Robot Vacuum and Mop: How Does It Work?
A Closer Look at Robot Vacuum with Mop
Today, most family members are busy with work and have no more time to clean the house. In this scenario, a robot vacuum (robovac, for short) with a mop is a great tool to maintain the floor’s cleanliness.
What is a Robot Vacuum with Mop?
The robot vacuum and mop works by simply pressing a switch to turn it on. The best robot vacuum and mop can be controlled manually with the help of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technology.
The development of the robot starts with the design of a simple and effective chassis for the robot. This is crucial as the chassis has to carry the robot’s weight. The electronics part where, the type of motor and its specification that should be used to run the bot, the sensors to be used, the microcontroller, the motor drivers, the wheels, and other electronic components are the other important parts that play a significant role in the mechanism of the robot.
The main goal of having a robot cleaner is to efficiently suck up dust and mop the floor to remove stains and smell. The average time of operation of the robot is one hour. If you have a big house, you might need to find a model that can work longer than this in one charge. Aside from household, the robot is also helpful in keeping workplaces clean.
How Does Robot Vacuum with Mop?
Now that you have an idea what a robot mop and vacuum is, let’s have a closer look at its composition and mechanism.
Creating a robovac starts with the design of a simple and effective chassis for the robot. The body is critical as it has to carry the robot’s weight. The electronic components are assembled, including the motor, sensors, microcontroller, motor drivers, wheels, and other parts. After all the pieces have been built, the product is tested and calibrated before its release in the market.
The robot starts by activating a simple switch. Then it moves from one place to another while simultaneously mopping and vacuuming the floor. It follows a path starting from one end of the room and finally completes the entire room cleaning. After reaching the other end of the room, the robot changes its direction. It follows the path perpendicular to the previous path. The robot changes the track if it encounters an obstacle.
Most robovacs are controlled by mobile phones using Bluetooth or WiFi. The robot follows a simple snake pattern or a more complicated route, depending on the type of navigational technology it uses. The robot starts at a certain point in the room and stops when it reaches the end of the room. It changes its direction and starts moving perpendicular to the previous path.
With the supplied pads, the best robot vacuum and mop can do wet and dry cleaning. If your floor is dirty, but you expect a guest in less than an hour, dry cleaning is the best in this situation. A cleaning solution is typically included in the package. You need to combine the cleaning ingredient with the right amount of water to dampen the floor. The detergent makes it easier for the robot to remove tough stains.
Limitations of Robot Vacuum with Mop
Before you assume that robot cleaners are the solution to a beautiful home, a few restrictions need to be addressed. Let’s say that stand-up cleaners won’t be replaced entirely by robovacs any time soon.
First, excellent upright vacuums have more cleaning capabilities and mobility than robot vacuums. They can cover hard-to-reach areas, particularly the corners or below furniture where robots don’t fit. Although some vacuums have a square design to circumvent the corner issue, they also have limitations.
Also, while robot cleaners are equipped with sensors to prevent collisions and stair falls, there isn’t much to prevent them from snatching up small objects and sucking up pet hair, dust or mopping. Because of this, you have to remove everything that the rollers might pick up before you do the cleaning. Tassels, wires, shoelaces, and hairpins must be picked up from the floor before your turn on the device.
Hybrid cleaners rely on tiny onboard chambers to collect trash. This design requires more frequent garbage emptying, which is not an issue if you use a regular mop. The good news is there are brands with self-emptying docks available in the market. The bad news is you have to shell out at least $800 to buy it.
Top-Performing Robot Vacuum and Mop of 2022
S7 MaxV Ultra
The S7 MaxV Ultra has five cleaning modes and can simultaneously mop, vacuum, or both. Instead of tossing water over on the floor, the mopping pad produces sonic vibration to create a 3,000 times per minute scouring action. This movement is enough to remove surface stains.
This hybrid robot cleaner has a LiDAR scanner and an integrated camera to navigate the house. The camera is also used to monitor your home while you’re away. It also has a speaker and microphone to calm your pets or toddlers. The robovac will follow a planned course rather than a random path for quick and effective cleaning.
iRobot S9+
The iRobot S9+ not only talks the talk but also walks the walk when it comes to performance. It is noisy, so you may not want to use it when the baby is asleep or when you are in a meeting. It doesn’t have a dedicated quiet mode like other brands. However, it is still considerably quieter than a conventional vacuum cleaner.
Further, it possesses the greatest suction we have ever observed in a robot vacuum. During testing, the S9+ had no trouble sucking up dust, fur, or any dirt. It intelligently adjusts its suction power depending on what type of surface it is on. It cleans primarily in a back-and-forth motion in open areas, and its D shape is perfect for hard-to-reach places. The side brush did great in picking up dust and dirt in corners during testing.
Yeedi’s Vac 2 Pro
The Vac 2 Pro from Yeedi is probably one of the most underrated robot cleaners today. This model has two essential upgrades: front laser sensors suitable for avoiding obstacles and a vibrating mopping technology known as an “oscillating mopping system.” This model is comparable to the Vac Station with (slightly) less airflow aside from these two enhancements. The two choices are the stand-alone model and the robot with an auto-empty base station. Depending on your budget, either version is a good choice.