Robot Vacuums With Lidar Make Cleaning Easier
A robot vacuum will track its surroundings in order to avoid obstacles and move efficiently. This technology is similar to the one used in self-driving cars and aerospace.
Simple robots come with bump sensors to stop them from scratching your chair legs or scuffing your paint. But more advanced navigation systems, such as Lidar and SLAM, are better in avoiding accidents that aren't planned. This technology is costly.
Lidar
Lidar, also known as light detection range is the most significant advancement in robot vacuums over the past decade. Lidar is a sensor that emits laser beams and tracks the time it takes for them to return. The data can then be used to map accurately. Lidar makes it easier for robots to avoid and navigate around objects, especially in low-light environments.
Even though most modern robotic vacuums come with some form of obstacle-detection, they still struggle to free up cords, socks and other household items that are easily tangled on the floor. A poor obstacle detection system can seriously affect the cleaning efficiency of a robot vacuum and cause lots of wasted time. You will have to stop it and manually untangle whatever object it is stuck on.
The top robot vacuums that have lidar have powerful object detection capabilities that ensure that your floors are kept clean and free of tangles and debris. Also, they are less likely to become stuck on furniture legs or other things that are common obstacles in tight hallways and spaces that are narrow.
Some robots with lidar also have digital keep-out zones which allow you to create an imaginary boundary on the map to stop your robot from cleaning certain areas of your apartment or home. This will prevent your vacuum from accidentally vacuuming the cat litter box or an expensive area rug.
Another benefit of a model equipped with lidar is its ability to better identify stairs. While it isn't easy to get a robot to climb steps isn't easy -- save for the few prototypes in pre-productionthe majority of models equipped with lidar can be able to go up and down the steps without any problems.
Other sensors you might be looking for in a robot with lidar include infrared sensors which are used to detect walls and other furniture and aid in navigating the surrounding; 3D ToF sensors, which make use of reflective infrared light to find objects and calculate their position; and cliff sensors, that alert the vac when it gets too close to the edge of a staircase in order to stop it from falling off.
Gyroscopes
Unlike lidar, which uses lasers to scan the space and map it out, gyroscopes rely on rotation sensors that keep the robot from bumping into things. These are more common in robots that are budget-friendly and function as a fast-spinning wheels that let the vacuum know its position relative to obstacles. Certain models employ gyroscopes in order to create an 'home map. This is useful to ensure that the space is cleaned thoroughly and ensuring the proper use of the area.
SLAM which stands for Simultaneous Localization and Mapping, is another well-known navigation technology for robot vacuums that's available across various price points. This method is used to create a 3-D image of your space in order to create a precise map and navigate it in a logical way. This is a major improvement over the bounce-and-bang machines of the past that would simply move through your space, bouncing off anything they encountered until the job was completed.
Most robots that use SLAM are able to display maps in an app and you will be able to be aware of the location of your cleaners. You can also create no-go zones based on maps. This is particularly useful for homes with lots of furniture. It is difficult to locate everything without maps.
While SLAM is effective in a majority of situations, it's not as effective in detecting small obstacles, such as wires or cables that might be caught in the vacuum's rotating brush. This is a serious flaw because many robots tend to suck up these items and damage them.
Fortunately, the majority of robots that incorporate SLAM come with obstacle detection technology, including drop detectors. These sensors allow the vac to avoid falling down stairs or other large differences in floor levels which could cause severe damage. Some robots also have cliff sensors, which could be helpful if you own an animal that can leap over the robot to reach its water or food dish. These sensors are placed on the bumpers of the vacuum and send out a signal if the vacuum is located near a thing that could harm it.
Wall Sensors
The ability of a robotic vacuum to navigate around your home is dependent on combination sensors. A low-cost model could utilize bump sensors to detect obstacles and a light that rotates to detect walls, but high-end models are much more sophisticated, including navigation systems, mapping, and self-navigation that allow map saving (with some data retaining or sending this information to a company) and digital keep-out zones to prevent robots from accidentally hitting cables or crashing furniture legs.
Certain robots utilize what's known as SLAM or simultaneous mapping and localization. They map the room once before they begin cleaning, and then refer to this map throughout the task. This makes them more efficient as they can avoid repeating sections of the room and also know exactly where they've been. These maps can be shared and viewed within the robot's application. This is helpful if you want to set up specific areas for cleaning or areas that are not allowed to be used.
The other important navigation sensor to look for is a Gyroscope. The gyroscope makes use of spinning wheels or a turning beam of light to determine distances between your robot and the obstacles in your home. The data is used to create a map your robot can reference while moving around your space. Robots that don't have this technology could become stuck on cords or carpets, and may move around the floor instead of following the edges.
The most advanced robots are equipped with a variety of obstacle avoidance technologies, including 3D structured lights, 3D Time of Flight (ToF), bi-cular or monocular vision and LiDAR. In general, the more sophisticated technology you have the more precise your robot will be and the more intuitive its navigation will be. This means more thorough, low-maintenance cleaning and the possibility of establishing zones that are not allowed to enter to protect your electronics and other valuables from accidental damage. The most recent generation of gyroscopes has become more precise, and they work well in low light. robot vacuum with lidar and camera can also detect changes in ambient lighting to assist the robot in seeing better.
Sensors Optical
A robot vacuum with lidar can create a 3D map of your space to better navigate and avoid bumping into obstacles. It does this by releasing beams of laser light that bounce off surfaces and returns to the sensor. The sensor monitors the time it takes for the laser beam to return. This is converted into distance measurements, and allows the robot build an image of the layout of your room.
Lidar is faster and more precise than cameras, which a few robots use to map rooms. Depending on the model, a robotics device with lidar could include a "no-go" zone feature that lets you define areas that are off-limits for your robot. In our tests, we found the best models that use this technology to be Neato Botvac D8 and iRobot Braava 450, which have simple-to-set up "no-go" zones within the app.
The iRobot Duo+ is another excellent option that makes use of LiDAR and other sensors to create an accurate map of your home, which it will then use for navigation. The app also gives you control over the mapping process so that you can refine your home's boundaries if necessary.
Other technologies utilized to enhance the robot's navigation include 3D structured light which measures the distance of objects by detecting their reflective properties and 3D ToF (time of flight) that scans a room to measure the speed and direction of light reflections. Certain robots employ monocular or binocular vision to stay clear of objects.
All of these sensors are used together to aid the robots to avoid obstacles in various ways. This is the reason they are so useful. However, it's important to think about your specific needs before buying a robot vacuum. Consider how much time you want to spend prepping your floors prior to cleaning, what obstacles are there in your home and whether you want the robot to do more than just vacuum. Once you know what features are important to you, we recommend creating a budget that covers the price of a model with the technology you need.