Neato Robotics Company is founded in 2005 in Newark (California, USA). Development and production of household robotic vacuum cleaners is the main activity. Botvac line is present on the market since March 2014.
Botvac 70, 75 and 85 are the most popular models. They use Neato Botvision technology. It includes a rotating laser spatial scanner and software based on technology of Simultaneous Location and Mapping (SLAM).
Technology creates optimal motion trajectory during cleaning.
Today SLAM is widely used by various innovative technologies. Technology has several platforms.
For example, Google uses this technology in systems of robotic vehicle control.
Instant file transfer to the nearest device with active Bluetooth module (Nokia Asha 205/206 phones) is also based on this technology. It eliminates the standard search procedure, connection, etc.
Other companies also use this technology in their models. It’s implemented, for example, in LG HOM-BOT Square model. HOM-BOT creates map and provides simultaneous localization using two cameras with high frequency.
Users in comments often note the following advantages and disadvantages of the model.
Advantages:
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- Intuitively simple controls;
- High quality in Cleaning house mode;
- Modern laser Botvision system provides a minimum duration of cleaning;
- A sufficiently high passability;
- Usability of magnetic limiter instead of virtual wall.
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Disadvantages
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- White color is not very practical for a vacuum cleaner;
- Remote control is absent;
- Relatively high cost;
- High noise levels;
- Protection against collision with furniture is absent on the bumper;
- Average quality in the local cleaning mode.
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Neato Botvac 85 Bv85 Robot Vacuum Review
Housing has a combined shape.
Robot is a square in front part and a circle – in rear part.
The square shape is optimal for collecting debris in corners.
Glossy white housing is criticized by some users. Such surface well keeps pollution.
Blue plastic cover of laser navigation block, a small color screen, touch Settings buttons (the current time and daily schedule), two mechanical buttons for select mode and dust collector cover are placed on the top surface.
Two IR sensors of height difference and the IR sensor for determining the obstacle and the distance from the wall are placed in the lower part.
Package includes two brushes. Combined spade-bristly brush is intended for cleaning hard floors. Spade brush is used for the cleaning floors with coating.
Corrugated filters are made of glass-reinforced plastic that is an antiallergic. It delays dust with size up to 0.3 micron.
Charger base with integrated power supply unit has a special anti-slip rubber strips on the bottom. The projecting forward part increases the surface area on the floor. Therefore, the stability of base is high enough.
Parking sensors are located in front of robot under the dark translucent plastic.
Traditional movable bumper in front of housing with touch sensor prevents furniture damage at collisions.
Laser navigation uses infrared laser with a wavelength of 785 nm. Laser has the following parameters:
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- Radiation power of 2.1 mW;
- Pulse duration of 200 microseconds;
- Pulse frequency of 1.8 kHz;
- Beam diameter of 2.3 mm.
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The laser is located on the upper surface.
Lenses-emitters of the laser diode and photodetector are visible under blue cover.
They rotate during cleaning.
The rotation in a horizontal plane provides panorama on 360 °. It’s necessary for creation of accurate map and localization of own position inside the room.
System works as follows. Robot drives off from the charging base, scans the room, creates a map and begins a cleaning. Floors along the walls are cleaned first. Then, the robot moves from wall to wall. Its trajectory is shifted in direction of cleaning rooms on each turn.
When encountering obstacles, robot cleans around it and returns to the selected trajectory. Area more than 4, 5 x 4, 5 m is divided into zones that are consistently cleaned.
Charge of Ni-MH battery provides 90 minutes of operation. This time is sufficient for cleaning about 150 sq. m. Battery memory effect remembers optimal (calculated) capacity of first charge. Therefore, it lasts longer.
Using the magnetic tapes for limiting a cleaning zone is based on the use of magnetic reed contacts. They are placed at the bottom of the housing. Sensors are triggered when the robot is on tape.
The system is very simple and works very well.
High noise level is one of the main drawbacks. It reaches 70 dB.
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