6 Cool New RobVac Features Coming Your Way, From Quad-Like Suspension to Magnetic Mops
IFA, the world’s largest consumer and electronics trade fair, is in full swing in Berlin and a number of brands have taken the opportunity to show off their new robot vacuum cleaners.
I was able to get some hands-on time with the latest models, and I was impressed with what I saw. There are some innovative new features being introduced â as well as the software innovations (AI is inevitably everywhere), there are some interesting hardware developments that allow these little home helpers to reach places that were previously out of reach, and fixes to other issues that have limited their usefulness until now.
I expect some of these features will soon become more common in our best robot vacuums guide. Hereâs a quick look at the coolest new robovac innovations at IFA 2024âŠ
1. Magnetic mop pads
Seen on: Dream L40
While many robot vacuums have the ability to lift up their damp mop pads to keep them off your carpets, this isnât a foolproof solution â especially if your soft floors are particularly soft. On its new L40 robovac, Dreame has decided to solve the problem by letting you remove them altogether.
The mop pads are attached with magnets, so when you want to vacuum your carpet after mopping, you can tell the robovac to go back to the dock and set them down before continuing cleaning. And it can pick them up again when needed â no manual intervention required.
(If you don’t do (If you have a high pile carpet, the side brush, main brush, and mop pads can all move up and down an inch or more, with multiple settings for different modes, effectively separating mopping and vacuuming. But that’s a lot less fun.)
2. Bouncing suspension
Seen on: Roborock Qrevo curve
Another issue that can limit a robot vacuumâs usability is its ability to navigate large differences in floor height. While weâre still a long way from a robot vacuum that can climb stairs, weâre starting to see models that are much better at handling uneven terrain.
Qrevo Curv has the suspension system of a boyâs race car. Turn it over and youâll see three wheels, each independently adjustable by up to one centimeter, allowing the Curv to reach a maximum clearance height of 4 cm. That room with a double entrance is no longer off-limits, and your ultra-thick carpet is no longer a problem.
3. AI Everywhere
Seen on: Narwhal Freo Z Ultra (and many others)
Itâs no surprise that one of the themes of IFA is AI. Or, more specifically, AI popping up in places you wouldnât expect. (I wonât use the word âshoehorn.â) The Narwal Freo Z Ultra is far from the only robot vacuum cleaner to use AI, but itâs perhaps the one pushing the hardest on this front. It has two separate CPUs â one of which is dedicated solely to AI â and packs processing power equivalent to that of an Xbox.
That AI is used to help the Freo Z Ultra avoid obstacles and adapt its cleaning approach based on context. Thatâs everything from using hotter water to clean greasy stains on hard floors, to knowing which obstacles to get close to (chair legs) and which to avoid (dog poop).
4. Mini hair clippers
Seen on: Dream L40
Preventing long hair from getting caught in your brush rollers is a problem for both manual and robot vacuums (itâs one of the factors we look at when choosing the best robot vacuum for pet hair ). Dreame has decided to stop messing around and introduced an attachment that promises to eradicate the problem once and for all.
The ‘TriCut’ brush literally has a little pair of scissors inside it, which cuts long hair before it ends up in the bin, preventing it from getting tangled in the mechanics. Note that this is not part of the L40, but an optional attachment intended for hairy households.
5. Smart suction power
Seen on: Shark Power Detect
With the launch of its new robot vacuum, Shark has ported some of the most popular features from the best Shark vacuums today. So there are five different detection options: dirt detection, edge detection, wet edge detection, stain detection and floor detection. The PowerDetect adapts its cleaning approach accordingly. So when it goes from carpet to hard floors, it knows to reduce its suction power. And when it hits the edge of a room where dirt tends to accumulate, it will increase its suction power to make sure it all gets sucked up.
I saw it being demonstrated and could hear it bouncing as it encountered high spill areas or reached the edge of the demo room. The goal is to clean more efficiently without wasting battery unnecessarily.
6. Steam sterilization
Seen on: Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI+
Rather than reveal something completely new, Samsung is using IFA to show off the Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI+, which recently went on sale (we’re currently testing the device within the team; full review coming soon).
An interesting (to use the term broadly) feature here is the addition of a steam cleaning system at the base station, to sterilize the mop pads. This generally improves hygiene and reduces the chance of a smelly robot.
Elsewhere, AI gets another chance. Here itâs used to identify objects, people and pets, and to assist with initial room mapping, allowing the Bespoke Jet Combo to identify appliances and furniture and add them to your maps, as well as suggesting names for different rooms. This robot vacuum can also detect how thick a carpet is, allowing it to clean effectively and avoid dampening it with its mopping pads. If youâre already in the Samsung ecosystem, youâll be pleased to know that the Bespoke Jet Bot connects to SmartThings, Samsungâs smart home management app, for convenient control from a single location.