The robots have arrived at home! It is not the title of a science fiction movie, but a concrete help for domestic cleaning that is already a reality! iRobot Roomba was one of the first manufacturers of automatic robots designed to clean the house, an annoying and repetitive operation that lends itself well to automation, specifically home automation.
iRobot Roomba: What Is It and How Does It Work?
iRobot’s Roomba is a comprehensive line of robotic vacuum cleaners that has been on the market for several years, with ongoing improvements and new features. Let’s take a look at how it works.
The device resembles a small, flying saucer-like object, approximately 40 centimeters in diameter and less than 10 centimeters in height. It is equipped with wheels and motors for movement. It features a complex array of sensors that enable it to perceive its surroundings, allowing it to operate autonomously without the need for an operator.
Artificial intelligence enables the iRobot to avoid obstacles and stairs that it may fall on, allowing it to recognize environments and understand when a room is clean, enabling it to move on to the next. Additionally, it can “hear” when its batteries are almost empty and return to the base to recharge.
The reduced height allows it to pass under chairs, furniture, and beds. It is programmed to avoid collisions with furniture and walls, slowing down before touching the obstacle.
Do they work?
But do these robot vacuum cleaners work? The answer is: so, let’s see why. Contrary to what skeptics might think, the navigation part works quite well: the robot can pass through the house without getting lost. Although it sometimes gets trapped in wires or carpets, new models have significantly reduced this problem.
What does not satisfy is, paradoxically, the less futuristic part of the appliance, that is … the vacuum cleaner itself!
For reasons of size and consumption, the cleaning system is not a traditional vacuum cleaner, but rather a series of rotating brushes that collect dirt in a small tank. This principle, common to electric brooms, yields good results with crumbs and larger particles of dirt, but performs poorly with fine powders and hair instead.
iRobot Roomba models on the market
Here are all the models currently on the market:
