Robotic vacuums, mops and mowers turn your boring tasks into chores of the past

Vacuuming, mopping and mowing can sometimes feel like gruelling tasks, but at least you may not ever have to do them again.

It’s been spoken about since the Jetsons, the robots are coming and they’re going to take care of all the chores around the home so we can focus on bingeing content from one of the hundred streaming providers we now have.

When the robots first arrived, they were fun to watch, scared our pets but ultimately were poor helpers around the home. Things have changed, though, and we’ve been testing products that are worth letting into the home.

DEEBOT OZMO 950

When it comes to robot vacuums, the latest from Ecovacs ($999) is punching above its weight. A vacuum and mop in one, with three hours of battery life and the ability to create a digital map of a multistorey home, puts this model high on your list. There is no need to set physical exclusion zones or build your own blockade, the app allows you to set names for areas and identify spaces that are off limits.

You can configure virtual barriers to stop the vacuum going places you don’t want it to.

Voice assistant integration means you can ask Google to send the Deebot to clean the kitchen floors. This model will detect floor types and adjust suction automatically too. In our testing, the navigation of this model was the most impressive among its competitors, rarely getting lost and easily finding its way back to the charging station. It’s low profile also meant it could go where others couldn’t, including under beds and furniture.

ALTERNATIVES

The LG R9 ($1899) has class-leading suction and houses a traditional straight head that got it into corners better than others. With a large waste bin, it was also able to run longer too. We also loved using the on-board camera as a remote-controlled surveillance device, meaning the LG vacuum can be controlled from your smartphone anywhere in the world, and you can see through its camera to ensure things are OK at home.

LG R9 retains the square head of older vacuums.

The iRobot i7+ ($1899) is a dedicated robot vacuum that compares well from a suction, navigation and smart home integration point of view. While not being able to carry as much waste as the LG R9, it does, however, have a disposal system at the charging base. This means that the i7 can vacuum, recharge, empty and start again without human intervention.

The robots make a virtual map of your home so they know where to go.

Pair the i7 with the iRobot Jet m6 ($1149) and when vacuuming is finished, a message will be sent for the m6 to begin mopping. A dedicated mopping robot has the advantages of a larger wiping area, however the convenience of one unit in the Ozmo 950 is very tempting and much cheaper.

HUSQVARNA AUTOMOWER 105

The “Huski” brand is no stranger to our gardens, existing in our yards from whipper snippers to ride-on mowers for years. It was no surprise then that their robot mower would shine among its competitors. The electric Automower 105 ($1999) is the smallest of the bunch, recommended for spaces around 600 square metres. This would suit most suburban properties.

Robotics are also being used to take care of chores outside the home.

Don’t fret though, the model range extends to a beast capable of ploughing through your 5000sq m property should you be so lucky. The robot mower scene still relies on guide wires to ensure they don’t mow your garden beds or drive into your pool. This is a level of effort that does require commitment and time, however it is a set-and-forget exercise. Once in place, the Husqvarna will operate in a similar way to the vacuum inside, doing the job without much fuss. The range is also capable of handling inclines and angled areas in the property too, thanks to the large wheels on the unit. Depending on your budget, some will have smartphone integration and notifications to you whether you are home or not.

ALTERNATIVES

This space is still developing, and there is not a lot of choice. However, the GARDENA Sileno City 250 robotic lawnmower ($1299) is a popular product. The City 250 is better suited to smaller blocks of land, 250sq m, and has smartphone integration as standard.

Robot mowers are in their infancy but advancing quickly.

The City 250 can be parked in its own “garage”, protecting it from the elements and being one less thing to worry about. Priced lower than the Husqvarna range, it is a compelling choice.

The famous green and yellow John Deere has a range of robot mowers that are not yet available in Australia. We know this will be the titan to enter the market, even if it is at a premium.

YOUR NEW WINDOW CLEANER

Cleaning your windows could be the next area you start skipping and let a robot do it for you. The WINBOT X ($599) is a square robot that sucks onto glass and then navigates itself up, down and around the entire window before beeping to be moved to the next area. It uses rollers to shift itself around and pads to wipe windows clean.

You can put away the Windex, now the windows clean themselves.

If used often enough, this is a solution that could keep your windows clean, however it does struggle when there is real grime that needs to be taken care of. Further, a tether sticks to the window to catch the WINBOT X should it fail, and this is perfect for keeping it safe but also for the safety of others if you’re using this to clean your apartment windows that you can’t physically do yourself. It’s the beginning of a new category of robots, and we can’t wait to see this area evolve. At this stage we would only recommend this model if you’re OK with the early adopter lack of perfection.

Connect with Geoff Quattromani on Twitter @GQuattromani and listen to his podcast “Technology Uncorked”