When was the robot vacuum invented?
The first robot vacuum, or “robot vac”, was branded Trilobite. It was launched in 1996, manufactured by Electrolux. The problem was that it collided with objects and stopped at a short distance from the walls. Cleaning wasn’t perfect and the product stopped. Dyson announced a prototype in 2001 but it never reached mass production. The first popular robot vacuum was launched by iRobot in 2002, the now iconic Roomba. The iRobot Roomba was the first robot vacuum equipped with obstacle and fall-detection sensors. This robovac became very popular, followed by tens of Roomba iterations.
Want to find other household essentials? Check out our directory of 1065 household items, incl. the robot vacuum.
What are the benefits of robot vacuums compared to vacuum cleaners?
Autonomy
First of all they can do the job on their own. They’re never tired, never complain, they’re focused on their task: keeping the floors tidy. You place the robovac in the room you want to clean and let it do its job. The robot can travel from room to room at the same level. It will return autonomously to its dock to charge its batteries. You will only have to empty the dirt box and clean the brushes and sensors on a regular basis.
Low noise
Compared to traditional vacuum cleaners, robovacs are less noisy. You can let them work at night without disturbing the people sleeping upstairs.
Great at cleaning pet hair
That’s a benefit you’ll see listed in most descriptions: robot vacuums are the perfect appliance to collect cat and dog hair all over your house, in every corner.
Reach hidden spots
Robovacs can easily go under beds, cabinets and other pieces of furniture, smartly avoiding most obstacles. They won’t fall into the stairs thanks to their cliff sensor.
App-controlled
Most state-of-the-art robot vacuums can be controlled via a dedicated mobile application (or a remote control), which also integrates with smart-home voice assistants (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri). They can also connect to your wi-fi network to be checked and controlled when you’re away.
What are the limits of robot vacuums ?
They work best on flat surfaces (they have some issues with carpets and uneven rugs). They can’t clean stairs.
Of course you have to make sure that there aren’t any small items, random objects or cables on the floor before your robovac embarks on its cleaning mission and deliver its full suction power.
Notwithstanding these limited shortcomings, these little robots are an amazing complement to traditional vacuum cleaners and will save you a lot of time to tidy up all the flat areas of your home, to the remotest edges.
How do robot vacuums work?
Robot vacuums are equipped with sensors, lasers and sometimes even cameras. These navigation tools help them find their way on all flat hard floors.
Some robovacs even have autonomous mapping features to build a floor plan, optimize their journeys and deliver cleaning statistics. Those advanced models don’t require dedicated physical boundaries interacting with their sensors. You can easily schedule their job and set the cleaning modes via a dedicated mobile application. You don’t need to get off the couch: you can even use voice commands to trigger a cleaning cycle via your favourite assistant (Alexa, Google or Siri)!
Some models also feature a wet-mopping function. They can vacuum and wet-mop a floor in one pass, before returning to their charging dock! The most advanced models feature a self-emptying dock and can adapt their cleaning modes to multiple floor types.
Are robovacs worth it?
Definitely Yes. Who would not love a docile robot which can perform their least favorite chore? Moreover, these days, robot vacuums are truly effective. They’re great to clean pet hair, which is a major annoyance for cat and dog lovers. They can reach remote corners and nab debris under beds and cabinets. Besides the usual hard floors, they can also easily clean a low pile carpet. The latest models have a decent battery life (up to 90 minutes), enough for smaller homes and apartments. They’re easy to charge and maintain and are pretty affordable, especially when you consider the hours they’ll help you save.
What are the 10 best robot vacuums you can find on Amazon today?
The brands topping the list of Best Sellers are currently Ecovacs, eufy, Kivol, Lefant, Hosome and Bagotte.
Of course you can also find the iconic iRobot Roomba on Amazon.
No products found.
including the high end iRobot Roomba s9
No products found.
Best selling robovacs on Amazon (updated daily)
What is the most popular robovac brand?
At time of writing, the most popular robovac brand on Google is Eufy, especially its Eufy 11 Model.
- Cleans For You: Clean your house with the click of a button. Versatile cleaning modes and the low-profile design facilitates cleaning under tables and chairs along with every nook and cranny.
- High-Capacity Li-ion Battery: Delivers strong suction power for up to 1.5 hours.
- 3-Point Cleaning System: Side brushes, a rolling brush and powerful suction ensure a thorough clean.
- Premium Features: Anti-scratch tempered glass cover for protection, infrared-sensor for evading obstacles, and drop-sensing tech to avoid falls. Recharges automatically.
- What You Get: eufy RoboVac 11, remote control (requires 2 AAA batteries, not included), charging base, AC power adapter, cleaning tool, High-Performance filter, 4 side brushes, welcome guide and our worry-free 12-month warranty.
