Let's understand how a robot vacuum cleaner works: the principle of operation and an overview of useful functions

Traditional vacuum cleaners are gradually becoming a thing of the past, and to replace them, manufacturers offer robot vacuum cleaners, which perform cleaning autonomously, without human involvement.

But what is the principle of their work?

And what functions are provided by modern robotic vacuum cleaners Xiaomi?

Varieties of robot vacuum cleaners

Conventionally, there are two variations of robot vacuum cleaners:

1. For dry cleaning.. They are equipped with a set of brushes ("brooms", "turbo brush"), as well as a suction mechanism.
2. For wet cleaning. Structurally the same, but still have a nozzle for the supply of cleaning fluid with water, as well as a fully sealed housing, which prevents the penetration of moisture on the motor and electronics.

For dry cleaning

Most of the robot vacuum cleaners available for purchase fall into this category. They are excellent for regular cleaning of houses and apartments without carpets (or with carpets, but small pile, less than 5 millimeters).

Their advantages:

• autonomous operation time (the less functional - the longer the device runs on one full battery charge);
• easy maintenance (you only need to clean the container, timely replace the brushes and filter).

For wet mopping

More advanced models of robotic vacuum cleaners are equipped with the function of "wet" cleaning. That is, a nozzle is added which supplies a mixture of water and cleaning fluid, a sponge which removes residual wet dirt, and sealed containers (where liquids are stored).

Naturally, for dry cleaning only, such robot vacuum cleaners can also be used.

Principle of robot vacuum cleaners

The basis of such a robot, like a conventional vacuum cleaner, is an electric motor that creates reverse thrust. But it is supplemented by a set of sensors, a gyroscope, and an accelerometer.

All this is necessary to ensure that the robot does not collide with obstacles, and can overcome some of them without tipping over (high thresholds, steps).

Also in every modern robot vacuum cleaner there is a digital control unit. In fact, it is a mini-computer with a WiFi or Bluetooth wireless module installed. With their help, the device can be synchronized with a smartphone and make all the necessary settings or get service information (charge level, fullness of the container, and so on).

The robot vacuum cleaner device

Any model of robot vacuum cleaner consists of the following components:

1. The body.
2. Rotating wheels.
3. A set of brushes.
4. Container for waste.
5. Charging station.
6. Models with wet cleaning support also have: liquid tank, platform with sponge (wipe).
7. A set of sensors.

Housing .

The body is always made of plastic, as in the manufacture of robot vacuum cleaners it is important to minimize their weight, so that during its autonomous movement around the house a minimum of energy is spent. Obligatorily airtight, most often manufacturers use silicone or rubber seals when assembling such equipment.

In models that support "wet cleaning" the motor itself is also additionally protected from moisture.

On the side edge of the body is usually located 4 - 6 proximity sensors (laser or optical), visually similar to the camera modules in smartphones.

Wheels

They are installed on swivel joints, due to what the mobility of the robot is provided.

As a rule, they have 4 pieces with rubber inserts that prevent scratching the floor covering.

Set of brushes

In today's robot vacuum cleaners, 2 variations of brushes are predominantly used:

• petal brushes (sweep all the debris in the path of the device towards the turbo-brush or wet cleaning sponge);
• turbo-brush (located in the lower part, during the work it rotates, thereby picking up all the garbage from the floor).

Brushes are necessarily replaceable. Many manufacturers add a few spare ones to the basic set, as they are consumables.

It is recommended to change the brushes once every 6 to 12 months (depending on the regularity of cleaning).

Waste container

Mounted between the motor and the filter. However, it is directly accessible (usually from above, behind a special plug) so that the container can be emptied quickly.

It is made of impact-resistant plastic. Volume - from 0,5 to 1,2 liters (on the average).

Charging station

At the bottom or side of the robot vacuum cleaner there is a contact platform for charging (often recessed in the body, which prevents its damage, moisture and dirt).

After completing the cleaning robot itself enters the charging platform, which is connected to the household electrical network.

Tank for liquid

Mostly placed on top behind the hinged lid, made of ABS-plastic. At the bottom there is a valve for connection to a nozzle (automatically closes on removal).

Platform with sponge

Is removable, is installed only when necessary (for wet cleaning).

The sponge itself is replaceable and made of microfiber.

Sensor kit

Robotic vacuum cleaners use 3 basic types of sensors:

1. Optical. With their help, the technique "understands" when it is approaching an obstacle and rounds them. There are simple and laser ones.
2. Ultrasonic. They are used to detect doorways, narrow spaces. It is these sensors that allow the robot vacuum to determine if the bottom edge of the furniture is high enough for them to clean from below.
3. Infrared. These are used as height difference sensors. With their help, the robot detects on the way those obstacles that are not an obstacle for it (wires, edges of carpets, thresholds). They also help detect the presence of a high step.

Additional functions of robot vacuum cleaners

Modern models are equipped with a number of additional functions.

The main ones are:

• The construction of an interactive map of the room;
• cleaning on a schedule;
• Automatic return to the docking station for recharging;
• control from a smart phone;
• function "virtual wall".

Creating an interactive map of the room

Information from optical and other sensors is recorded in the control unit. And on its basis a conditional map of the room is created. That is, the robot vacuum cleaner literally "remembers" where the obstacles, walls, thresholds are located.

All this is necessary to ensure that the next cleaning performed more quickly, as well as reduce the likelihood of overturning, collisions with walls.

Scheduled cleaning.

There is no need to clean your home every day. In most cases, it's only done 1 to 2 times a week. And robot vacuums allow you to create a schedule on which they will automatically clean the house.

In addition to this, synchronization via the Internet is also supported.

Automatic return to docking station for charging

On average, robot vacuums have an operating time of 90 to 150 minutes.

This may not be enough to clean the entire room. Therefore, in such devices is necessarily integrated charge level controller. And as soon as less than 10 - 15% of the battery capacity remains, the robot is automatically sent to the docking station for charging.

Due to the "interactive map" function, the technique understands exactly where it is.

After charging is complete, cleaning automatically continues from the place where it was stopped. And all this is done without human intervention.

That is why robot vacuum cleaners are compact, they do not need a huge battery, but they are suitable for cleaning living spaces of up to 300 m².

Control from your smartphone

There are only 3 to 4 buttons on the body of the robot for manual control. With their help you can set the cleaning mode, forcibly send the device to recharge, turn off.

All other settings are set via a proprietary mobile application (the link to download it is specified in the technical documentation).

The "virtual wall" function

The data of an interactive map is downloaded to the smartphone of the owner of the robot vacuum cleaner. And through it, it is possible to specify the areas where cleaning will not be performed.

This is useful, for example, for the circumvention of arranged in the room floor vases, which the robot can push or even topple.

In most robots, laser rangefinders are responsible for this function.

Older robot-vacuum cleaners had a slightly different implementation of this function:

1. Using infrared sensors. They were placed near the place where cleaning could not be done.
2. Using magnetic tape. The robot itself had a sensor in it that reads the change in the magnetic field. And as soon as it came close to the tape glued to the floor, it would go around it.

Advantages and disadvantages of robotic vacuum cleaners

The following advantages of robotic vacuum cleaners can be identified:

1. Cleaning is done autonomously.. Human intervention is only necessary to perform the initial setup of the device.
2. Suitable for both dry and wet cleaning.
3. The robot can be remotely started from anywhere in the world.
4. Consumables are inexpensive and can be purchased at any hardware store. And most manufacturers produce universal replacement brushes, filters, and sponges. That is, they are suitable for the whole line of vacuum cleaners, rather than a single model.
5. Dimensions. A robot is 4 to 5 times smaller than a traditional vacuum cleaner. They also have an attractive design that fits into the interior of any living space.
6. They practically do not emit any sound during operation.

But the disadvantages of such equipment also exist. You can highlight the following disadvantages:

1. Price. Flagship models will cost 50 thousand rubles and more. The simplest - from 8 - 10 thousand. For this money, you can take two "classic" simple vacuum cleaners.
2. The quality of cleaning is lower. Judging by the reviews of users, it is especially noticeable in the corners, near the legs of furniture. Periodically, these places have to clean manually.
3. The suction power is lower. In a traditional vacuum cleaner motor consumes up to 2.5 kW of electricity, and all it is converted into a reverse thrust. The robots have a motor with a power of up to 250 watts. Therefore, they are practically not suitable for cleaning carpets with high pile.

Bottom line, cleaning with a robot vacuum cleaner is really convenient. They also have disadvantages, but manufacturers are constantly upgrading their designs.

It is expected that within the next 5 to 10 years, classic vacuum cleaners will disappear from store shelves altogether.

Useful video

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