Test 2: Xiaomi Robot Vacuum Cleaner, 5 Stars Product!

Another point, the lack of remote control. Normal because configuration and programming will be done from your Android or Apple Smartphone. Again do not panic because in the day-to-day use, he pilots without the need of that.

The look of the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi is that of a product that would not denote in the range Apple. Its dress is white with impeccable quality plastic. The whole breathes quality.

Physically, it is a sphere 35 cm in diameter and 8 cm in height. A futuristic two-centimeter dome above houses the famous laser rangefinder capable of 1800 measurements per minute over 360 degrees.

With this height, it is therefore intended to slip under kitchen elements, beds, sofas and some furniture.

The top has two buttons. The first for action and the second to return to its starting point. It memorizes its starting position and if you move it manually before activating it, placing it in the middle of a room, for example, it will end up exactly in the same place.

I took a picture next to my previous robot vacuum cleaner, the iLife A4 ( read the test ). It is not bulkier.

The detectors

The Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum is loaded with more or less visible sensors (12 in all). From visible you have the ultrasonic sensor at the front to detect obstacles in the reinforcement of the rangefinder.

A wall detector will then allow the robot to follow the walls while remaining 1 cm. There are also collision sensors under the side bumpers. Also visible are the four drop prevention sensors under the machine.

But we must also rely on internal sensors that I know more in our mobiles like the accelerometer or the gyroscope. And to drive all this and integrate all the data not less than 3 processors: a 4-core ARM Cortex A7 All Winner, a Texas Instruments Digital Signal Processor and an ARM Cortex M3 microcontroller).

The control algorithm is called Simultaneous Localization and Mapping Algorithm (SLAM ). This SLAM technology is used by Google for its autonomous vehicles.

A brush model

The Xiaomi vacuum cleaner is a rotary brush model like my A4, an efficient technology on all types of surfaces.

This brush measures 16 cm. It disassembles and cleans easily with the comb delivered. It is a wearing part just like the filter and the side brush. The mobile application gives information on wear.

A small rotating side brush is present on the side to optimize edge cleaning.

Lift the hood to access the grass catcher. The filter type HEPA (therefore not washable) is mounted. Its capacity is 420ml. It is completely closed and can be extracted from the robot and emptied without meters everywhere.

If the tray comes to be full you will be able to receive a notification on your smartphone.

For traveling, it's a three-wheeled model. The main wheels will lift as needed depending on the surface.

A WIFI application

After having put you in the mouth by the description, it is time to put it into service.

The Xiaomi Robot is a robot vacuum cleaner connected and so it should not be surprising to need a smartphone or tablet to use it, or at least configure it. Then it will not be mandatory, just fun.