Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

Robot vacuum with triple lidar system has eyes to help it avoid poop

By

Robot vacuums are supposed to help clean your home, not dirty it up in a catastrophic way. That’s why tales of robot vacuums running over poop and smearing it across the floor create so much schadenfreude — while it’s hilarious to hear about, it’s not so much fun when it happens to you. The 360 Smart Life Robot Vacuum Cleaner has eyes to help it detect such messes and obstacles before there are any mishaps.

How, exactly? Does it have a built-in poop sensor? Not really — but it does use a triple light detection and ranging (lidar) system to better identify slim objects on the ground in front of it, including pet-induced Tootsie Rolls. Most modern robot vacuums use only a single sensor, which gives them something of a “2D” view. While they are aware of potential objects in their path, the devices do not receive enough information to judge its size.

Recommended Videos

With three lidar sensors–a wall sensor, a main sensor, and a front sensor — the 360 Smart Life Robot Vacuum can gauge the size of objects. The built-in artificial intelligence (A.I.) allows it to decide in real time whether to continue over an object or avoid it. These sensors allow it to pick up items as small as 0.04 inches in size.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The 360 Smart Life S10 can vacuum your floors with up to 3,300Pa of suction power, while its 3D mapping capabilities allow it to learn the layout of the home in no time at all. The A.I. will then determine the most efficient route through the home to provide you with a thorough clean, but it doesn’t stop with just vacuuming.

Related

The 520ml water tank means the 360 Smart Life S10 can also mop hard surfaces in the home. It combines all the capabilities of a robot vacuum and a robot mop into a single device, which makes better use of the limited space in your home. The robot vacuum is also only 3.5 inches high, allowing it to fit under obstacles like couches and chairs with ease.

While these features are already impressive, the S10 also allows users to create virtual “no-go” zones to keep the vacuum out of trouble. Automatic carpet detection means it will never spray your carpet, and you can trust it to avoid dragging pet droppings through the house.

The 360 Robot Vacuum Cleaner S10 is currently available on Indiegogo for $520 and is estimated to begin shipping in May of 2021. Just be aware about some of the potential pitfalls with crowdfunding projects.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Patrick Hearn
Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
How to clean the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo
Ecovacs X2 Combo under a bed.

While the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo handles most of its own maintenance, there are still a few tasks you'll have to perform manually. Thankfully, these tasks only take up a few minutes of your time, and they don't need to be carried out frequently. From checking that the robot's sensors aren't blocked to cleaning roller brushes and the dirty water tank, here's a look at how to clean the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo.
Wipe down the robot vacuum sensors

The robot vacuum that comes with your X2 Combo works best when its external sensors are clean. After scurrying around a dirty house, there's a good chance dust has accumulated on the clear cover that houses all its sensors. Check this after each cleaning cycle and wipe it down with a dry cloth. If it's really dirty, a slightly damp rag can be used before drying it with a towel.
Give a thorough rinse to the dirty water tank
Emptying the dirty water tank is arguably the worst part of owning a robot vacuum. But if you're staying on top of things, it should never get too funky. Consider emptying the dirty water tank before it's full and giving its interior walls a good scrubbing to remove buildup. If you don’t do this, your dirty water tank will get remarkably smelly and slowly accumulate more gunk.

Read more
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo vs. Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni: what’s new on the X2 Combo?
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni AIO robot vacuum and mop with dock sponsored

The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo is the latest product to join the Deebot lineup. It's fairly unique compared to other robot vacuums in the family, as it bundles a cordless vacuum with the docking station and robot vacuum -- making it an all-in-one bundle for keeping your floors clean.

But aside from the inclusion of a cordless vacuum, what exactly is different between the new X2 Combo and the old X2 Omni? More importantly, should X2 Omni owners feel the need to upgrade? Here's a closer look at the X2 Combo and X2 Omni to help you decide which is best for your smart home.
Pricing and availability

Read more
iRobot launches affordable robot vacuum and mop combo that costs just $275
The iRobot Roomba Combo Essential mopping a floor.

iRobot is one of the most popular manufacturers of robot vacuums, but much of its lineup is locked behind hefty price tags. One of our favorite robot vacuums, the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, for example, clocks in at $1,400 -- making it a pricey proposition for most households. That's changing today, however, as the brand has officially launched the Roomba Combo Essential, which costs just $250 and offers many of the same features found in its expensive siblings.

The Roomba Combo Essential Robot is a robot vacuum and mop that's billed as an upgrade to the old Roomba 600 Series. It uses a V-shaped roller brush to minimize tangles while vacuuming, offers three different suction levels for customized performance, and uses an edge sweeping brush to better clean baseboards and crevices. It's a similar story for mopping, as you can choose between three different water levels for cleaning hard floors.

Read more