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How to test a robotic vacuum cleaner

Our method for evaluating robot vacuums is straightforward, but cumbersome. There are two types of tests we perform. The first trial is to find out How well the robot covers the floor While cleaning it. We have built a test chamber compatible with industry standards as specified by International Electrotechnical Commission Just for this purpose. IEC is an international standards body responsible for administering automated vacuum testing procedures, among other things, for vacuum manufacturers.

Inside this room are objects designed to simulate typical obstacles a robot encounters while navigating during cleaning. These obstructions include wall edges, legs of tables and chairs, sofas and other furniture, etc., as well as bare tile and hardwood floors, as well as carpets. We install LED lights on the top of each vacuum cleaner. The dimensions of the lights correspond to the measured nozzle width of each specific robotic vacuum we test.

As the robots move across the room while cleaning, an overhead camera captures a long-exposure image of the entire room in low light. This image will then have a light path, created by the LEDs, showing the exact areas the robot traveled (and the nozzle position) during runtime. We can also see areas of the floor where the vacuum may have missed or gotten stuck. You can see the navigation results for all the robot vacuums in our test group in the gallery below.

The second type of test reveals exactly how much physical debris the vacuum cleaner is able to pick up from the floor. To mimic bite-sized dirt, we use a mixture of play sand and landscape sand. For larger particle soil, we use uncooked black rice grains. The robots then run in straight-line mode across three types of flooring (low-pile carpet, medium-pile carpet, and bare hardwood floors).

We control the specific nozzle width for each vacuum as well. We’ve built an adjustable tool to pollute our testing grounds. It allows us to place a strip of a specific area of ​​soil to match the nozzle dimensions of each robot. The soil mass is not chosen randomly either. We measure a proportional amount related to flooring material and type of debris as well as the nozzle width of each vacuum cleaner.

We perform three cleanings (at least) for each type of flooring. We also perform sand and rice cleaning tests separately. This amounts to at least 18 tests per unemployment bot. We weigh the robot’s trash before and after each run. From there we can calculate the percentage of debris picked up per cleaning and the average amount of soil the machine is able to remove. In addition we run narrative (visual) Pet hair Tests for each robot, on all three floor types.

The rice-based medium-sized particle test did not show sufficient discrimination between each cleaner, suggesting that they could all handle larger particles without problems. As for fur removal for pet owners, we judge anecdotally.

How we test cordless vacuum cleaners

Putting cordless vacuums through their paces isn’t complicated Robot vacuum tester Cleaner, but it still takes a lot of time and careful effort to find the best cordless vacuum cleaner. We run every vacuum in Straight line Across three different surfaces (hardwood, low pile carpet, medium pile carpet). In all three test beds, the test area is the same length (30.25 inches).

As in robot tests, the width of the test bed is proportional to the width of the vacuum cleaner nozzle. We measure this width ourselves. We also use the nozzle width, as well as the floor type, to calculate the soil density for each test, according to IEC guidelines. We use the same soil types here too; Sand, rice and pet hair. We perform three rounds (at least) on each type of flooring. We also test suction power with sand and rice separately. This comes to a minimum of 18 tests per blank. We weigh our vacuum cleaner’s dust bin before and after each run.

From there we can calculate the percentage of dirt and debris picked up per run and the average amount of soil the vacuum is able to remove. Additionally, we perform anecdotal (visible) pet hair tests for each vacuum, on all three floor types to help us choose the best cordless vacuum.