Robotic vacuum cleaner

Vacuum cleaner robot or robot vacuum cleaners are household robots that can automatically clean rooms.

There is this form of the vacuum cleaner since the late 1990s. They represent the first form of a service robot in everyday life dar manufacturers include companies such as iRobot ( Roomba ), Karcher, Electrolux ( Trilobite), Siemens, Neato Robotics and Samsung ( Navibot ). The price range ranging from 40 to 1,500 euros.

Function

Vacuum cleaner robots are usually made ​​in the form of a 30 cm large flat rolling cylinder, more expensive models also have sensors that allow them to orient themselves, and store information about space and energy station to which they return after work independently to recharge. With the aid of expensive electronics, this robot can run different programs whereby all places accessible to the Staubsaugroboter be achieved in a room and an appropriate cleaning effect. Inaccessible points can not be cleaned. Lying around on the floor cable may cause malfunction or possibly also the hanging devices might pull down (eg table lamp from the table ). Top models dispose of the dirt is sucked up automatically to a charging station and are completely autonomous, simpler models must be cleaned and recharged manually.

Simple vacuum cleaner robot detect the environment with only a single collision sensor. If the robot encounters an obstacle, it changes direction. The first robot vacuum cleaner (example: Glossy Ibis robot vacuum cleaner) required for this no electronics, already with a simple spring mechanism can rotate on the spot of the vacuum cleaner robot when an obstacle stops the movement. If the travel time is sufficient, it can be fully captured with this simple logic a surface.

Modern vacuum cleaner robot using ultrasonic, infrared light or laser to detect reflections by the distance to an object. Crash sensors allow the detection of stairs and landings. Few vacuum cleaner robots are able to orient themselves in space, most models only react to collisions and the set or calculated on the basis of measured distances cleaning time. There are models that create a plan of the premises, so as to optimize the suction.

Current models are equipped with a weekly program and are able to clean unattended for several days without intervention living spaces.

Most devices work on the principle of carpet cleaner: Cleaning is based on various rotating brushes or rollers with rubber wipers. The vacuum cleaner used are inefficient, some models use tack cloths to pick up dust from smooth hard floors. Almost all vacuum cleaner robots operate without vacuum cleaner bags, the collection boxes are simply emptied the trash bin.

Due to the still small battery capacity of a maximum of 120 minutes is even the latest generation is still not possible to clean more than four rooms (1 room apartment with hall, kitchen and bathroom). The use in more than four rooms requires the displacement of the base station, the use of multiple base stations, or the use of multiple Staubsaugroboter what viability ( the purpose of the workload ) is significantly reduced.

Vacuum cleaner robot with a navigation system to make it, for example, a 79 m² apartment in a period of about 40 - 60 min. to suck. Some models come with Low Battery independently the docking station to recharge and clean by then at the last point on. When using so you have between the older generations and new differ with navigation.

Dissemination

According to the International Federation of Robotics 2008, approximately 940,000 vacuum cleaner robots were sold worldwide, almost 50% more than in 2007.

Vacuum cleaner robots are mainly from Europe, USA and Asia. In Europe, it is observed that vacuum cleaner robot from classical Cleaning Equipment manufacturers are brought out from a marketing point of view, while have formed in the United States and South Korea specializing in robot manufacturer. Unlike vacuum cleaner robot floor cleaning robot so far only by an American company ( iRobot ) and a Chinese company (TTI or Dirt Devil ) are produced. European manufacturer of floor cleaning robots do not yet exist in spite of such research in the corporate office of a German cleaning equipment manufacturer.

Test results

Stiftung Warentest has tested two examples vacuum cleaner robot in March 2012. Coarse dirt in tidy rooms, they can remove quite successful with daily use. On carpet they remove dust but only superficially, they also blow a large portion of particulate matter due to their primitive filter technology back into the room. Robotic vacuum replace according to Stiftung Warentest therefore no classical vacuum cleaner.