Robot vacuum cleaner instructions for use. Proper operation and care of the robot vacuum cleaner

Proper care of a robot vacuum cleaner is an important condition for its uninterrupted long-term operation. This requires regular cleaning. And you need to not only remove debris from its container, but also tidy up the brushes, sensors, and guide wheel. In addition, you must be able to extend the life of its batteries and prevent the device from failing due to improper operation.

Let's consider the main aspects of use and care:

• How to use
• How to turn it on
• How to clean
• How to setup
• How to charge

Getting started with a robot vacuum cleaner

Some models work independently of the person. They can be easily configured to turn on when no one is home. But before using a robot vacuum cleaner, you must first prepare the room. It is necessary to remove from the floor all large objects that could interfere with the movement of equipment. You also need to install “virtual walls” (if they are included in the kit). They serve as limiters for equipment if it is necessary to prevent its movement in a certain part of the room. The peculiarity of the operation of “virtual walls” is that they are not autonomous; they are turned on and off simultaneously with the robot vacuum cleaner.

Turning on the robot

First, you should carefully study the instruction manual supplied with the vacuum cleaner. Many models of equipment are similar, but have structural and technical differences. Before starting the robot for the first time, the owner of the equipment is required to:

• Inspect the device for damage. If they are identified, the robot must be abandoned.
• Charge the vacuum cleaner battery. This will take several hours.
• Configure the operation of the device, and, if necessary, program a delay in its operation.
• Turn on the equipment, it should start working.
• Make sure that the movements of the vacuum cleaner on the floor are smooth, without jerking. If it slips or stops often, this is a reason to contact the service department.
• After cleaning, you need to turn off the device and clean it.

When the device is turned on for the second and subsequent times, it will not need to be configured unless the owner wants to forcibly change the program in it.

Safety precautions

Before using the vacuum cleaner, it must be checked in accordance with safety regulations. What you need to check before turning on the robot vacuum cleaner:

• Water should not come into contact with it. If liquid gets inside its contacts, turning on the device is prohibited. It must be taken to service center For checking.
• It is prohibited to operate equipment with a damaged cable. It's not safe for people.
• Do not turn on the robot vacuum cleaner unless all its components are installed. This will cause equipment failure.
• Before turning on the vacuum cleaner, it is necessary to remove animals and small children from the room to avoid injury to them.
• The charging station wire should not be in the path of the vacuum cleaner moving around the room. If it hits the cable, it can damage it.

After taking all precautions before turning on the robot vacuum cleaner, you can begin using it. You need to press the start button, the equipment will begin cleaning the room.

How to clean a robot vacuum cleaner

Cleaning the device includes several mandatory steps. It is necessary to thoroughly clean all major parts of the equipment from contamination. This must be done regularly; the service life of individual spare parts and the vacuum cleaner itself depends on how the owner takes care of the equipment.

Emptying the trash bin

The container of the robot vacuum cleaner must be removed from the body and cleaned. Garbage bins are not recommended to be washed under running water due to the fact that they are equipped with a motor. Washing the container will cause it to break. To maintain cleanliness, the garbage container is thoroughly cleaned with a brush and wiped on top with a damp soft cloth.

Cleaning the filter

This is done every time after cleaning. This contributes to better dust absorption by the device. The filter needs to be changed every 2 months or more often if the device no longer removes dirt well.

Cleaning the central brushes

They need to be removed; simply wiping and removing dust from the outside is not enough. If you do not remove the brush and do not properly care for it, there is a risk of its premature failure. Additionally, it is necessary to clean the place where it is installed, because dust gets clogged under the bearing caps that secure the brush.

Cleaning the side brushes

Depending on the device model, the number of brushes varies - one or two, as in iBoto Aqua. They must be removed before cleaning. Regular maintenance of side brushes is weekly.

Guide wheel

If you do not take care of it, the speed of movement of equipment around the room will significantly decrease. This occurs due to the fact that debris is wound onto its axis during operation of the robot. It is necessary to remove the wheel in order to clean it of animal hair and hair; if this is not done, then removing dirt from it will take a lot of time.

Caring for Touch Sensors

They are located on the top side of the device. To keep them running smoothly, you need to keep them clean. It is necessary to wipe them with a napkin after each cleaning. An important point is that you cannot use wet cloths to wipe touch sensors, only dry ones. Moisture can disrupt their operation, causing the sensors to display erroneous data or stop functioning.

Internal cleaning of the vacuum cleaner

It is advisable to clean the inside of the vacuum cleaner once every six months. This is due to the fact that during operation dust may enter the body of the equipment. Cleaning can be carried out independently, or if the owner of the vacuum cleaner has doubts that it will cope with this work, it is worth contacting a specialized service center for servicing robotics.

Knowing how to clean a robot vacuum cleaner will help keep it working longer. You won’t have to replace parts that have failed due to poor equipment maintenance. This means it will be possible to reduce the cost of its maintenance.

How to set up a robot vacuum cleaner yourself

To set up a robot vacuum cleaner, you need to enter cleaning scheduling mode. It must indicate at what time the equipment will turn on automatically. Depending on the model, you can program the vacuum cleaner to turn on at a certain time of the day, as in iClebo Arte Silver, or to work at specified hours on selected days of the week, as in iRobot Roomba 980.

Setting up cleaning modes

In addition to setting the time, it is possible to set a specific type of cleaning. Depending on the model, robots can be programmed to:

• Automatic mode, the robot itself selects the type of cleaning. It scans the surface and changes mode depending on current conditions and when it encounters obstacles along the way.
• Local mode. The cleaning of a separate heavily contaminated area of ​​the room is specified.
• Cleaning by moving the vacuum cleaner across the floor in a zigzag pattern.
• Mode for cleaning the floor from debris in hard-to-reach places (along walls, baseboards, near furniture).

Setting options

• Through the buttons on the body.
• Using the included remote control.

Charging the robot vacuum cleaner

The equipment operates independently from a power outlet. There are no wires connected to it, so it does not pose a threat to people or the risk of them tripping over the cable when the device is in working order. The device operates from a battery installed in it, which requires mandatory charging. How to charge the robot vacuum cleaner:

• Before using the device for the first time, the batteries must be fully charged. On average it takes 8 - 9 hours.
• While cleaning a room, the robot vacuum cleaner's batteries consume energy. Therefore, it has to be recharged periodically. When the charge level drops to a minimum, the robot searches for a base. She sends him an infrared beam. Having detected it using a sensor installed on the body, the equipment approaches the base and starts charging. Some models remember the location of their base. After cleaning is completed, they can easily find it on the map.

Extend battery life:

• In order to increase the service life of rechargeable batteries, it is necessary to prevent them from being completely discharged. To do this, you need to keep the robot base always on. The vacuum cleaner itself must be in the base when it is not in use.
• If you do not plan to use the equipment for a long time, you need to remove the batteries from it. The batteries are located inside the case. To get them out, you need to unscrew its bottom cover.

Charging Features

The charge status of the device must be checked before each cleaning. The fact that the device is charging is indicated by an indicator located on the base body. Once the batteries have received enough power, the robot will continue to operate. It will automatically start cleaning the room.

If the robot has not been used for a long time, it is possible automatic switching on battery recovery mode. What you need to know is that when the base operates in this mode, it will take more time to charge the battery. Interrupting the mode is prohibited, otherwise there is a risk of battery failure.

Follow the rules specified in the user manual

Proper care and proper operation will extend the life of the robot vacuum cleaner and its batteries. Then it will work for the entire service life established for it by the manufacturer, and will not require repairs or replacement of spare parts due to breakdown. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations, and your vacuum cleaner will provide you with high-quality room cleaning.

You have become the owner of the most modern equipment - the iRobot Roomba robot vacuum cleaner. More than five million people living around the world use robot labor in their homes. Sometimes, robots literally become members of families - people give them names.

More than two decades of iRobot's history have been dedicated to the design and creation of robots.

Before you begin the exciting process of putting the robot into operation, carefully study this manual. This will allow you to correctly approach the process of operating the robot, spend a minimum of time on training and get maximum pleasure and effect from the operation of iRobot Roomba.

Thank you for choosing an iRobot robot!

Robot vacuum cleaner maintenance

In order for the iRobot Roomba robot vacuum cleaner to remain excellent for a long period of time, the following requirements must be met:

• The robot should be used periodically, or specially prepared for storage if it is not needed for a long time. This approach will maximize the life of the iRobot Roomba battery.
• The robot's brushes will work extremely efficiently if you can take the time to clean them. In addition, the mechanisms that control these brushes also require regular maintenance and cleaning of debris and dirt.
• electronic modules and electrical circuits of the iRobot Roomba robot vacuum cleaner will become unusable from active contact with water. The robot should not be immersed or doused in water, allowed to operate, or stored in wet conditions. The robot should be cared for using a dry cloth.

Remember safety

When preparing the robot for operation, you should carefully read the safety rules contained in this manual.

Preparing the robot vacuum cleaner should begin by removing the packaging protection from the battery contacts. To do this, you need to first turn the robot over and remove the yellow battery tab. The robot vacuum cleaner's battery will then need to go through a full charging cycle. The first charging of the battery must not be interrupted! The robot will indicate the end of battery charging with a green light on the CLEAN button.

Preparing the work area for the robot vacuum cleaner

The intelligent control system of the robot vacuum cleaner allows it to move around the space being cleaned completely independently. But obstacles such as wires lying on the floor or running along the baseboard, which are used to power other household devices, can become an insoluble problem for the robot and require your intervention.

The Roomba robot vacuum cleaner effectively handles various types of debris and dirt. But it cannot be used in rooms with high humidity or on wet or damp floor coverings.

First of all, you should determine the location where the Home Base™, the robot vacuum cleaner's charger, will be located and install it there. Then you need to plan which areas of the room will be cleaned and define their boundaries using Virtual Wall devices or Virtual Wall® Lighthouse™ devices used for models 780 and above. Based on their signals, the robot vacuum cleaner will be able to work, moving from area to area.

Beginning of work

If you purchased a device to control your robot vacuum cleaner or a remote control, you must first configure it to control the robot. Otherwise, turn on the robot vacuum cleaner by pressing the CLEAN button on the robot body.

The robot vacuum cleaner will notify you that it is turned on with a special sound and a light indicator on the CLEAN button. The next press of CLEAN will signal the robot to start cleaning the room.

Pausing during the cleaning process and returning to the active cleaning phase is also carried out using the CLEAN button.

To turn off the robot vacuum cleaner, the CLEAN button must remain pressed until the indicator light turns off.

Cleaning programs and models

The Roomba robot vacuum cleaner is controlled by the iAdapt™ intelligent system, which constantly receives information about the world around it and decides how to react to it during operation. The robot vacuum cleaner’s memory contains forty basic ways of reacting to various external conditions and three basic operating models. The intelligent system constantly makes decisions about what reaction and what model will be most optimal under current conditions.

Roomba (700 Series) is programmed to use following programs cleaning of premises:

• Clean Mode. The intelligent system collects information about the size and configuration of the room intended for cleaning and builds a time-optimal work model.
• Spot Mode. This mode cleaning is used by an intelligent robot vacuum cleaner control system when the task of cleaning a small area appears. The robot begins to move along the area along a trajectory resembling a spiral with a radius of about half a meter, returning to the starting point at the end of cleaning.
• Scheduled Cleaning Mode. When using this mode, the intelligent system of the robot vacuum cleaner turns on at a predetermined time, cleans the planned areas and returns to the charging device.

Floor coverings

The robot successfully copes with any floor covering and is able to protect itself from emergency situations due to falls and slips. An intelligent control system identifies places on the floor where changes in height occur. However, sometimes a robot vacuum cleaner may need help. This happens when cleaning around rounded corners or on floors that tend to be very slippery. The robot vacuum cleaner cannot be used outdoors.

Release from entanglement

The robot vacuum cleaner's brushes can get tangled in loose electrical wires on the floor that power other household devices. In this case, the robot's intelligent control system stops the current cleaning job and tries to release the brushes by changing the direction of their rotation. The unraveling process is accompanied by a characteristic sound similar to clicks.

Home Base

The Home Base charging device of the robot vacuum cleaner should be located near the wall, on the floor, no closer than one and a half meters of free empty space from the places where the floor level changes in height. After cleaning, or when the batteries reach a certain level of discharge, the robot vacuum cleaner is sent to the charging device. Once the robot vacuum cleaner is installed on the base, the Home Base will indicate success with a green indicator light. A signal that the robot has started charging its batteries will be a yellow flashing indicator on the robot’s body.

A sign that the robot vacuum cleaner has successfully completed the procedure of charging its batteries and is ready for work will be the green light of its indicator.

The Virtual Wall electronic barrier is compatible with the entire Roomba range

The Virtual Wall electronic barrier is designed to forcibly limit the operating area of ​​the robot vacuum cleaner. It can be used to prohibit the robot from traveling outside a specific room or to protect the robot from contact with fragile objects.

The electronic barrier is powered by 2 size C batteries. Batteries are not included in the delivery set and must be purchased separately.

The electronic barrier creates a kind of “obstacle” for the robot in the shape of a cone, up to two meters wide, which it cannot overcome.

The electronic barrier is designed to block door openings. The best place to install it is the outer part of the opening.

The Virtual Wall electronic barrier operates in two modes:

• Manual. The barrier should be turned on together with the robot vacuum cleaner. It will automatically turn off a little over two hours after turning it on.
• Auto. The barrier turns on when the vacuum cleaner is turned on.

The indicator on the body of the electronic barrier indicates the selected mode and battery status. A flashing green indicator light indicates low battery life and the need to replace them. To save batteries, you should turn off the Virtual Wall electronic barrier during periods when the robot vacuum cleaner will not be used for a long time and turn it on only when there is a period of regular operation of the robot vacuum cleaner. At other times, the Virtual Wall electronic barrier must be turned off.

Virtual Wall Lighthouse device

For Roomba models 780 and older, the Virtual Wall Lighthouse™ electronic barrier is available, equipped with additional mode Lighthouse. In this mode, the device works as a navigator for a robot vacuum cleaner and helps it navigate the space of the room.

The mode is selected in advance using a switch on the device, and the transition to active mode or shutdown of the Virtual Wall Lighthouse™ occurs automatically, along with iRobot Roomba.

The Virtual Wall Lighthouse™ electronic barrier is powered by 2 size C batteries. Batteries are not included and must be purchased separately.

The indicator on the body of the electronic barrier indicates the selected mode and battery status. A flashing green indicator light indicates low battery life and the need to replace them.

When installing the Virtual Wall Lighthouse™ device in Lighthouse mode, it should be placed in the doorway so that the part of its body on which the logo is located is facing forward. The Virtual Wall Lighthouse™ device will act as a beacon for the robot vacuum cleaner, which will help it move, sequentially cleaning one room after another.

The operating time of the equipment will depend on the size of the premises intended for cleaning. Once your robot vacuum finishes its job, the Virtual Wall Lighthouse™ guides it to the Home Base™ charger.

If you plan to use several Lighthouse and Virtual Wall devices at the same time, you should remember that they cannot be placed next to each other, the charger of the Home Base robot vacuum cleaner, or behind large interior items that do not transmit signals emitted by the listed devices for mutual communication. If you ignore these requirements, the robot vacuum cleaner will not detect Lighthouse or Virtual Wall devices or will not be able to determine the route to the Home Base charger.

Virtual Wall Lighthouse equipment with the mode switch set to the Virtual Wall position creates an electronic barrier that forcibly limits the operating area of ​​the robot vacuum cleaner. This mode prohibits the robot from traveling outside a specific room or protects it from possible contact with dangerous objects. In Virtual Wall mode, the device will automatically stop emitting a signal two hours and fifteen minutes after switching on.

Virtual Wall Lighthouse, operating in Virtual Wall mode, is installed in the area of ​​the doorway. The signal strength, and therefore the distance at which the robot vacuum cleaner can detect the Virtual Wall Lighthouse, can be adjusted. It can range from two to six meters, depending on the configuration of a particular room. The longer this distance, the higher the power consumption of the Virtual Wall Lighthouse device.

Handling batteries

The iRobot Roomba robot vacuum cleaner is powered by rechargeable batteries. The very first battery charging cycle is carried out in preparation for the first use of the robot and takes a period of nine hours.

You should check the charge status of the robot vacuum cleaner's batteries before each cleaning.

In order for the batteries to work as long and efficiently as possible, the Home Base charger of the robot vacuum cleaner must be constantly connected to the power supply, and the robot itself, between cleanings, must be located on the base of the charger. The fact that the charger is functioning and the procedure for charging the robot's batteries is proceeding in normal mode is indicated by a light indicator on the body of the charger.

If the robot vacuum cleaner has been left for a long time without the ability to recharge the batteries, after connecting it to the charger, the battery recovery mode can be automatically turned on. The activation of this mode will be indicated by a flashing light indicator. It will take significantly longer to restore the batteries compared to the normal battery charging procedure. This mode cannot be interrupted before it is completed.

Removing the batteries

If it is known in advance that the help of a robot vacuum cleaner will not be needed for a long time, after the battery is fully charged, it should be removed from the case and stored at room temperature and low humidity.

The battery should always be removed when it becomes clear that the help of the robot vacuum cleaner will not be needed for a long time. To remove the battery, you need to open the compartment on the bottom of the robot body by first removing the screws.

Sign	Signal
	The brushes on your iRobot Roomba may have become tangled in wires on the floor. The intelligent control system of the robot vacuum cleaner has activated the appropriate mode and the robot is trying to free itself.
	The robot has detected a place where garbage has accumulated, as indicated by the Dirt Detect indicator light.
	A problem has arisen, the intelligent control system of the robot vacuum cleaner is trying to diagnose and fix possible problems.
	The dust container in the robot vacuum cleaner needs to be emptied because it has reached its full capacity.
	Information about the state of charge of the battery. Red indicator light, constant light - accumulator battery The robot vacuum cleaner has run out of charge. Yellow indicator light, flashing light - the batteries of the robot vacuum cleaner are in the process of being charged from the power supply. Green indicator light, constant light - the battery of the robot vacuum cleaner has 100% charge. Yellow indicator light, short blinking - battery recovery mode is on

Device for remote control of a robot vacuum cleaner

The process of using a device to control a robot vacuum cleaner from a distance is very similar to the process of controlling another household appliances using the remote control remote control. Using the buttons of the device, which is previously directed in the direction where the robot is currently located, it is launched, controlled and individual functions are enabled.

The remote control device for the robot vacuum cleaner is powered by two AA batteries.

You should not use the remote control if you are within a short distance of the Home Base or Virtual Wall as signal interference may occur and Roomba may not perceive the signals correctly.

Special control device for the robot vacuum cleaner

For iRobot Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners from model 780 and older, created special device control, with which you can plan complex robot work schedules with setting time intervals and selecting the required work model. Being actually the center from which the robot is controlled, this device allows you to remotely access the robot control during operation.

When drawing up a schedule, its owner sets the start time of work. The robot vacuum cleaner will begin cleaning as scheduled without additional commands. You can create a schedule a week in advance by assigning the robot a one-time task per day.

To successfully implement the schedule, you must accurately set the current time in the control system of the iRobot Roomba robot vacuum cleaner. To do this, after turning off the robot by pressing the CLEAN button, press the CLOCK button and select values ​​for the DAY, HOUR and MINUTE positions. Then, the result is saved by clicking OK. Pressing the CLEAN button will exit the time and date setting mode and allow you to return to the setting mode later.

Setting the time format

iRobot Roomba supports eight and twelve hour clocks. To select a convenient format, press the CLOCK button without releasing it until the format selection mode is displayed on the screen. Pressing CLOCK will switch the system to a format convenient for you, pressing OK will record the result.

If the Robot Vacuum Cleaner's battery reaches below its minimum charge level or is removed from the Robot Vacuum Cleaner's body, the time format will reset to twelve hour clock.

Task schedule for the robot vacuum cleaner

The task schedule for the robot vacuum cleaner can be set up a week in advance with a single task per day. Before creating a schedule, you should set the time value on the robot vacuum cleaner clock.

To set the schedule, use the CLEAN button to turn off the robot vacuum cleaner. By pressing SCHEDULE you enter the cleaning schedule planning mode. When creating a schedule, you should set the appropriate values ​​for the DAY, HOUR and MINUTE positions, according to your task plan for the robot vacuum cleaner. The created schedule is confirmed by clicking on the OK button. Pressing the CLEAN button will exit the time and date setting mode and allow you to return to the setting mode later.

View your cleaning plan

In order to see what cleaning plan is currently set for the robot vacuum cleaner, you should first turn it off by pressing CLEAN and press SCHEDULE. Having entered the task schedule, by pressing DAY you can display the programmed work schedule for the robot vacuum cleaner. By pressing the OK button you can confirm the current operating schedule of the robot vacuum cleaner. Pressing the CLEAN button will exit the time and date setting mode and allow you to return to the setting mode later.

Deleting a cleaning plan

In order to delete a previously programmed operating schedule for the robot vacuum cleaner, after turning it off by pressing CLEAN, press SCHEDULE. Having entered the task schedule, by pressing DAY you can display the programmed work schedule for the robot vacuum cleaner. Having selected the position in the chart that you want to delete, press HOUR to remove the entry. By pressing the OK button, you can confirm changes in the robot vacuum cleaner's operating schedule. Pressing the DAY button for five seconds will delete all previously programmed operating schedules for the robot vacuum cleaner.

Changing your cleaning plan

In order to change the previously programmed operating schedule of the robot vacuum cleaner, you should first turn it off by pressing CLEAN and press SCHEDULE. Having entered the task schedule, by pressing DAY you can display the programmed work schedule for the robot vacuum cleaner. Having selected a position in the chart that needs correction, use the HOUR and MINUTE keys to correct the entry. By pressing the OK button, you can confirm changes in the robot vacuum cleaner's operating schedule. Pressing the CLEAN button will exit the time and date setting mode and allow you to return to the setting mode later.

Routine maintenance

A small regular amount of work aimed at maintaining the good technical condition of the iRobot Roomba robot vacuum cleaner will significantly extend the life of the equipment and improve the quality of its work. The parts of the robot vacuum cleaner that need to be cleaned of debris stuck to them are yellow. They should be removed from the robot body and cleaned regularly. If possible, you should regularly empty the special container in the vacuum cleaner body of debris. Wool, hair and threads are wound around the brush assemblies of the robot vacuum cleaner. This can, over time, damage the quality of cleaning and lead to equipment failure. The robot's brush assemblies should be cleaned regularly.

Simple regular maintenance operations

Emptying the container for collected waste. You should regularly empty the special container in the vacuum cleaner body of debris by removing it and putting it back in place after cleaning. In the absence of a container, or when it is incorrect installation, the robot vacuum cleaner will not work.

Cleaning the filter system. The robot vacuum cleaner's filters should be cleaned regularly to remove debris and dust. If you use the robot vacuum cleaner for two months, you should replace the filters.

Caring for the brush mechanism components of the robot vacuum cleaner.

To care for the brush mechanism components of the robot vacuum cleaner:

1. Remove the safety frame from the robot vacuum cleaner body. This can be done by pressing on two yellow tabs.

2. Take out two brushes, remove the yellow bearings from the shafts and carefully remove particles of debris and dirt from them.

3. To remove wool, threads and long fibers of dirt from bearings and shafts, you need to use the device for cleaning them from the robot vacuum cleaner kit.

4. In order to clean the side mounting brush mechanism, it must be disconnected from the body of the robot vacuum cleaner, having first removed the screw securing it. After the cleaning procedure, the brush mechanism should be returned back, secured with a screw.

To care for the front wheel of the robot vacuum cleaner:

1. Remove the wheel by pulling its mount out of the robot vacuum cleaner body.
2. Clean the place where the wheel is attached to the housing.
3. Clean the parts of the wheel and the mechanism for attaching to the body from debris, fibers and dirt.
4. Install all parts in place. When the wheel is installed correctly in the housing, a clicking sound is heard.

To care for the garbage container fullness monitoring sensors (relevant for models 770 and older), you should:

1. Remove the waste container from the robot vacuum cleaner body.
2. Carefully clean the sensors with a dry, clean cloth.

To care for sensors that monitor differences in floor level in height, you should:

Carefully clean the six sensors with a dry, clean cloth.

Fault detection.

For timely detection possible malfunctions, the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner is equipped with a system for diagnosing, identifying and eliminating emerging problems. The system will promptly inform you about the failure of individual components of the robot vacuum cleaner using indicator light. You can recall the error message using the CLEAN button.

If you would like more information regarding your Roomba, please contact complete guide from the website www.irobot.com

Indication of emerging problems

Indicator status and voice guidance	Most Possible Cause	Remedy
Error 1. Move Roomba to a new location then press CLEAN to restart. (Error 1: Move Roomba to a different location and press the CLEAN button to restart the device.)	Problem with robot movement. The robot is stuck, the front wheel is hanging in the air.	Move the robot to another location where its wheels are firmly on the floor and start it.
Error 2. Open Roomba’s brush cage and clean brushes. (Error 2: Open the brush compartment in Roomba and clean the brushes.)	Problem with brush rotation	Roomba's brush mechanisms need cleaning
Error 5. Spin Roomba’s side wheels to clean. (Error 5: Spin Roomba's side wheels to clean them.)
Error 6. Move Roomba to a new location then press CLEAN to restart. (Error 6: Move Roomba to a different location and press the CLEAN button to restart the device.)	Problem with sensors that monitor differences in floor level in height or the robot has fallen	It is required to clean the six sensors with a dry, clean cloth and start the robot vacuum cleaner
Error 7. Spin Roomba’s side wheels to clean. (Error 7: Spin Roomba's side wheels to clean.)	Problem with the rotation of the wheels that provide the movement of the robot	The mechanism for fastening the wheel parts needs to be cleaned. You should check the functionality of the wheels and start the robot vacuum cleaner
Error 9. Tap Roomba's bumper to clean. (Error 9: Tap the Roomba's bumper to clean them)	There was a problem with the reaction of the bumper part of the robot vacuum cleaner, under which debris was probably clogged	You need to remove particles of debris from under the bumper of the robot vacuum cleaner by lightly tapping it.
Error 10. Spin Roomba’s side wheels to clean. (Error 10: Spin Roomba's side wheels to clean.)		Check the rotation of the wheels. Remove particles of debris from under the bumper of the robot vacuum cleaner by lightly tapping it. Use the Virtual Wall electronic barrier to reduce the size of the area you clean.
Please charge Roomba. (Charge Roomba's battery.)	There is a problem with the rotation of the front wheel or with the reaction of the bumper part of the robot vacuum cleaner, under which debris is probably clogged	It is required to place the robot on the charger Home device Base

Battery charging progress signal system

Robot vacuum cleaner indicator light signal	Information on the Roomba display	Voice accompaniment	Most Possible Cause	Method for eliminating the problem
1 flash	Err 1 (error 1)	Charging error 1 (charging error 1)	No contact with battery	You should check whether the packaging protection has been removed from the battery contacts. Insert new battery.
2 flashes	Err 2 (error 2)	Charging error 2 (charging error 2)		Turn off the robot vacuum cleaner, leave it to cool for an hour and continue charging the batteries.
5 flashes	Err 5 (error 5)	Charging error 5 (charging error 5)	Error during battery charging process	Reset the settings of the robot vacuum cleaner control program and continue charging the batteries.
6 flashes	Err 6 (error 6)	Charging error 6 (charging error 6)	The robot vacuum cleaner's battery is too hot	Turn off the robot vacuum cleaner, leave it to cool for an hour and continue charging the batteries.

Voice language

The robot's main language is English. To change this setting you need to:

• First turn off the robot by pressing the CLEAN button.
• Press and hold the DOCK button until the robot vacuum cleaner plays the name of the current language in voice guidance.
• Release the DOCK button.
• Press the CLEAN button until the robot says in voice the name of the language convenient for you.
• Press and hold the CLEAN button until the robot vacuum cleaner turns off. The selected language will be recorded in the robot's memory.

Resetting control program settings

To reset the control program settings, you must press and hold the CLEAN button for 10 seconds.

FAQ

What is the reason why the robot vacuum cleaner brush starts rotating in the opposite direction?

Changing the direction and speed of rotation is an attempt by the intelligent control system to free the robot from entanglement. Sometimes, this is how the robot reacts to the high pile of carpeted flooring.

The occurrence of such a robot reaction on a flat floor is a sign that the brushes need cleaning.

What is the reason that the robot makes clicking sounds?

The clicking sound made by the robot vacuum cleaner signals an attempt by the intelligent control system to free the robot from entanglement by changing the direction of rotation of the brushes.

The appearance of such a sound made by the robot on a flat floor is a sign that the brushes need cleaning.

Why does the robot not detect the presence of some obstacles on the way while moving?

The intelligent control system of the robot vacuum cleaner, receiving information from sensors located on the body, promptly detects the presence of obstacles in the direction of movement, reduces the speed of the robot and touches the obstacles very gently, and then changes the trajectory of movement. Dark floor colors may reduce the quality of obstacle detection.

Security requirements

DO NOT OPEN THE CASE OF THE ELECTRONIC UNITS AND BATTERY OF THE ROBOT VACUUM CLEANER OR CHARGER. THEIR CONTENTS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE ROBOT VACUUM CLEANER SHOULD BE ENTERED ONLY TO SPECIALISTS OF A SPECIALIZED SERVICE CENTER.

BEFORE OPERATING THE ROBOT VACUUM CLEANER, YOU SHOULD CHECK THE CONFORMITY OF THE CHARGER VOLTAGE AND THE VOLTAGE IN THE ELECTRIC ENERGY SUPPLY NETWORK.

Ignoring safety precautions when using the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner and handling it carelessly can cause injury and damage.

Instructions for general questions

Be sure to follow all instructions included with your robot vacuum cleaner. Be sure to pay attention to the warning notices on the body of the robot vacuum cleaner and other equipment supplied with it.

Entrust servicing of the robot vacuum cleaner beyond what is recommended for the user to qualified specialists from specialized service centers.

Instructions regarding operating issues

• The robot vacuum cleaner cannot be used outdoors.
• The Robot Vacuum Cleaner is not a gaming or entertainment device and is not intended to carry any objects or carry people around. When cleaning a room with a robot vacuum cleaner, young children and pets located there must be supervised by adults.
• Do not operate the robot in areas with high humidity or on wet or damp floors.
• The robot must be maintained using dry and clean cleaning material.
• Do not use the robot vacuum cleaner to clean burning, smoldering, chemically active debris or liquids.
• Before you start cleaning the room with a robot vacuum cleaner, you should remove scattered objects from the floor, fragile interior items, cords and wires hanging on the floor or lying there.
• It is necessary that the robot vacuum cleaner is not able to physically enter dangerous areas such as a balcony or landing.
• After pre-charging, you should remove the battery from the robot body if the need for its help does not arise for a long period of time.
• The robot vacuum cleaner cannot be handed over to people with disabilities or a number of chronic diseases without supervision from adults.
• The robot vacuum cleaner is not a gaming or entertainment device.

Completeness and charging of batteries

• To charge the batteries of the robot vacuum cleaner, use only a standard electrical supply. The use of additional converting devices voids the manufacturer's warranty.

  

  

  

  

  

  

Few people are familiar with how to choose a robot vacuum cleaner, since this device appeared on the market relatively recently.

Perhaps there is not a single owner of a robot vacuum cleaner in your environment, so there is no way to come to someone for advice. But if there is, it is unlikely that a person can tell much, since in order to find out everything about a product, you need to be able to compare several models and evaluate their advantages in practice. We will certainly tell you everything about this miracle cleaner.

But first, let's think: do you need a robot vacuum cleaner?

Who needs an automatic assistant

If you think that a washing robot vacuum cleaner can completely take over the cleanliness of the house, we hasten to disappoint you. It is suitable only for daily cosmetic cleaning, allowing you to enjoy cleanliness, for example, from one weekend to the next. Once or twice a week, you will still have to pick up a regular powerful vacuum cleaner and mop, since you cannot do without a thorough general cleaning of the apartment.

Almost all robotic vacuum cleaners are more like electric brooms, since their suction power is incomparable with the power of a conventional home cleaning assistant.

But if your apartment has a shaggy animal with thick fur and children who consider it their duty to spread crumbs throughout the apartment, the robot can become your best friend. It all depends on which robot vacuum cleaner to choose.

So, you should take a closer look at buying a new device if:

• you do not have long-pile carpets; you regularly remove unnecessary objects from the floor, and all wires are securely fastened or hidden;
• you do not have high thresholds (otherwise you will have to use the device only in one room or constantly move it);
• you live in a dusty area and have to clean up debris flying out of windows and doors;
• dust interferes with your life (it is better to buy a washing device with the ability to use it as a floor polisher);
• you just need to keep the floor clean from time to time, ridding the floor of crumbs or hair.

Have you decided to buy? Then let's figure out how to choose the right robot vacuum cleaner.

Criterias of choice

At first glance, all robot vacuum cleaners are very similar: as a rule, all models are able to independently move around the room, collecting garbage. But in practice, it turns out that some devices are “scared” by even small thresholds, others are “lazy” to collect dust near the walls, and still others even scatter some of the garbage instead of removing it. What should you look at before choosing such a device?

Availability of good service

Yes Yes! This is the most important factor, since a robot vacuum cleaner is a relatively new product and not everywhere there are organizations to service them. Since the purchase is quite expensive, I wouldn’t want to throw away the device just because I can’t afford to buy new filters or brushes. Therefore, make sure that in your city (or nearby) you have the opportunity to repair a robotic vacuum cleaner and buy consumables for it. Usually there are no problems with the iRobot and iClebo brands.

Garbage container capacity

The quality of cleaning largely depends on this factor. Even a small room where pets live requires a garbage disposal with a capacity of 0.5 liters or more. For large apartments, you should choose robotic vacuum cleaners with a capacity of 0.8 to 1 liter. It is advisable that the garbage disposal does not have electromechanical parts so that it can be easily washed directly under running water.

Cleaning area of ​​the device and operating time

There are robotic vacuum cleaners that are designed for small rooms, while others can handle even spacious apartments. If the area for which the washing robot is designed is not indicated anywhere, you can calculate it yourself. How to do it? It’s simple: subtract 10 from the operating time of the device. The resulting figure is the size of the room, which these devices can easily handle.

Patency

Very important point, since some models turn in the opposite direction when they see even a centimeter-long obstacle. The latest iClebo robotic vacuum cleaners have proven themselves best, as they can easily jump over 22 mm. The iRobot 700 series has a good result. But Chinese analogues are only suitable for flat floors.

Ability to quickly remember routes and navigate

This is where the iRobot 700-series robot vacuum cleaner “sagged” a little, as it moves completely chaotically, sometimes skipping entire areas on the floor. The iClebo robot vacuum cleaner, on the other hand, methodically goes through every centimeter, moving from one wall to another.

There are other models that do an excellent job of cleaning. They are usually equipped with cameras and sensors to help navigate. As for the beacons that some robotic vacuum cleaners have at their disposal, this is not the best invention: their batteries constantly run out, they take up space, and besides, the working device tries to avoid them, and as a result, dust remains around the beacons.

Noisiness

In principle, if you plan to have the robot vacuum cleaner work in your absence, you don’t have to think about it. But if a toddler sleeps in the house, then this parameter becomes of great importance.

Availability of side brushes

Many appliances leave dust in corners and along walls. Whether your assistant will be one of these “idlers” depends not on its shape (despite the assurances of some manufacturers), but on the presence of side brushes. Remember that they sometimes break and lose their shape, so the possibility of replacement is a good argument that will help you choose a decent model.

Soft touch mode

Some robot vacuum cleaners hit walls and furniture when they accelerate. Since their weight is usually light, this does not cause any trouble. However, it is still better to take a closer look at robots that slow down in front of obstacles.

Setting up automatic operation

A nice feature: you just need to set the schedule once, and the “smart” vacuum cleaner will “go to work” on its own.

Equipment

It is advisable to make sure that you have spare filters and brushes before choosing a robot vacuum cleaner. As for other components, it all depends on you. The remote control is usually an unnecessary thing, since the device is supposed to work on its own. A “virtual wall” is only needed if you have vases or other fragile things on the floor that cannot be touched. Traffic coordinators (beacons) are a cumbersome and troublesome thing. It’s better to choose robotic vacuum cleaners with cameras and other compact navigation tools.

Cost of robots: let's not save

A robot vacuum cleaner is quite expensive. Prices are especially high for high-quality models that can easily cope with cleaning. Experts do not recommend buying cheap Chinese analogues: firstly, there is no normal service and the ability to buy spare parts; secondly, they do not clean well enough, which can leave you disappointed in such products for many years.

Perhaps this is one of the rare cases of purchasing equipment when you need to look not at the middle price range, but at the high one.

The fact is that these products have not yet gained popularity, so few manufacturers have launched mass production. The cost of production remains high, which is reflected in the price. Perhaps the situation will change soon, but for now only expensive models can meet user expectations.

But a simple rule also applies here: the most expensive robot vacuum cleaner is not the best. For example, the popular brand iRobot is popular because it spends a lot of money on advertising. Sometimes devices from other brands with similar capabilities are much cheaper. Read reviews carefully, watch video comparisons, and then you will definitely make a successful purchase. And let your life with a robot vacuum cleaner become much easier and more interesting!

Kinematic system	Two drive wheels, one support swivel roller
Dust collection method	Inertial movement and vacuum filtration
Dust collector	One compartment
Main brush	One: petal-bristly
Side brushes	One
Additionally	Elastic fixed scraper
Cleaning modes	Automatic with return for recharging, local, scheduled
Cleaning efficiency	Up to 250 m² on one charge
Noise level	No data
Obstacle sensors	Infrared Scanning Laser Rangefinder (LiDAR), Mechanical Front/Side Bumper, Front Ultrasonic Sensor, IR Height Sensors, Side IR Sensor
Orientation sensors	Lidar, odometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, electronic compass
Controls on the body	Mechanical buttons
Remote control	From a mobile device over the Internet
Alert	LED status indicators, voice notification
Time battery life	Up to 2.5 hours in standard mode
Charging time	No data
Charging method	On charging base with automatic return
Battery	Li-ion battery, 14.4 V, 5200 mAh, 74.88 Wh
Power consumption	55 W
Weight	3.8 kg
Dimensions (diameter×height)	∅345×96 mm
Peculiarities	Creating a map and choosing the optimal cleaning route, magnetic motion limiter
Contents of delivery*	Robot vacuum cleaner Charging base Power cord (North American plug) Brush cleaning tool User guide
Link to manufacturer's website
Declared price on the manufacturer's website	1699 yuan (approximately $250)
Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum in Gearbest.com store
Average price according to Yandex.Market	T-14260832
Offers based on Yandex.Market data	L-14260832-10

Appearance

The developers of Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum without much embarrassment borrowed the design of components and operating principles from robotic vacuum cleaners that have been on the market for a long time. At a minimum, the Roomba (see, for example, article about) and Neato (see, for example, article about) models served as donors. Of course, there are, it seems to us, original solutions.

The vacuum cleaner has an almost perfectly round shape in plan.

The bevel from the edge to the bottom helps to overcome obstacles, and some angularity at the top and a slightly pronounced lip on the bumper reduce the likelihood of the vacuum cleaner getting stuck under obstacles with little clearance.

The body is made of white plastic with a matte surface without coating. On the one hand, this is good, since a light-colored robot is visible in the dark and on a dark floor, so it is easier to find it, for example, under a sofa when it gets stuck there, and the robot is less likely to be accidentally stepped on; on the other hand, the white matte bottom is easy gets dirty and difficult to clean. The upper surface of the lid, which covers most of the top panel, is also white, but mirror-smooth. In the front part there is a control panel with a mechanical rocker button, the rim of which is illuminated in white, orange or red, statically or with certain dynamics depending on the current state, a blue Wi-Fi connection status indicator and a tiny reset button. When the top cover is closed, only the rocker button remains accessible.

There is no handle for carrying the robot. The top cover covers not only part control panel, but also the dust collector compartment.

There is a mechanical bumper installed in front, which covers the entire front part of the robot and extends to the sides.

Behind the grille in the center of the bumper there is an ultrasonic proximity sensor. On the right side of the bumper there is an oval cutout, behind which there is an auxiliary IR obstacle sensor, which helps the robot move close to the obstacle (it is stated that at a distance of 10 mm), if possible without physical contact with it.

At the rear of the case there is an “exhaust” grille (right) and a grille (left), behind which there is apparently a loudspeaker, and in the center there are contact pads for charging on the base.

Turning the vacuum cleaner upside down, we will see four IR height difference sensors (dark windows along the edge in front and in front of the drive wheels), a roller on a rotating platform, a side brush, a compartment with the main brush, closed by a frame with limiting guides (carpet corners are not wound up) and with an additional elastic fixed scraper, and two drive wheels on spring-loaded levers. An inconspicuous lid hides a Micro-USB connector, apparently used for diagnostics and a contact method for updating the firmware.

The base is relatively large and not very light.

The base body is made of white plastic with a mostly matte surface. Two rubber anti-slip pads are glued to the bottom of the base.

The bottom area is increased due to the supporting protruding skirt. As a result, the base is quite stable and can be installed on the floor without any additional support. On the front panel of the base there is a large window made of tinted translucent plastic, behind which there are passive parking beacons (alternating strips of absorbing and reflective material). Below are long spring-loaded contact pads.

This design guarantees reliable contact between the robot and the base even when parking is slightly crooked. When pressed, the contact pads not only recess, but also move sideways, which helps clean the contacting surfaces. The power supply is built into the base. Network cable power supply is detachable (uses a two-pin connector with cylindrical contacts). Excess power cable is stored in a special channel at the back of the base.

And for beauty and to reduce dust, all this is closed with a lid.

The measured length of the power cord was 1.5 m (length of the flexible part). Base specifications: input - 100-240 V 50/60 Hz, output - 20 V direct current up to 2.2 A.

Additional accessories and Supplies Not included in the package, everything is minimal.

There is documentation - a printed manual and a brief reference, all, unfortunately, in Chinese. The vacuum cleaner is packaged in a not very large, modestly decorated box with a plastic handle.

Operation

For those who know Chinese, we recommend reading about the vacuum cleaner's functions in the included user manual. Those who don’t know will either have to look for a translation of the manual (we couldn’t find one) or translate it themselves, for example using a mobile application.

The robot is equipped with an orientation system based on an infrared scanning laser range finder (lidar). The lidar is installed in a turret on the top panel. Through the horizontal “loopholes” of this turret you can see the lenses of the emitting laser diode and photodetector. The laser diode and photodetector are mounted on a rotor that rotates in a horizontal plane, and this is what allows the robot to obtain data on the distance to obstacles with a 360-degree horizontal view 5 times per second. The manufacturer also indicates that the scanning frequency is 1800 samples per second, the distance to the obstacle is determined at a distance of up to 6 m with an accuracy of 2%. That is, unlike most models, the robot does not have to approach the obstacle closely to determine its presence. In addition, remote detection of obstacles and their geometry allows the robot to map the room and track its own location. The robot “knows” where it is, where the base station is (when launched from it), where it has already cleaned, where it needs to be cleaned, and where there are still unexplored areas in the perimeter of the territory.

In theory, a changing environment - moving pieces of furniture or walking people and non-people - can confuse the robot's orientation, but in practice walking around the robot is not forbidden; apparently, there is some kind of algorithm for discarding obstacles that are not constant in time. You also need to take into account that the lidar operates in a plane at a certain height from the floor, that is, the robot “does not see” everything that is lower or higher. However, in the “lower” case, the robot is equipped with a mechanical bumper and an ultrasonic obstacle sensor on it. The option of obstacles located above the plane of action of the lidar, in theory, can lead to some problems, since the roof of the turret is located above this plane. Note that the height of the robot, even with a turret, is not very large (we got 81 mm to the top of the bumper and 95 mm to the top of the turret), which increases the area available for cleaning.

The axles of the drive wheels are located on the same diameter (350 mm) of the body circumference. This kinematic scheme allows the robot to turn on the spot without changing the boundaries of the area occupied by the robot, so the vacuum cleaner has good maneuverability. The diameter of the drive wheels is relatively large (70 mm), and the stroke of the hinges at the wheel centers reaches almost 30 mm, so the robot without special problems overcomes obstacles of small depth and height. These wheels have a deep tread made of a non-slip rubber-like material. Potentially, the robot is capable of overcoming obstacles up to 18 mm in height - approximately the same distance from the floor to the bottom point of the vacuum cleaner’s bumper, which is consistent with cross-country ability, that is, the robot will not try to climb onto something that is likely to get stuck. The robot weighs 3.8 kg.

When cleaning, the front side brush sweeps debris toward the center. Let's note the design of the side brush - flexible elastic leads (stitched at the ends for strength) end with relatively stiff straight bristles. As a result, the brush works effectively and does not lose its shape. The original element is a small tuft of bristles on the side surface of the brush sleeve; apparently, this should prevent hair, threads, etc. from getting tangled. on the brush axis.

The main brush should cope with the task of combing out and throwing debris from the surface to be cleaned. Next, the debris is sucked by the air stream into the dust collector container, where it, the debris, is retained by the filter. After passing through the fan, the air, having served its purpose as a carrier, is expelled back through the grille at the rear of the robot. This model is not a vacuum cleaner in the classical sense, since almost no debris is sucked directly from the surface being cleaned (except very light dust).

The end of the main brush rotates in a sliding bearing, protected from hair and dirt by a plastic casing. Note that there are still the same tufts of bristles on the frame, which are designed to protect the drive and brush bearing from debris getting into them.

The delivery set includes a special tool with a comb and a squiggle blade. You can use it to cut off tangled hair and comb it out with a brush.

The compartment in which the main brush is installed is mounted on levers, so with a stroke of approximately 9 mm at the edge distant from the axes of the levers, it follows the topography of the floor, which increases cleaning efficiency.

The robot monitors the presence of a dust collector in its compartment, or rather a filter on it, for which a small magnet is attached to the filter frame, and there is a corresponding sensor in the compartment. The folded, finely porous filter is protected by a large-mesh plastic mesh that traps large debris. Without this mesh, the folds of such filters become clogged with debris, which is difficult to clean out.

The manufacturer boasts of a powerful fan installed in the robot with a brushless motor from the Japanese company Nidec. It is stated that the peak performance of the fan reaches 0.67 m³/min, and the maximum vacuum is 1800 Pa.

The powerful fan is matched by a capacious battery. To get to it, you need to unscrew six screws on the bottom, one of which is under the seal, and remove it.

Most likely, the battery pack is made up of cylindrical elements of the popular 18650 standard size, but we did not disassemble the battery, since there seems to be no way to do this without significant damage to appearance. The removed bottom demonstrates that the drive wheel, main and side brush modules are easily replaced if necessary.

We would like to warn you that this vacuum cleaner should not be used in a damp room or on surfaces with spilled liquids. After the vacuum cleaner comes into contact with liquids, in the best case, it will take a long time to clean it from the adhering layer of dust, and in the worst case, the vacuum cleaner may fail.

As far as we could understand, this model has two main cleaning modes:

• Single (double for small rooms) cleaning of the entire accessible area.
• Cleaning a specific place - the vacuum cleaner is moved to the desired place.

Automatic start of cleaning ensures scheduled operation - in the application you can specify the day/days of the week and time when you want to start cleaning.

According to the manufacturer, when starting from the base, the robot will clean either until it has cleaned the entire available area, or until the battery charge drops below 20%. In the second case, it will return to the base, charge the battery, then continue cleaning from where it left off. It is not specified how many cleaning cycles with intermediate recharges the robot can do.

Spatial planning of cleaning is ensured using a magnetic limiting tape (25 mm wide and 2 mm thick), which can simply be placed on the floor or hidden under the (probably still thin) floor covering. Unfortunately, the manufacturer was stingy in including the tape in the package, you will have to buy it additionally, and, for example, Gearbest.com offers, apparently, 2 m long for $16.63 with free shipping.

The vacuum cleaner informs about its condition using an LED indicator - a rim around the rocking button - as well as by pronouncing words, phrases and even long sentences in pure Chinese. If desired, this voice notification can be turned off, but only together with the ability to start cleaning.

This option, like many other functions, is available from a proprietary application installed on mobile devices with Android (apparently iOS) on board. There is no official Russian version of the application, but if you wish, you can find and install an unofficial version translated into Russian from the APK file (although you will have to tinker a little more in order to also install the plugin translated into Russian, designed to control the robot vacuum cleaner). Most of the screenshots shown here were taken specifically for this Russified version of the application and plugin.

Having launched the application for the first time, you need to establish a connection with the robot, which must be within range of a Wi-Fi network (and, apparently, only 2.4 GHz) with access to the larger Network, since a global cloud service is used to control the robot. On the one hand, this is good, since you can control the robot from anywhere where there is a connection to the Network, on the other hand, it is bad, since if there is no access to the Network or there is not at least a connection with cloud service(and this happens all the time), then there is no access to the robot, even if it mobile device are in one local network. From our point of view, the most useful feature- this is a display of a map of the room compiled by the robot and the trajectory of the robot’s movement on it. You can control how the robot cleans and, if necessary, make adjustments to the arrangement of furniture, etc., in order to improve the quality of cleaning. On home page The plugin displays the status of the robot, a map, the area cleaned and the time for the last cleaning performed, as well as the current battery charge. At the bottom there are buttons to return to the base, start cleaning and switch the fan power.

At the top right is a button to go to pages with additional settings.

Testing

Fan power	Launch	Cleaning time, min:sec	%
Maximum*	1	16:37	98,0
Maximum*	2	15:51	98.9 (total)
Maximum*	3	14:18	99.1 (total)
Silently	1	15:43	90,8
Silently	2	16:47	99.2 (total)

* Additionally, the Full Power option is included.

The video below was shot from above from one point, the base is located at the bottom center, during processing part of the video sequence is accelerated ten times, Maximum mode with the Full power option enabled:

In the case of our test area, at the beginning of cleaning, the robot walks around the perimeter of the area available for cleaning, and then, moving like a snake, passes through the interior of the territory. The robot performed these procedures twice, which, apparently, is supposed to be done for small rooms. The constructed map and movement trajectory are shown below.

The green dot is the location of the robot and charging base. The robot easily enters narrow spaces that are only 50 mm wider than the robot body and cleans there. When approaching an obstacle frontally, the robot slows down a few centimeters before it, but usually continues to move until it touches the bumper and the bumper movement sensors are triggered. If the obstacle moves easily, for example, a curtain, the robot moves it a few centimeters (the bumper sensors do not work), but then still turns away from the obstacle. While moving along an obstacle that reflects IR light well, the robot moves sideways close to the obstacle, but does not touch it. And if the obstacle does not reflect IR light well, then periodic contact with the side of the bumper occurs. When walking around the perimeter or along an obstacle, the robot increases the speed of rotation of the side brush. The video and map show that the robot's navigation system often malfunctions, and the robot strangely circles the two bottom corners. We cannot even guess what this is connected with. Sometimes the snake crawl became diagonal relative to the walls of the fenced area, this can be seen in the video below (Silent mode, first pass):

For some reason, this affected not only the type of trajectory, but also the quality of cleaning, since the robot left a corner uncleaned during the first pass, as can be seen on the map:

This behavior with a diagonal walk was repeated until we removed the robot from the base and returned it back, thereby apparently resetting its binding to the known room. The robot handles the base very carefully; it removes close to it, but does not touch or move the base from its place. Upon completion of cleaning, the robot switches the suction fan and brush drives to low power mode, then quickly, purposefully and as quickly as possible moves to a place in front of the base, turning around at some distance from it back with contacts to the base, slowly approaches it and, performing oscillatory movements, slowly docks. A rough determination of the location of the base is apparently carried out using a compiled map, but precise docking is carried out using passive beacons on the base itself. The robot can search for a database at the user's command, even if it was not launched from it.

Overall, the robot cleans quickly and efficiently. Turning on the low power fan mode Silently has almost no effect on the quality of cleaning (the uncleaned corner had a greater effect), at least for our test debris. After the first cleaning cycle, a little debris remains near obstacles and in small areas in the corners where navigation fails, near the base the robot cleans very well:

After two more cycles, very, very little garbage remains (99.1% removed):

In the first local cleaning test, the robot lost orientation due to black and almost non-reflective walls. Two boxes helped him stay grounded, and the cleanup was successfully completed. The process is shown in the video below:

According to the manual, the size of the cleaned area is 1.5 by 1.5 m, which is approximately what happened. A magnetic insert strip from the refrigerator door seal works as a magnetic limiter, but we did not find out exactly what orientation of magnetization is needed and whether it plays a role.

Additionally, full-scale tests were carried out. To do this, an area of ​​several rooms with a total area of ​​approximately 110 m² was fenced off in an office and relatively clean room. The layout of the room is shown below. On it, colored rectangles mark the rooms accessible to the robot and a red circle marks the location of the base.

The robot snaked away the entire available area. Upon completion, the robot purposefully and by the shortest route returned to the base to recharge. On the map below you can see how the robot cleaned the path from the last room to the base:

The robot cleaned for 93 minutes. In the case of such a large room, the robot divides it into sections measuring approximately 3.5 by 3.5 m, repeating the same cycle in each - walking around the perimeter of the section, then snaking around the inner area of ​​the section and moving on to the next section. Like all robots with navigation that we tested, Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum does not operate with such concepts as room and walls, from its point of view there is some kind of accessible area and obstacles in it, how the robot will bypass this area is determined by the procedure for detecting obstacles and the algorithm cleaning, the robot does not divide the area into real rooms. According to the data from the application, the cleaned area was 84 m², but recall that from the 110 m² we indicated, we need to subtract a significant area occupied by furniture and equipment. According to data from the application, the work was completed with cleaning with a charge of 38%, but due to problems with updating information, this data may be unreliable. So, in additional tests at the same fan power, the robot worked for 103 minutes from a full charge to a level of 19% (remember that at a level below 20% the robot stops cleaning and returns to the base). That is, on one charge in maximum power mode, the robot cleans an area of ​​approximately 120 m². Taking into account one recharge (and it is not explicitly stated anywhere how many times the robot can recharge and resume cleaning on its own), in this mode the robot can clean up to 240 m². In the mode with reduced fan power, the maximum area increases accordingly.

After cleaning the office, almost all the debris accumulated on the pleated filter.

The easiest way, from our point of view, is to clean the dust container and filter using a conventional vacuum cleaner with a crevice nozzle. However, this remark applies to all robot vacuum cleaners. The side brush did not wrap anything around itself, but a little hair got wrapped around the main brush and tangles of dust began to form on the bristles.

However, the hair brush was easy to clean with your fingers and there was no need to use a comb cutter. There is some concern about the amount of debris lodged in the gap between the drive and the bushing. Apparently, to extend the life of the brush assembly, this area needs to be cleaned thoroughly and regularly.

The noise level depends on the selected mode:

When compared with others, depending on the mode, the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum robot changes from a quiet to a moderately loud robot vacuum cleaner. The nature of the noise is not very annoying, but it is not comfortable to be in the same room with a working robot, especially if it operates in medium and maximum fan power modes.

When charging the vacuum cleaner on the base, the power consumption is up to 37 W at the beginning of the process. If the vacuum cleaner is turned on and located on the base, then approximately 2.4-3.3 W are consumed from the network (Wi-Fi is on). If the vacuum cleaner is removed from the base, then the consumption will drop to 0.3 W - this is how much the base itself, connected to the network, consumes. It takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to fully charge (or rather, from 20% to 100%) the battery.

conclusions

This Chinese robot vacuum cleaner is equipped with an advanced orientation system based on the in a reliable way— on remote determination of obstacles and their configuration using a scanning laser range finder. The robot received a capacious lithium-ion battery, a powerful fan and support for remote monitoring and control using a mobile application, which, among other things, has the function of visualizing the constructed map of the room and the trajectory of the robot’s movement. Based on the results of our tests, we can assume that software The robot can still be improved, since the robot behaves strangely in some situations, which increases the cleaning time and sometimes reduces its quality. However, the manufacturer is definitely changing something, since during testing alone the robot updated its software at least twice. Unfortunately, constant and unpredictable communication problems between the client program, the cloud service and the robot reduce the usefulness of mobile software and the pleasure of using such an exciting and useful home assistant.

Advantages:

• High cleaning efficiency
• Advanced orientation system and planning a rational cleaning route
• Resume cleaning at least once after recharging
• Large maximum cleaning area
• Smart base station design
• Restricting movement using magnetic tape
• Fan power adjustment
• Scheduled cleaning
• Possibility of control and monitoring using an application on a mobile device

Flaws:

• Complete absence of official Russification
• Permanent loss of connection with the cloud service, what does mobile app of little use
• Poor equipment
• Small dust container volume

In conclusion, we suggest watching our video review of the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum robot vacuum cleaner: