The Robots are Coming..

[henrydreyfuss]

With the Neato Botvac, Miele's robot right around the corner, and Dyson hinting at joining the game soon, the next revolution in home cleaning might not be far off. Far smarter than a Roomba, which bangs into things to navigate a room, these new robots actively map out the room, and are far more intelligent than the robovacs of the last 12 years. These next-gen robots look like they're competent filtration away from being a game-changer.

Although I enjoy vacuuming, most consumers dread it, and I could see these being extremely popular. The idea of scheduling the robot to clean your home while you're at work is quite appealing!

 

[henrydreyfuss]

Miele is joining in on the fun!

I can't tell if this has a suction motor like the Neato vacs, and the latest Roomba, or if it's just a sweeper. It looks smart though!

 

[super-sweeper]

oh America!

<p style="text-align: justify;">Get off the couch and break out the HOOVER! A Roomba couldn't clean rugs if it blue!</p>

 

[vacuumssuck213]

shaking my head.

If its one thing I will not own its a robot vacuum if you can even call it a vacuum. Just the idea irritates me. With self proppeled vacuums and all the lightweight vacuums out there vacuuming is already more effortless. I can tolerate a cheap retail plasticac but I draw the line at robotics.

 

[vacuumssuck213]

heres a robot vac for you

Robots that clean a not so new or practical concept this Guy was on a old kids show he was always sucking up the wrong things and bumping into things just caused trouble much like I can imagine a real life model

 

[henrydreyfuss]

Given the decade of robotic trash..

I understand the opposition, but what if they got better? I almost look at it like an automatic dishwasher, or a washing machine. Yeah, I can clean my own dishes, and probably better by hand, but if a machine could do it for me, why wouldn't I let it? Robovacs have been a joke since they arrived, but they're finally getting a lot better. So much better, that people may make the switch soon, and only have to vacuum once or twice a month, instead of a couple times a week (or worse, never).

I feel there's the same animosity toward robotic vacuums now, that I personally felt about bagless vacuums, and department store vacs a decade ago. Complete rejection. They were junk. But they got better, and now bagless vacs have improved a lot, and there's good options out there! The same will happen in robotics.

I for one, am excited for it. [this post was last edited: 5/10/2014-01:01]

 

[georgect]

Great for a superficial clean...

I think the Neato is a step in the right direction (no pun) with it's logical way of vacuuming in a orderly fashion.

And while I don't think a robot vacuum can produce a "deep down clean", they are great for in between vacuumings.

 

[dysonman1]

Robot vacuums (if you want to call them a vacuum) cannot clean furniture, cannot clean stairs, cannot dust ceiling fans, cannot clean cars, cannot clean bedrooms because they cannot climb stairs, cannot edge clean, and only go forward (backwards is the deep cleaning stroke, not forward which only wipes the carpet). The brush roller must go against the grain on the backstroke to achieve deep cleaning and to stand the nap upright. I think of robot 'vacuums' as toys. Even a $48 Bissell can clean better and is more useful.

 

[henrydreyfuss]

Those are good points, Dysonman!

And they're all solvable. Dyson's DC06 robot prototype had a set of attachments that could be plugged into the machine, making above-the-floor cleaning possible. As these machines get more powerful, that could become an option. These robots are also lightweight, so users simply set them upstairs to clean multiple floors. Maybe down-the-road someone will have a robot where the brush spins backwards, or reverses to achieve the backstroke cleaning you mentioned.

Regardless, I'm glad their evolving! Companies like Neato will push the market forward. They're still supplementary, but they've gotten a lot better in the last year, boosting my confidence in the cleaning category.

 

[super-sweeper]

'all-above floor cleaning'

You'd better watch out,using that HOOVER term on a Dyson of all things!

 

[henrydreyfuss]

I didn't use the term...

"all-above floor cleaning." I think you pioneered that term!

P.S. Big Portal fan.

 

[manchestervacs]

We have a Roomba at home. Its OK for dusting wooden floors and getting under furniture. 


 


In mainland europe they are very popular. It was Holland I first saw one years ago. 

 

[gsheen]

I think they are great for keeping the floor tidy when you have kids, Thats all as a actual vacuum they are useless. They are more a carpet sweeper than vacuum 

 

[kirbysthebest]

I have always wanted one.

I hear they are great for entertaining the cat while you are away. Other than than I think, for now, they are still a novelty item.

 

[super-sweeper]

'P.S huge portal fan'

Yippe, message me if you have a Steam account!

 

[madabouthoovers]

Miele have released the SCOUT robot to buy on their website - better get a mortgage approval though as you will need one with the price they are demanding for it. Makes a Dyson look cheap! (£700 is about $1200)



http://www.miele.co.uk/vacuum-cleaners/Scout-RX1-471/

 

[singingrainbow]

Miele robot

This is ridiculous, when I first heard that miele were going to make a robotic vacuum I got really exited, I said to myself "Finally, a nice, quiet, high performance, German made robotic vacuum." But as I dug deeper something started to stink, my initial suspicion was that it would not be made by miele at all. Sadly my assumption is correct (more on that later). Next thing I found out was from a release from miele saying it was custom designed and built for them by a solid robot companny in Korea. O.K then, as long as it is an original, good design and is good quality.

NOPE! Not only does it only come with a one year warranty as standard (in the U.S) but it has ALREADY BEEN ON THE MARKET under another name and look for about half the U.S suggested price of the miele. Below is a link to the other machine, some similarities are apparent but if you see both machines undersides you can tell they are the same.

Hate to say it but, this is one miele I will not be rushing out to buy soon.
Scott

http://icleborobot.com/main.html

 

[madabouthoovers]

Miele outsource the manufacture of some of their floorheads to Wessel Werk as well, but at least Wessel Werk are good quality. I'd imagine that their Hyclean bags are made by another company.


 


I would say that you are paying solely for the Miele name on that Scout Robot. Its the first time I've seen a bagless Miele vacuum.

 

[sebo_fan]

It is every possibility that Miele wants a bigger market share in areas of the world where hard floors are more prevalent than carpets, and possibly the knowledge that some continents are happy to overspend on products to keep their homes as clean as possible. One country that springs to mind are Japan - Honda cars for example produce antibacterial steering wheels in their cars in the Japanese market.