separately to see how well the robot vacuum cleaner navigates around common household obstacles. While it was able to detect and safely navigate around large objects, such as sneakers, toys, and bathroom scales, it chewed up cords and socks, causing an error.

Brand representatives point out that the implemented system accurately identifies obstacles over 2 cm in height. The robot doesn't see anything shorter than 1 cm, as with socks and wires. This isn't good, and it's only half the problem. We'll return to evaluating the object detection system later.

Suction power

The suction power is quite standard, as with other lidar robots in the Lydsto line. The robot vacuum cleaner was only able to vacuum debris from a 2 mm gap.

Dry cleaning

Dry cleaning performance on laminate floors is good. The robot vacuum was able to pick up most of the debris from the floor, including not only small household debris but also pet hair and hair. Only a little debris remained in the corners, where almost all round robots on the market fail to clean effectively. The center and side brushes caught some pet hair and hair. Test successful!

The robot's self-cleaning performance was tested separately. It's not perfect, but it's good, and I have no complaints. There's virtually no debris left after emptying the full container.

Carpet cleaning

The same trash was scattered on the carpet. The Lydsto L1 also completed this task successfully. All the trash was collected. The test was passed successfully.

Wet cleaning

There are no complaints about wet cleaning either. The quality of cleaning dirt from laminate is on par with similar products. Only one streak remained along the baseboard, but this is a weak point of all the robot vacuums reviewed so far.

It's also important to note that the Lydsto L1 can vacuum and mop simultaneously. That's a plus.

Wet cleaning and carpets

But when it came to wet cleaning on carpets, the object detection system failed. In my case, the carpet was medium-pile, about 3 cm high. The robot vacuum simply wouldn't go onto it, as the object detection system recognized it as an obstacle. There's no way to disable the laser sensors on the bumper, as is possible with similar devices. Dreame Bot L10 Pro or Ecovacs Deebot OZMO N8 PROAccordingly, if you have carpets 2 cm or more high on your floor, the robot simply won't enter them. However, if you manually move the robot onto the carpet, it will clean it, as in one of the previous tests.

And again, based on experience testing previous Lydsto models, even despite the incorrect operation of the object detection system, robotic vacuum cleaners were unable to avoid carpets in wet cleaning mode due to the lack of a carpet sensor.

Obstacle clearance

And again, the Lydsto L1 doesn't recognize the 2-centimeter threshold as an obstacle and passes over it without any problem. This is certainly good in terms of off-road capability, but apparently the object detection system only detects obstacles taller than 2 cm.

Driving through black surfaces

Like most other robot vacuums, there are also issues with passing over black surfaces. The anti-fall sensors detect a black carpet as a height difference.

Noise level

Finally, we measured the Lydsto L1's noise level in different modes. In Quiet mode, it ranged from 56-58 dB. In Standard mode, it rose to 60 dB. In Power mode, the noise level increased to 62-65 dB, and at maximum power, the peak was 72 dB. This model has a higher noise level, despite its standard power.

Personal opinion

The Lydsto L1 robot vacuum cleaner has been thoroughly reviewed and tested. our evaluation system he managed to gain 110 points. 3 points less than its predecessors, the S1 and R1. The 3 points were deducted specifically for the incorrect operation of the object detection system, which cannot be manually disabled to allow the robot to navigate in space like previous models.

Overall rating of robot vacuum cleaners tested on robovac.washerhouse.com: https://robovac.washerhouse.com/en/rejtingi/robovac-obshhij-rejting-robotov-pylesosov-robo.html.

I'll share my personal opinion of the Lydsto L1 after all the testing. I liked the following:

1. Self-cleaning function.
2. Simultaneous dry and wet cleaning.
3. Good cleaning quality on hard surfaces.
4. A large number of functions for flexible adjustment of cleaning parameters.
5. Ability to overcome 2 cm thresholds.

As for the disadvantages, I would like to highlight:

1. The object detection system is malfunctioning. This affects two issues: the robot is unable to recognize objects such as socks and cords, and it is also unable to climb carpets 3 cm or higher.
2. The robot vacuum cleaner is afraid of black floor coverings.

Ultimately, I can say that this robot only makes sense if you don't have medium-pile carpets on your floors, or if you're willing to vacuum them with a different vacuum, such as an upright. It's also worth considering if you want a robot vacuum that's more gentle on objects. For example, it's less likely to touch cat dishes or glass vases than the R1 and S1. Unfortunately, there wasn't a significant upgrade, and I wasn't thrilled with the object detection system, although I had high hopes.

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