Using the iRobot Roomba to map a house
iRobot Roomba robot vacuums can sweep and vacuum your whole house if you have your eye on one. Roombas can be sent on a cleaning mission by pushing a button or by asking your digital assistant to do it for you, but their real power lies in their artificial intelligence. According to Smartgeekhome, the smart mapping features need to be enabled and used today.
Smart mapping with iRobot
In recent years, iRobot Roomba bot vacuums, such as the new J7+, have been introduced with sensors that can map the space in your home. What is the purpose of mapping your home? We’re bringing a whole new level of cleaning and customization to the market! If your robot knows your floor plan, it can be programmed to clean zones (the area in front of the trash can that is always dusty, for instance) or rooms (the entryway every morning after rush hour). Check complete guide of shark iq vs roomba i3 on smartgeekhome.
What is the process by which an iRobot maps a house?
A host of sensors helps the newest iRobot bots navigate a home with plenty of smarts. The vSLAM technology used by iRobot Roomba robots enables visual simultaneous localization and mapping. It basically searches for unique areas to mark as landmarks, then remembers where they are so it can orient itself every time it leaves its base in the future. Imprint Smart Maps are created using vSLAM by iRobot. You can store multiple maps in your Smart Map, by the way.
IRobot Roomba mapping a house
You don’t need to worry about adding this detailed mapping – your robot takes care of everything. Roombas begin learning your home’s layout automatically when they are first bought. Depending on how frequently you send the bot out, this may take several passes over several days. This process can be sped up by following these steps:
- A bot should be sent out multiple times in one day.
- Until the map is generated, schedule the bot to go out every morning to clean.
- Run a special mapping operation.
Using the iRobot mapping tool
This is essentially a rolling survey in which the Roomba drives around your house without vacuuming. Data gathering is the only purpose of this run. A full and complete home map typically requires two to three mapping runs.
A full map of your home may take up to five outings before your bot earns its keep by vacuuming while it learns; this depends on the size and layout of your house.
How to accurately map your home
Prior to sending your robot out on a mapping mission, you should tidy up a bit. Make sure the robot has access to all floor surfaces by picking up anything that might tangle it, getting rid of obstacles like shoes that could restrict its movement, and generally ensuring that the robot has access to everything on the floor. If you want the Roomba to clean any of the areas you want to be cleaned now or in the future, make sure all doors are opened.
How does iRobot Roomba Smart Map work?
Here are some ways you can use this magical map of your home:
- Don’t let the bot venture into troublesome areas (a problem rug or the dog’s water dish, for example).
- You might want to consider cleaning zones more frequently, like a busy hallway or the front door.
- Schedules should be set for each room separately. One day per week can be dedicated to vacuuming the bedrooms, while every other day can be dedicated to the bathrooms.
Recognizing hazards and maps
In newer bots, such as the iRobot j7+, hazard recognition is also available. As a result of this new feature, tangle hazards such as headphones and cords will be identified and avoided by the tool, as well as photographed and labeled for future reference. Additionally, the J7 will avoid sock or underwear that get caught in the rollers by detecting them and avoiding them. Whenever the Roomba comes, it will clean the areas you scooped up.
A dog has a poop accident, and the J7 will not make the mess worse by rolling through it.
Furthermore, since the J7+ is so intelligent, it recognizes new obstacles in the home (permanent like furniture or temporary like shipping boxes) and lets you decide whether the bot should factor them in or not.
Intelligent mapping helps to make smart home keeping robots like iRobot Roomba even smarter and more useful.