Neato Robotics Vacuum Cleaner

This is a new kind of robot vacuum cleaner, created by Neato Robotics. The most popular robot vacuum out there right now would have to be the iRobot Roomba, which has been very popular with it's blend of rather cleverly applied high tech. The Neato, however, looks like it will probably be more advanced.

There are some immediately noticeable similarities. For one thing, the robot is short and squat, which allows robot vacuum cleaners to sweep under furniture and cabinet overhands. Unlike the Roomba, however, the XV-11 has a rectangular front. Neato says this is to make the robot more effective at cleaning corners, which is a common complaint about other robots. The bottom of this robot vacuum cleaner looks more like a conventional upright vacuum. It has an intake at the front of the unit with a beater.

Another very obvious difference is that the dust bin is located on the top of the robot. The robot uses a centrifugal compression impeller to create suction. The beater, mentioned above, is specially designed to prevent the robot from sucking up cables and edges of carpets.

On the top of the robot is also an LCD display. This is for the robot to communicate any errors or problems it may have. It is also for programming a cleaning schedule. This is one of the great things about robot vacuum cleaners. With a little pre-planning, you can have the robot clean while you're at work. There are three buttons next to the display for changing settings and navigating menus. There is also a main button below the display and a big orange button for starting the robot.

This robot maps the room before it begins to clean. Next to the display is a turret which contains a laser range-finder. This device scans the room continuously in all directions, and maps all the objects in the room. This map is changed as the room changes, so if your cat leaves the room during cleaning, the robot will notice and clean where the cat was later. The robot sensor works for about 15 feet. It also divides rooms up into fifteen foot square sections.

Because the robot maps the room, it can vacuum the floor meticulously. When it begins, it takes a look at the room, and moves around the perimeter of the room. Once it has run a circuit around the room, the vacuum cleaner starts working from one end to the other in overlapping rows. The robot can sense doorways. It will finish one room before staring the next.

The Neato robot vacuum takes two or three hours to fully recharge. When it runs low on battery, it will drive back to its charger and back up into it. If it hasn't finished vacuuming, once it is recharged, it will start back where it stopped vacuuming. A fully charged battery is expected to last an hour in normal conditions. Because the robot is so methodical about cleaning, it can vacuum more space in less time. Also, it uses a stronger vacuum than the competition.

Check the Neato Robotics site for more information. The robot is expected to start selling in early 2010 and the expected retail price is $399.00. Check this link for more information about other kinds of robot vacuum cleaner and also coverage of the Neato robot vacuum when it is released.