Robot vacuum cleaners are small, flat and very manoeuvrable. In recent years, they have become almost indispensable helpers in the household. Fully autonomous, they drive through the home and thoroughly clean hardwood floors, carpets and rugs of dust and dirt. But how does a robot vacuum cleaner actually work? In the following, we would like to clarify this question in simple terms.

The cleaning function of a robot hoover

In principle, every robot hoover works like a normal hoover. A suction nozzle sucks up dust and dirt from the floor and collects it in a collection container. Most robot hoovers today have fine dust and HEPA filters and are therefore also suitable for allergy sufferers. Despite their good cleaning performance, robot vacuum cleaners are very compact. The diameter is usually around 30 cm. At 7 to a maximum of 9 cm, the devices are very flat so that they can easily drive under furniture and thus vacuum areas that are difficult to reach with a normal hoover.

Several models offer an additional wiping function. For this purpose, a cloth is simply attached to the underside of the device, which is supplied with moisture via an integrated water tank. This means that even the finest dust does not stand a chance.

Most robot hoovers are equipped with brushes with very long bristles at the front corners of the housing. These bristles brush out dirt from corners of the room or around table and chair legs as well as furniture feet and can be vacuumed up by the robot vacuum cleaner.

The drive of a robot vacuum cleaner

Robot vacuum cleaners are driven by an electric motor that is powered by a rechargeable battery. Two drive wheels on the underside of the housing provide the propulsion. A single, smaller wheel mounted in the front area of the vacuum enables the robot vacuum to steer. The ground clearance is sufficiently large so that the devices can usually drive over carpet edges, door thresholds or cables without getting stuck.

The operation of a robot hoover

Many prospective buyers of a robot hoover ask themselves how the devices find their way through the home and individual rooms. For navigation, most robot vacuum cleaners are equipped with a whole range of sensors that enable them to detect obstacles. In the case of the inexpensive devices, these are so-called contact sensors that react to a touch. The navigation is then quite simple, so that when the robot vacuum comes up against an obstacle, it changes direction a little and simply continues until it comes up against the next obstacle.

Somewhat more elaborate are infrared and proximity sensors that can detect obstacles without touching them and steer the robot around an obstacle without bumping into it. Various models today have cameras that can also orient themselves to the ceiling of a room and use the camera and other sensors to create a virtual map in their memory, which they can then use to navigate through the room. The advantage of this technically complex navigation is that cleaning time is greatly reduced.

One of the most important sensors in a robot hoover is the fall sensor. Unfortunately, not all devices are equipped with such a sensor yet. The fall sensor prevents the robot vacuum cleaner from running over a landing and falling down the stairs. You can place a robot vacuum cleaner equipped with a fall sensor on a table and switch it on. The sensor prevents the robot from falling off the tabletop.

Other navigation aids that various vacuum cleaning robots use are the so-called virtual lighthouses. These navigation aids can be used to guide the robot along the right path and direct it to another room, for example. In addition, so-called virtual walls are available for various models, which can be used to demarcate certain areas on the floor where the robot should not vacuum.

This could be, for example, a play corner where there are always toys and small parts on the floor that should not be vacuumed under any circumstances. Valuable and sensitive furnishings, such as large vases, which the robot must not bump into under any circumstances, can also be easily protected with the Virtual Walls.

Many prospective buyers of a robot hoover ask themselves how the devices find their way through the home and individual rooms. For navigation, most robot vacuum cleaners are equipped with a whole range of sensors that enable them to detect obstacles. In the case of the inexpensive devices, these are so-called contact sensors that react to a touch. The navigation is then quite simple, so that when the robot vacuum comes up against an obstacle, it changes direction a little and simply continues until it comes up against the next obstacle.

Somewhat more elaborate are infrared and proximity sensors that can detect obstacles without touching them and steer the robot around an obstacle without bumping into it. Various models today have cameras that can also orient themselves to the ceiling of a room and use the camera and other sensors to create a virtual map in their memory, which they can then use to navigate through the room. The advantage of this technically complex navigation is that cleaning time is greatly reduced.

One of the most important sensors in a robot hoover is the fall sensor. Unfortunately, not all devices are equipped with such a sensor yet. The fall sensor prevents the robot vacuum cleaner from running over a landing and falling down the stairs. You can place a robot vacuum cleaner equipped with a fall sensor on a table and switch it on. The sensor prevents the robot from falling off the tabletop.

Other navigation aids that various vacuum cleaning robots use are the so-called virtual lighthouses. These navigation aids can be used to guide the robot along the right path and direct it to another room, for example. In addition, so-called virtual walls are available for various models, which can be used to demarcate certain areas on the floor where the robot should not vacuum.

This could be, for example, a play corner where there are always toys and small parts on the floor that should not be vacuumed under any circumstances. Valuable and sensitive furnishings, such as large vases, which the robot must not bump into under any circumstances, can also be easily protected with the Virtual Walls.

Automatic recharging of the battery

Unlike classic hand-held hoovers with rechargeable batteries or the larger cordless hoovers, no one has to worry about charging the battery with a robot hoover. When the battery charge runs out, the Robot Vacuum Cleaner automatically returns to the charging station and recharges the battery. After recharging, it continues its work. It also automatically returns to the charging station when the work is done or the cleaning time has expired. Even then, the battery is automatically recharged so that the robot vacuum cleaner is ready for the next use.