Vacuum Sweeper - Neato Robotics

fred42 wrote:
I wonder if Neato can detect an open stairwell and not fall in?

Yes it does. We have 2 levels (5 steps between the two levels), and the sweeper knows where the steps are on the upper level.

Actually, (both of ours) are pretty sophisticated and amazing to watch.

1) They always go back to their docking station to recharge the battery. If they are not finished cleaning the "whole house", after a couple hours of recharging, they will return to the same spot they left off and continue. Ours has docked and restarted as much as 3 times. But usually it's only twice.

2) If something gets in it's way, it will stop. The suction stops. It will attempt to back out, turn around, and free itself. Most of the times it does. It's amazing to watch it wiggle and wiggle until it gets free. If it absolutely cannot get free, it shuts down and a "beep" starts so you can find it. After a while the "beep" stops and it shuts itself off completely to save it's own memory.

3) It sweeps on a specific pattern. It goes around the edge of the rooms first, then does a back and forth pattern and covers the entire floor, including corners where it can reach. Of course obstacles in it's path, it will go around. It will attempt to get that same spot from a different direction until it realizes it can't get that spot. (for example, if you've moved a chair from the previous day to a new location).

4) When the dust collector is full, it re-docks itself and presents a message to empty the container.

5) It knows where steps are, and closed and open doors. It knows where exterior doors are, both open and closed. (I had the outside door propped open the other day, and it knew not to go outside.

6) It can be set to go off automatically, 7 days a week, or any one day a week, any time you want.

7) If you let it run every day, every day (we) have 2 full dust catch containers completely full. It picks up everything, including animal hair (we have a dog and 2 cats in the house), it picks up cereal (we have a 2 year old in the house), it picks up fingernails (after clipping), and it picks up saw dust wonderful. I have a wood shop in the garage and the dust from sanding always manages to settle inside. (Fido) picks it up fantastic! Spotless!

8) The lower level of our house is on a concrete slab. We have removed all the original carpet since we've purchased it and the entire half of the house is now tile, stone, and ceramic. The upper level (on a foundation with a wood sub floor), is a combination of (real) hardwood, ceramic, tile, and carpet. Both Fido and Scarlet have no problems transitioning from one floor surface to the other. They are amazing. They raise and lower themselves based on the floor surface.

9) The sweepers came with a plastic strip that can be laid on the floor. You cut it to the length you want. You then place the strip on the floor. Wherever you put the strip, they will not cross that line. (we use them around our hot-tub so they don't get tangled in the wires). So if you have an area you want them to NOT go to, you block it off by simply laying this plastic strip on the floor. They will not cross over it, but turn around.

How about the "negatives" now?

Well, it's kind of noisy. If you are watching television, on the phone (or like me, doing a work-from-home) and are on a conference call, you have to "pause" it. Like any vacuum sweeper, it's noisy.

It tries to suck up everything, and sometimes simply cannot. So, if you leave small objects on the floor, it will attempt to "consume" the. Our small dog as a variety of squeeky toys. Our 2 year old grandson as a variety of small toys Yup, they get left on the floor and when (Fido) and (Scarlet) run over them, they sometimes get stuck. Now for some reason, when that happens my dog goes nuts! Maybe because he things the new "pet" is attempting to take his toys!

And the instructions for them are pretty clear. The vacuums are NOT a pet! Although they seem to act like a pet! Really! Also, there is a warning NOT to give them a bath! I suppose like cats, they don't like water too much!

A note from the "emotional side", kind of like the "pet" idea. Yup, once you have one of these, they kind of do become a "pet", more than just a machine. (It's hard to explain!... but the warning label does warn about this). We really enjoy ours (both of them). We take Fido camping with us. It's amazing, the camper is 35 feet long (bumper to bumper) and 8 1/2 feet wide. When Fido runs, the dust collector is completely full.... every day!