Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum is bought to remove a chore, and how completely it does that depends on three things.

Navigation. Cheaper models move semi-randomly and eventually cover a room. LiDAR or camera navigation builds a map, cleans in orderly rows, remembers the layout and lets you send it to a specific room or set no-go zones. On anything larger than a flat, that difference is the one you notice most.

The base station. A self-emptying base transfers debris into a large bag, so instead of emptying a small bin after every run you deal with it every few weeks. On models that mop, the station may also wash and dry the pads — which matters, because a mop pad left damp in a machine smells.

Vacuum and mop combined. Useful on hard floors. Check how the machine handles carpet: better models lift the mop or avoid carpet using the map.

Practical expectations: robots need floors reasonably clear of cables and small objects, and they will not replace an occasional proper clean of edges and corners.

See also smart home.