FloorBot and Ivac from Floorbotics

FloorBot and Ivac from Floorbotics

Ideal for home or small business cleaning jobs, the FlooBot robot vacuum cleaner will clean your floors automatically. Floorbotics is a multinational business with offices in Australia, Japan, Europe and the United States with its headquarters in Melbourne, Australia.

The FloorBot and the Ivac both operate similarly. There are only three buttons to operate, Start, Stop and Pause. To clean you press the start button. The machine will clean for approximately forty t sixty minutes. You may stop or pause it at any time. Two rotating beater bars are utilized to raise the dirt from the floor surface. The dirt is then vacuumed into the dirt chamber. Neither machine uses a bag for dirt collection. The FloorBot is suitable for home use, the Ivac for small commercial use.

Using a navigation system called Autonomous Robotic Navigation Algorithm (ARNA) the robotic vacuum cleaner turns the room into a grid, then cleans all sections of the grid, remembering where obstacles are. This systematic and logical cleaning pattern. minimizes repetitive cleaning allowing the robot vacuum cleaner to quickly clean a room.

The robot vacuum cleaner uses sensors to detect ledges and steps which prevent it from going over the edge. The machine can also detect when it has been lifted off the ground, been jammed or stalled. It will automatically shut down if this occurs. The robot vacuum cleaner is compact enough to maneuver in restricted areas. It can go under beds and other furniture, cleaning all surfaces as it goes.



Floorbot Specifications:
ARNA Smart Navigation System
Forty to sixty minute run time
Four hour recharge
1.26 Quart dirt container
13.75 Inches in diameter
Fifteen Pounds

Ivac Specifications:
ARNA Smart Navigation System
1.5 Hour Run Time
Swap and Go Battery System
Five hour recharge
One Gallon Dirt Container
15.75 Inches Diameter
Weight 20.9 Pounds

There is no base station for either model to return to. This robotic vacuum cleaner must be manually plugged in and recharged.

FloorBotics USA
2910 Hatly Drive
Austin, TX
512-327-4900
america@floorbotics.com

Back to Robot Index Cleaners

© 2012 Hoosier Homestead

RoboCleaner from Kärcher

RoboCleaner from Kärcher The RoboCleaner from Kärcher, like most robot vacuum cleaners, will clean a variety of floors, from laminate to carpet to vinyl. It will differentiate between hard floors and rugs. It can be set to clean your home while you are away. The RoboCleaner from Kärcher has a base unit that it returns to when finished cleaning to recharge. There are some important differences, though. The RoboCleaner from Kärcher's base unit has a vacuum cleaning system which sucks the dirt from the RoboCleaner's dust bin and into its large two quart bin, making cleaning the RoboCleaner unnecessary. And since the RoboCleaner's base unit dust bin is larger than that on the RoboCleaner, it makes cleaning the bin a less frequent task.

The RoboCleaner from Kärcher operates at a quiet 60 to 65 decibels which is about the level of a normal conversational voice at about three feet. The biggest problem users in the United States might encounter is that the RoboCleaner from Kärcher is manufactured in Europe for the European electrical system. European homes use 220 volts in all their outlets. United States homes have 110volts as a standard voltage. So to use the RoboCleaner from Kärcher in a home in the United States you would have to have a 220 outlet wired in for the use of this robot vacuum cleaner, or use a transformer that converts standard 110 volts to 220.

The RoboCleaner from Kärcher is compact enough to clean under beds and furniture. It has fall and jamming sensors which keep it from jamming into tight areas or falling down steps.

RoboCleaner from Kärcher Technical data
Cleaning performance (m²/h) - 15
Running time per change (min) 20 - 60
Motor rating (W) max. 600
Voltage (V) 220 - 240
Frequency (Hz) 50
Charging time rechargeable battery (min) 10 - 20
On-board dust container (l) 0,2
Base station dust container (l) 2
Noise level in quiet mode (db(A)) 54
Weight Robocleaner 4.4 Pounds
Weight base station 12.75 Pounds
Dimensions RoboCleaner (D X H) 11.2 x 4.1 Inches
Dimensions base station (L x B x H) 19.6 x 9.8 x 9 Inches

Standard Accessories that are included with the RoboCleaner from Kärcher

Cleaning brushes, Dirt sensor (4 cleaning programs), Fall sensors, Infrared navigation beam, Contact sensors, All-round-furniture bumper strip.

The RoboCleaner from Kärcher can be the maid which vacuums your home.

Back to Robot Index Cleaners

© 2012 Hoosier Homestead

Orazio from Zucchetti - Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

Orazio from Zucchetti The Orazio robotic vacuum is a multi function machine which will perform multiple floor cleaning tasks. The machine uses a pre-set program to clean, vacuum, and perform light mopping duties on a variety of floors. The twelve function keys allow you to set the robot vacuum cleaner to clean to the specifications that you prescribe.

Continuous Vacuuming
This is a continuous vacuum cycle that does use detergents or cloths. The robot device can sense the difference between carpet and vinyl, wood or laminate flooring and adjust itself accordingly.

Dry cloth
This cleaning cycle uses a cloth without the use of water or vacuuming action. Carpets are considered obstacles and therefore avoided during this cycle.

Wet cloth
During this cleaning cycle the Orazio robotic vacuum cleaner cleans with a cloth moistened with detergent solutions. Carpets are considered obstacles during this cleaning cycle and therefore avoided.

Dry cloth with vacuuming
The cleaning cycle the Orazio uses a dry cloth to clean floors without water. When the appliance encounters an obstacle, it reverses and activates vacuuming for five seconds. Carpets are recognized as an obstacle and avoided.

Wet cloth with vacuuming
In this cleaning cycle the Orazio cleans with a cloth moistened with detergent solutions. When the appliance encounters an obstacle, it reverses and activates vacuuming for five seconds. Carpets are recognized as an obstacle according to the setting specified in programming (carpet cleaning percentage).

Batteries: Two 12V 7A lead batteries
Height (max.): 7.56 inches
Width (max.): 14.78 inches
Length (max.): 20.01 inches
Weight: 28.66 pounds
Display: LCD
Function keys: 12
On/Off key
Pause key: for stand-by and energy saving mode

Zucchetti is a multinational corporation with a presence if fifty countries. It is an Italian company with 800 sales outlets in Italy and more than 200 sales centers worldwide.

Contact in the United States
ZUCCHETTI U.S.A.
9 Bartlet St. #385
Andover, MA
01810 USA
Phone 978-688-6401
E-mail: jay.huapaya@zucchetti.com

Back to Robot Index Cleaners

© 2012 Hoosier Homestead

Samsung Navibot

Samsung Navibot

Samsung makes two robotic vacuum cleaners, the Navibot and the SR8895. The two models have almost identical features with the following differences:

The Navibot has a HEPA Exhaust Filter with 0.6L dust capacity which filters the exhaust as well as a foam filter on the intake before the motor, the SR8895 has a foam filter before the motor. The Navibot is slightly louder than the SR8895, and is somewhat lighter in weight.

The SR8895 is about fourteen inches in diameter, three and three quarters inches high. It weighs just a little over nine pounds.

The Navibot weighs just over eight pounds. It is just over thirteen inches wide, almost fourteen inches long and about three and three quarters high.



Both models use a Ni-MH battery with a charge time of two hours and a working time of ninety minutes.

Samsung's navigational system consists of an onboard camera which shoots thirty frames a second and records the interior of your home. Using this information the robot vacuum cleaner will chart the best way to clean your home. Using the photo record the robotic vacuum cleaner knows where it is located in the home and can always pick up exactly where it left off if it has to stop to return to the recharging station to recharge.

The Navibot is equipped with three Cliff Sensors which keep it from falling off steps or ledges. It also has thirty seven sensors which detect objects in the room to avoid. Both models are equipped with two rotating brushes which sweep under hard to reach things like cabinet kick spaces or into corners. The Navibot can use up to five different cleaning modes which can be activated using the included remote control. A virtual fence can also be used to keep the robotic vacuum cleaner from entering certain areas of the home. The Delay Start mode allows you to start the Navibot when you have left home or another convenient time.

The Navibot can detect different types of flooring, adjusting itself between carpeting, vinyl, tile or laminate floors. It can also detect and roll over obstacles like electric cords or floor divider strips up to .6 inches tall. It also has an untangle feature which allows it to disengage itself if it becomes entangled in lamp or curtain cords.

The Navibot robot vacuum cleaner can be an excellent option for vacuuming your home.

Back to Robot Index Cleaners

© 2012 Hoosier Homestead

iRobot Robot Vacuum Cleaners

iRobot Robot Vacuum Cleaners

iRobot

iRobot is a company based in Bedford, Massachusetts which produces a number of different robot devices for the home. These robotic devices include vacuum cleaning, gutter and pool cleaning and floor washing robots.

The vacuum cleaning Roomba line includes two series, the 500 and the 700 series. Each series has three models.

The 500 series is the early version of the Roomba and the models are generally lower priced than the ones in the 700 series. Two models of this series, the 530 and 560, have scheduling capability to allow you to have the robot clean the floors while you are not at home. The Roomba 564 has a manual start button. The others also may be started manually, also.

Each robotic vacuum cleaner in this series includes:
1 iRobot Roomba With Handle
2 Auto Virtual Walls (Require 2 C batteries each, not included)
1 Compact, Self-Charging Home Base
1 Extra Filter
1 Battery Charger
1 Rechargeable Battery
1 Brush Cleaning Tool
1-Year Manufacturer's Limited Warranty On Robot, 6-Month Manufacturer's Limited Warranty On Battery



Auto Virtual Walls allow the user to block the Roomba from entering certain rooms or areas of the home. They have a range of approximately seven feet and will not allow the iRobot to pass beyond the infrared beam. These units also project a small zone around them which the Roomba will not enter.

The 700 series is the newest addition to the Roomba line. These are generally a bit more expensive than the 500 series, but the features and filter systems are more advanced. The filters are HEPA filters as opposed to the standard filters of the 500 series. HEPA filters will filter dust particles of down to .3 microns. All of these models have scheduling capability. All of these models but the Roomba 760 has a full bin indicator. The models in this series have an advanced cleaning head which allows the Roomba to do a better job of picking up pet hair and dust.

Typically the 700 Series will include:
1 iRobot Roomba
1 Rechargeable Battery with Extended-Life Power Management
1 Battery Charger (3-hour charge time)
1 Compact Self-Charging Home Base
2 Virtual Wall Lighthouses
1 Extra Filter
1 Extra Bristle Brush, Flexible Brush and Side Brush
2 Brush Cleaning Tools
1 Instructional DVD

The 780 includes a Remote Control unit.

Features of virtually all of the models include wall following ability, rotating sweeper brushes which brush dirt from kitchen cabinet kick spaces and other hard to reach areas and the ability to adjust between different surface areas like carpeting, rugs, vinyl and laminate floors. Most can detect areas with heavier dirt and will focus its efforts upon these areas. All have the ability to detect ledges and steps and can stop themselves before plummeting over. All will clean until the battery is depleted and will return automatically to its home base to recharge. All also have the ability to detect window shade and electric cords and have the ability to keep from becoming entangled. All of these units have a low enough profile to allow them to clean under beds and other furniture which has about four to five inch clearance. It is recommended to empty the dust bin with every use, but this is an easy task accomplished in just a minute or two.

The iRobot series is well designed and fully capable of lightening your vacuuming chores.

Back to Robot Index Cleaners

© 2012 Hoosier Homestead

Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

The newest revolution in home floor care is the evolution of the robot vacuum cleaner. The robotic vacuum cleaner can take the tedium of vacuuming the floor and make it virtually a thing of the past.

A robotic vacuum cleaner typically consists of a home base and the robot cleaning unit. The robot charges its battery at the home base. When activated the vacuum cleaner, using a robotic, random pattern, vacuums dirt and debris from the floor of the home. These units typically have a low profile and can go under beds, tables and other furniture which has enough clearance for them to pass under them. When the power pack begins to ebb the robot vacuum cleaner will seek the home base, dock and recharge.

Robotic vacuum cleaners usually have a small chamber for dirt and dust and usually have to be cleaned after each cleaning session. This procedure is quick and easy and can be done in just a couple of minutes. They can become entangled in low hanging wires from lamps, and televisions and also drapery draw strings if these are on the floor. Most have anti entanglement features, but these features are not fool proof. Some of these units have small, rotating sweepers which brush debris from under cabinet kick spaces and corners out so the vacuum cleaner can pick it up. Nonetheless, there will still be small areas of the home that the robotic vacuum cleaner cannot get into, like behind and beside toilets and other close places.

The robot can sense the difference between carpet and vinyl, wood or laminate floors and adjust its cleaning heads automatically. It can move from wood, laminate or vinyl flooring to a throw rug, though it may have problems with certain types of rugs which are not stiff enough to lay securely on the floor. It can also have problems getting all the dirt out of deeply textured rugs.



Most units include infra red light barriers which can be moved easily about to block the robots entry into certain areas of the home. Thus cleaning zones may be set up for the cleaner to vacuum on alternate days or cleaning sessions. Recharge time for these units is about one to two hours and cleaning times can range from one to two hours. Usually the robot cleaner will vacuum for about an hour and dock for recharging.

Some of the robotic vacuum cleaners may be programmed, allowing the home owner to set up times for the unit to turn on and clean. This can be set up to be done while no one is home. Imagine coming home to a freshly vacuumed home.

Overall robotic vacuum cleaners work well and can reduce or eliminate the need to vacuum the floor. They work great for home owners with pets that shed as the cleaners readily pick up hair from cats and dogs.

Some of the more popular brands of robotic vacuum cleaners are:

iRobot

Samsung Navibot

Orazio from Zucchetti

RoboCleaner from Kärcher

FloorBot and Ivac from Floorbotics

Evolution Robotics Mint Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner

Mamirobot Voice and Sevian and from Korean company MamiRobot

bObsweep from Canadian company Masih Inc

Office area cleaning robot system from Fuji Heavy Industries and Sumitomo Corporation

For Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Back to Site Index

© 2012 Hoosier Homestead

Tankless Gas Water Heater

Tankless Gas Water Heater

The advantage of a gas over an electric tankless water heater is mainly an ability to deliver more hot water on demand. However, gas models have a shorter life than their electric counterparts. Repair parts may be available, depending upon the type you choose, which can extend the life of the water heater. Even gas tankless water heaters have a difficult time keeping up if more than one hot water tap is turned on at a time.

Another drawback to the tankless gas water heater is the need for a pilot light. The pilot light is needed to heat the water for use. Many of the newer units employ and electronic ignition system, so there is no pilot light, which can dramatically lower the operating costs. For high altitude use, many manufacturers have high altitude chips which need to be installed for proper operation of the unit.

Gas tankless water heaters can deliver more hot water on demand than their electric counterparts. However, installation and operation costs may be higher and the installation possibilities are less flexible.

Back to Tankless Water Heaters