iRobot Scooba experience

[uno_bliss]

Haha, it is not true, it DOES NOT go back to clean the specifically areas that had been previously occupied during cleaning attempts, it will mark it as a permanent occupied object/area.

Jubooo, u r right in your judgment, it does not make sense that the Roboking knows whether it is temporarily or permanent object, the true is, it does not.

Now I remember seeing a YouTube video on Neato, which will come back & clean temporarily occupied space, the tester put a bottle on floor & later removed it. Neato has vision field I think ~5 m by 5 m.

But Roboking confirm got no front "eyes". Only close contact Ultra-sound sensor for slowing down & not make contact (or minimized contact) with furniture.

 

[bakasa2002]

Looks like roomba is the dumbest bot, but does the best job in cleaning. Has it got to do w their MIT background?

 

[uno_bliss]

Looks like roomba is the dumbest bot, but does the best job in cleaning. Has it got to do w their MIT background?

Bakasa, I want u to say soli to ur Roomba, and sayang him...

Roomba is not dumb, it's just blind.
It's the only clever bot that uses an algorithm to systematically explore & expand. Much like a maze solving mouse.

Imagine u're the mouse, or Indiana Jones trapped in a hedge maze: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4f/Wandiligong_maze.jpg
A smart & systematic approach would eventually help u escape. Dumb & random maneuvers will leave u a skeleton for other wanderers to shriek at.
Dumb bot = Cleanmate QQ, V-bot & whatever (thinking about them makes me dumb).

Neato has laser, Roboking has ceiling camera, both are like "eyes" to help the robot "see" the big picture.
Now let's go back to the hedge maze analogy... U're not Indiana Jones but Jack Bauer.
Jack uses his phone/GPS/swiss army knife/light saber to beam Google Maps & can see the whole hedge maze from top view, easy walk in the park.

K, Bakasa, u can name ur Roomba as Indy from now on.

 

[Vachel Chan]

Now I remember seeing a YouTube video on Neato, which will come back & clean temporarily occupied space, the tester put a bottle on floor & later removed it. Neato has vision field I think ~5 m by 5 m.

But Roboking confirm got no front "eyes". Only close contact Ultra-sound sensor for slowing down & not make contact (or minimized contact) with furniture.

Yup, Seen that Video before. All these Robot vacuum all use different navigation technology, hard to do a comparison as really up to personal preferences.
With regards to the Roboking "Return and clean function" some People have experienced it and some haven't, Do read a range of reviews online for better understanding and feedback.
Anyway for all Neato Lovers, the New Neato XV-21 ($599) is now available locally and is indeed more silent when pre-fitted with the Bristle Brushes, supposedly able to handle hair and pet fur better.
Do check out Autovacstore

 

[uno_bliss]

Well, other than Wiseone who actually went to great lengths to get VR100 bristle brush from Germany, I'm probably the other few who silenced my Neato XV11 using my DIY brush mod, which I posted here: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/65557529-post9104.html

The previous noise was unbearable & I hated using XV11, but after my brush mod, much more tolerable & probably cleaner too since a rubber beater brush can't sweep jack squat.
Try using a window rubber squeegee to sweep ur floor, vs a soft brush.

But Neato will still be Neato, no sidebrush... Wall edges = Creepy Crawlies haven.

 

[Jubooo]

Now I remember seeing a YouTube video on Neato, which will come back & clean temporarily occupied space, the tester put a bottle on floor & later removed it. Neato has vision field I think ~5 m by 5 m.

But Roboking confirm got no front "eyes". Only close contact Ultra-sound sensor for slowing down & not make contact (or minimized contact) with furniture.

I still do not understand how it knows whether it is a permanent object or temparory obstacle. Unless you saying that the bottle was removed almost immediately while neato is still scanning it's nearby area and saw an empty spot on the previously cleaned space. I've run my neato so many times but I do not remember seeing it returning to the spot where I stand and recleaned.

And Bakasa, your Indy is dumb but I still like my roomba

__________________
Checkout Robovac iRobot Store for all your robotics needs: www.RobovacShop.com

 

[uno_bliss]

I still do not understand how it knows whether it is a permanent object or temparory obstacle. Unless you saying that the bottle was removed almost immediately while neato is still scanning it's nearby area and saw an empty spot on the previously cleaned space...

The test video was conducted in a small rig which is definitely smaller than 5x5 m, so any movement of human legs or furniture would be "seen" by Neato. This means Neato can react to the shifted object be it at 1% or 99% of its cleaning session.

However, in an area larger than 5x5 m, the field of vision is constantly moving along with Neato, and I doubt it'll bother to go back & check every piece of furniture if shifted, once it's out of field of vision.

Analogy: u're a hawk with ur fantastic hawk eye night vision & u look down at the desert for movement of mice & small rodents. Once u've flown pass an area, u won't keep turning back to check & re-check (unless u're frickin' starved for days).

Jubooo, Indy = Indiana Jones = Great explorer = Stylo Milo pilot of Millennium Falcon = Ass Kickin President on Air Force One

 

[Jubooo]

Ya. Basically just a change of design or improvement of software. ....... Anyway, the older 2011 617X model is gradually being replaced by the 2012 614X model..
....

Not true, the 614x has a lower battery capacity lasting 75mins and the 617x can last 100mins with a higher capacity.

 

[kenshinz]

Is it advisable to get some sort of "bumper" protection strip for the Roomba? As I have a lot of dark furniture, the Roomba keeps knocking into them instead of slowing down when near. Would pasting some sort of foam strip in front affect the performance?

I also realized that among my 3 bedrooms, it only cleans 2 of the rooms which are facing each other, the master bedroom which is next to the other 2 rooms and have dark floor laminate does not get clean at all. At most the Roomba would enter a couple of feet, hit the bed frame, turn around and roll out of the room.

Thanks

 

[kenshinz]

Another question. Is it ok to leave the Roomba permanently docked in the homebase with the charger on? Currently I'm setting it to run every other day. I'm concerned if this constant charging would kill the battery, and of course how much electricity is this actually using

 

[uno_bliss]

Another question. Is it ok to leave the Roomba permanently docked in the homebase with the charger on? Currently I'm setting it to run every other day. I'm concerned if this constant charging would kill the battery, and of course how much electricity is this actually using

kenshinz, considering u PM me on 16 May 2012 at 10:03pm asking about Roomba, it's really fast that u've gotten & already started using ur Roomba, I would assume, since yesterday.

Why not direct ur Qs to ur seller. I'm sure they would gladly assist.

 

[kenshinz]

Bro Uno thanks for your very quick reply. As indicated in my PM to you, I inquired about the 550 model, and you did reply with the 530 and 560. But seeing that you do not carry the model I've gotten it from another seller instead. Any inconvenience is deeply regretted.

In any case, I'm sure the questions I asked are pretty much what most new Roomba users might be interested in, and seeing as it would probably benefit anyone on the forum who might be interested, wouldn't it better to ask them here since there are well regarded sellers and experts like you who have been supporting the local Roomba community since 2008?

Cheers.

 

[Jubooo]

That sounds like your seller did not do a detailed demo on usage and maintenance. Anyway base on my experience, the battery of the 500 series roomba requires replacement every 1-1.5 yrs regardless of how you use it. iRobot recommends roomba to be dock 24/7.

Since you're using it on a frequent basis, just keep it docked and you might want to try running it daily as it is capable of digging more stuff than you might expect even on a daily run. Roomba's standby mode isn't consuming much power and it is almost negligible. You should worried more on your refrigerator as that is the killer in most household

The bumper guard does absorb the impact of the bump and will not affect the performance & docking if use correctly. I've a customer whom stick it in the wrong position & roomba became slow motion due to obstruction of the lighttouch sensors. Power up roomba, use your iphone camera to look at the black window on the bumper & you'll likely see the 4 led's position.

__________________
Checkout Robovac iRobot Store for all your robotics needs: www.RobovacShop.com

 

[kenshinz]

Thanks bro Juboo for your answers.

Actually the seller did a very detailed demo. I believe with the healthy level of competition locally for robot vacuums, all sellers would strive to provide their best service.

Anyway he did mention that its ok to leave it docked 24/7. However, I want to be doubly sure (sometimes when you get a new toy and there's quite a bit of things to absorb you tend to forget some things) and I always believe in getting multiple opinions to be sure.

Have a good day

 

[uno_bliss]

...battery of the 500 series roomba requires replacement every 1-1.5 yrs regardless of how you use it. ...

1 yr is too short for normal daily use. Even if user max out (~120 mins) the battery daily, the original yellow NiMH will still deliver a healthy max run time ~60 mins after 9 mths. I can't say the same for non-original & even original black NiCD (the most problematic battery iRobot ever made).

On average, yes, most people change battery after 1.5 yrs, sometimes even when battery can run 45 mins, they also wanna change.

But I've met people who 1st time change battery after 4 yrs. They use once every 2 wks at their spare unoccupied house.

 

[Vachel Chan]

Thanks bro Juboo for your answers.

Actually the seller did a very detailed demo. I believe with the healthy level of competition locally for robot vacuums, all sellers would strive to provide their best service.

Anyway he did mention that its ok to leave it docked 24/7. However, I want to be doubly sure (sometimes when you get a new toy and there's quite a bit of things to absorb you tend to forget some things) and I always believe in getting multiple opinions to be sure.

Have a good day

Thanks for sharing for queries on the forum, I am sure all fellow HWZ bros would be most willing to help with your queries, no matter where you got your set. Q&A would definitely be useful to all members. Anyway glad you liked the detailed demo and Service you received locally, whoever its from..

With regards to the Roboking, both the 614X and 617X would last around 75min of cleaning time, 614X is just the 2012 model of the dual eye and 617X is the 2011 model, Unless you are referring to the 6180 wifi model, which would last a little shorter. I have tried both out. In any case, The LG Roboking would take only about 45min to clean any home around 1225sqft (5-RM) and if its 4000-5000 sqft, you properly would have a maid (haha), but if you are keen on using the Roboking, it would of course ensure complete coverage as same like the Neato, it would suspend the cleaning cycle, return to charge and come back to finish the job.

 

[Rozerr]

Right answer.

 

[uno_bliss]

Right answer.

Rozerr, if u CAN read this, this is me telling u to get the heck out of HWZ. Registered today, 9 posts within 7 mins in random threads all with 3-5 words meaningless replies.
Are u a bot-virus that's infecting HWZ? Oops, forgive me for asking. What u gonna say next? "I'll be back!"???

 

[android]

That sounds like your seller did not do a detailed demo on usage and maintenance. Anyway base on my experience, the battery of the 500 series roomba requires replacement every 1-1.5 yrs regardless of how you use it. iRobot recommends roomba to be dock 24/7.

Since you're using it on a frequent basis, just keep it docked and you might want to try running it daily as it is capable of digging more stuff than you might expect even on a daily run. Roomba's standby mode isn't consuming much power and it is almost negligible. You should worried more on your refrigerator as that is the killer in most household

The bumper guard does absorb the impact of the bump and will not affect the performance & docking if use correctly. I've a customer whom stick it in the wrong position & roomba became slow motion due to obstruction of the lighttouch sensors. Power up roomba, use your iphone camera to look at the black window on the bumper & you'll likely see the 4 led's position.

__________________
Checkout Robovac iRobot Store for all your robotics needs: www.RobovacShop.com

So will keeping it on on the dock 24/7 make any differences to the battery life?

 

[uno_bliss]

So will keeping it on on the dock 24/7 make any differences to the battery life?

iRobot manual says keep it docked.
If u wanna know loads of technical details, can PM me, or email unobliss@yahoo.com