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One robot is good, but two are better. Especially if it’s a pair of iRobot Roomba s9+ robotic vacuum cleaner and Braava jet m6 robotic mop,
What is it?
iRobot Roomba s9+ is the flagship robot vacuum cleaneriRobot company. Designed for dry cleaning. This is the successor to the Roomba i7+ model, which we already wrote about. It also comes with a docking station for dumping debris.
iRobot Braava jet m6 is best calledrobot mop. This device can perform both dry and wet cleaning, but does not suck up debris like a vacuum cleaner, but wipes surfaces like a mop. In its series, this is also the top-end and currently freshest device in the iRobot line of floor polishers.
What are they interesting for?
Mind and quick wits. More specifically, the ability not only to clean well, but also to do it together with the help of Imprint Link technology. And at the same time managed through a cloud service and a mobile application with support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT.
Also interesting are the updates in s9 + compared to i7 + (not just the processor frequency was increased there, I hope) and the implementation of wet cleaning in m6.
What is in the box?
More precisely, “in the boxes”, because we are considering two devices at once. I’ll clarify right away that I got presales, and in future deliveries they may differ slightly.
In a large box - Roomba s9+.There is the vacuum cleaner itself, the Clean Base docking station, a garbage bag for the station, a spare filter, a spare side brush, a power cord, short and detailed paper instructions, and a warranty card.
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Robot Vacuum Cleaner iRobot Roomba s9 +
The docking station is the same as the one that comes withRoomba i7+. This is a special feature of the model: a heavy and stable tower 49 cm high, inside of which there is a garbage collection bag. The impressive weight gives the station stability, which further simplifies parking the vacuum cleaner.
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A special feature of Roomba configurations with a plus sign: a large dust collection station
The Braava m6 box is almost four times smaller,The lack of a large docking station affects this. But, of course, there is a small station, as well as the robot itself and a set of textile consumables. Among the latter are rags for wet and dry cleaning. In addition, there is a set of disposable wipes for each type of cleaning; they can be purchased separately. There is also a small bottle of detergent for wet cleaning. Power cable, instructions, warranty.
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Our test equipment Braava jet m6
The docking station consists of a stand (justplastic panel) and the main module with a power connector and a parking sensor. The relative lightness and compactness also has a disadvantage: the robot can touch and move the station during operation, which is why it will take longer to park. Like an ordinary robot, in general.
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iRobot Braava jet m6 robot mop docking station
Rags and napkins are marked: different arrangement of slots on the mounting panel. Thanks to this, the robot determines which rag is currently installed and on the basis of this decides on the type of cleaning. Additional removable panels with rags and napkins can be purchased in the company online store.
What does it look like?
Robotic. At first glance, all devices of this class are similar to each other, but it’s worth a closer look and a lot of nuances appear.
Let's start with Roomba s9 +. The vacuum cleaner has evolved markedly compared to its ancestor i7 +. The round shape has turned into a D-shape, this improves the contact of the device with the walls, simplifying cleaning along the baseboards. When moving, a flat part of the body looks forward, it is also a soft touch bumper. Dimensions 32x31x9 cm.
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iRobot Roomba s9 +: top view
The dust container cover is round, golden in color,It opens up when you press the side button, reminiscent of a CD player. The main color of the body is traditionally black, both for the robot itself and for the station. Along the perimeter of the cover there is a ring of LEDs, which, by blinking and changing color, indicate the status of the device. In the center of the front part there is a “periscope” for orientation on the ground.
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From the controls on the top panelThere are three round buttons. Big Clean for starting cleaning and two small ones for spot cleaning and returning to the base. Given the functionality of the mobile application (let's talk about it later), this is enough.
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There are only three control buttons on the body of the robot cleaner
There are also changes below.The side brush (that black propeller in the upper left corner) has become smaller, it now has five “blades” instead of three in the i7+. The brush itself is moved very close to the edge of the vacuum cleaner body for better cleaning in corners.
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Location of elements on the bottom panel of Roomba s9+
The design of the main brushes has also changed; theybecame longer compared to the brushes in i7+ and moved from the center of the device closer to the flat edge. This even purely geometrically allows you to increase the active cleaning area, but the brushes are incompatible between models. However, it is unlikely that anyone will need to use old brushes on a new vacuum cleaner, unless they were purchased for future use. Let me remind you that these are not ordinary brushes with protruding bristles, but rollers with a soft rubberized surface.
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The brushes are quite soft, they do not damage the delicate flooring, but do not like solid objects
The wheels are similar to the previous ones in Roomba i7 +, and the charging contacts are located closer to the center, near the Automatic Dirt Disposal hole, through which the vacuum cleaner dumps the collected garbage to the base.
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Port for dumping garbage from the inner container to the dock
On the sides, nothing interesting appeared. There are air vents on the rounded rear.
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This is what the Roomba s9+ robot vacuum cleaner looks like from all sides
So, let's move on to Braava m6. The first thing that catches your eye is white. Like black, of course, it is universal and suitable for everything, but it is difficult to say that both devices under consideration are decorated in the same style. Rather, they are like yin and yang, you can not confuse.
The shape is square with rounded corners, optimized for cleaning along walls. This square is relatively small: 27x25x9 cm.
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Of the controls - the same three buttons.
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To start cleaning, click on the Clean button. Do not confuse?
The round lid in the center provides access not to the dust collector (it’s not here), but to the removable water container.
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The front is a spring-loaded soft-touch bumper. There is a water spray hole in the center.
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There are no brushes on the underside.Replaceable rags or napkins are installed in the guide runners with their own plastic panels. Between the slides on the body there is a sensor that recognizes the type of panel being used. At the corners of the front side there are oblong sensors for determining the difference in height. During operation, the base vibrates along with the cloth and, due to the special design of the pile in the wet cloth (a mixture of hard and soft hair), difficult stains are removed.
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Braava jet m6: bottom view. Charging contacts are visible at the top of the photo.
What can they do?
Carry out a comprehensive cleaning of the roomin several ways. But let's start in order. After unpacking, we connect the docking stations of both devices to the mains, put the robots on charge (the minimum takes 20 minutes, full - about two hours) and download the mobile application. You can do without it, starting the work by pressing the large Clean button, but this is boring, because any budgetary robot vacuum cleaner can do it.
So we’ll download the application,iOS and Android are supported. After installing, choosing a country and agreeing with the licensing conditions, we create an account in the iRobot cloud service or enter the data of an existing one, if you already have one. Thanks to this, the control of robots will be available from anywhere in the world where there is Internet. Next in the application you need to add our robots. In the process, you will need to specify a password for the Wi-Fi access point so that the robot can connect to the network, as well as physically initialize the device by simultaneously pressing the Home and Spot buttons on the case. The whole procedure occurs with detailed step-by-step prompts of the application, it will be difficult to make a mistake.
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IRobot Setup Wizard illustrates the process with fun animations
Robots work seamlessly with networks2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. In addition, the application uses Bluetooth on the smartphone, supposedly to more accurately determine the position. After completing the setup, the robot says in human language: “your robot is fully configured.” Yes, yes, it also has a speaker, and the robot takes the communication language from the settings of the mobile application (Russian is available, Ukrainian is not yet available).
Roomba does not require any special preparations before the first launch, in addition to installing a trash bag in the dock.
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A docking station with a waste container allows you to forget about cleaning the container built into the vacuum cleaner
But Braava needs to fill the tank with waterand installing an appropriate rag or cloth. You can do without filling the tank with water if dry cleaning is expected. By the way, the rough definition of "rag" is least suitable for dry cleaning panels. This is such a piece of faux fur, soft and pleasant to the touch. Panel for wet cleaning harder.
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Reusable cleaning panels for Braava jet m6: left for wet cleaning, right for dry
So, the devices are prepared, the applicationinstalled, robots added. You can immediately send them into battle, or you can train them first. By training we mean a test “trip”, during which the robot will make a map of the room. This map can be viewed in the application, given a name, divided into rooms, and configured forbidden areas. By the way, the kits do not contain “virtual walls”, familiar from previous models. Previously, in order to protect a bowl of cat food from a robot vacuum cleaner, you had to install a special beacon device that created a virtual wall for the robot. Now everything is even simpler: the boundaries of prohibited areas can be set on the map in the application. It is very comfortable. The paranoid ones have also been taken care of; the map creation function can be disabled in the “Card Confidentiality” section.
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Setting up restricted zones in the app is much more convenient than purchasing and installing hardware virtual walls
The application will help and introduce robots to each other for further collaboration.
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Roomba, meet Braava!
We return to the robots and start training.There are a few things to note here. Firstly, despite the fact that both devices under study can work in conjunction, you should not force them to run simultaneously in the same room. This will lead to incorrect construction of maps (in addition, Roomba is afraid of water, because it is a robot for dry cleaning) and the manufacturer clearly indicates this. Secondly, I dreamed that two robots map the room twice as fast. Alas, nothing like that. There are no shared cards. Both Roomba and Braava learn independently of each other. Of course, they need separate instructions, because the same prohibited areas may differ from them. If no one can touch the cat's bowl, then the carpet in the living room can be vacuumed, but mopping is pointless. But still, both robots could comprehend the configuration of the room itself together. One session of training or work is not enough to create a map. The map is created, but the system shows that this map has not been fully studied, but only by a certain percentage. Several drives are required to fully explore.
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One of the operating modes of LED indicators. Stylish. The color of the display also changes and matters: when you return to the base, blue, with an error, red
Let me remind you that we are running the training mode ononce, sequentially, on each of the robots. Or do not drive away, let them learn in the process. In this case, we remove everything superfluous from the floor, open the mobile application, select Roomba and press the large Clean button. Here it is also possible to indicate that after cleaning with a vacuum cleaner, you should also perform cleaning with a mop performed by Braava. Moreover, if we already have 100% studied maps divided into rooms, then we can give exact instructions to whom to clean in which room.
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Opposite each card the process of its development by the robot is displayed as a percentage.
Go!Rumba cheerfully hits the road, collecting dust and small debris. It can be climbed onto a thick, long-pile carpet lying on a parquet floor without any problems. Moreover, he clearly determines that the carpet needs more attention than the parquet and vacuums it especially carefully. He also cleans the corners of the room with special pedantry. The flat surface of the front allows you to get close to walls and cabinets. The robot makes noise, but not as much as a regular vacuum cleaner. The classic roar of a turbine on takeoff is heard only when Roomba is standing on the base and emptying the dust bin. This takes a few seconds and the volume can exceed 60 dB. And during cleaning, no more than 50 dB in the immediate vicinity of the device. In the application settings, you can select a reduced power mode for night cleaning, but the robot will not be able to completely hide its work in a quiet house at night; it is still a vacuum cleaner.
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There are few settings in the iRobot application
You need to understand that robotic vacuum cleaners are a priorituned not so much for speed as for thoroughness of cleaning. There are special algorithms for this. For example, the proprietary Dirt Detect system identifies particularly contaminated areas (they are marked on the map with dark green dots) and the robot makes an additional pass through them. If there is a lot of work, then charging should be added to the time of actual cleaning. When discharged, the device will automatically go home to the station and, after recharging, will continue to work from the place where it left off. Moreover, a smart approach is used here too: thanks to smart charging technology, the device is charged just enough to last until the end of cleaning, and not necessarily to 100%. A full charge of Roomba s9+ lasts for approximately two hours of continuous use. Braava is almost as durable (“robo mop” is feminine, isn’t it?), although autonomy also depends on the selected cleaning parameters. The plus sign in the Roomba s9+ model name, like in previous versions, indicates the presence of a dust collection station, and this is still very cool. The dust tank inside the vacuum cleaner is small, it’s too lazy to clean it every time. Knowing this, Rumba dumps (more precisely, blows out) the garbage into a storage tank at the station, after which it continues to work. It is assumed that the bag is enough for 30 such discharges, but during testing I was not able to fill it to the top.
Let's get back to our cleaning. Roomba finishes his party and returns to base. Immediately after that, Braava takes over. She is in no hurry to immediately wash the floor, walking first in dry mode. In general, I got the impression that these two robots have completely different characters. Roomba is faster, Braava is more thorough. However, visually the speed when moving is about the same. Robots accelerate in the studied free areas and slow down in corners and near obstacles. Pets accustomed to housework and buzzing toys treat cleaning robots wary, but generally calm. Although this, of course, depends on the temperament of your pets and their previous experience with similar techniques.
During wet cleaning Braava jet m6sprays water from the nozzle on the front panel, and then passes the installed rag over the wetted area of the surface. You can add detergent to the water; a small bottle of it is included. The manufacturer does not recommend pouring anything into the tank (bleaches, soap solutions, vinegar, wax polishes, etc.).
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Minifigures not included
The Braava is not a vacuum cleaner and is much quieter than the Rumba.When wet cleaning, a characteristic buzzing sound is heard at the moment of splashing water. In the settings, you can select a cleaning mode: thorough (optimal), intensive (focus on quality) or long (reduced power to clean a large area in a reasonable time). In addition, you can adjust the amount of liquid sprayed.
How does it work?
Oh, it seems I got carried away in the previous section and alreadyI told him everything about it. Although no, let's talk a little about the nuances and quality of cleaning. Robots seem to be familiar with Asimov's precepts and do not harm people. They are smart enough to stop when their bumper touches obstacles. The touch force is designed to check whether the robot can move the obstacle or not. Robots can easily overcome low thresholds in doorways thanks to their spring-loaded wheels. The robots also do not fall from the stairs; the height difference under the wheels is monitored by separate sensors. Fun fact: robots park differently. The Roomba is in the front and the Braava is in the back.
As for the quality of cleaning as such, itWhen Roomba and Braava work together, it's excellent. Of course, Braava is only effective on hard surfaces like parquet, tile or linoleum. Although you can also walk over carpet with minimal pile with a dry cloth. In general, start from the fact that you yourself would decide to clean with a mop or similar tool, the principle is the same. Braava cannot clean up large amounts of spilled liquid; the consequences of a pipe break will have to be eliminated without its help. This technique also cannot cope with super-difficult stains, traces of dried oil paint, or stains that require a stain remover. This requires either manual intervention or some industrial-grade equipment, and Roomba and Braava are solutions for everyday cleaning of less-than-shabby spaces.
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And here is how the surfaces of replaceable reusable wet and dry wipes Braava jet m6 look
It is also, of course, advisable to avoid getting caughtsolid objects inside the robotic vacuum cleaner. Coins, nails and other pieces of iron can, at a minimum, damage soft brushes, and in the worst case, disrupt the operation of the device. Oh, and don’t throw Lego pieces all over the floor, although what kind of advice is that?
If you carefully read the text before thisplaces, they probably came to the same conclusion as me. It's best to let cleaning robots do their work while you're away. For those at home - while you are at work, and for those in the office, you can train them to work at night. Let's talk about this now.
What are the smart features?
The capabilities of the devices are fully disclosed whenwork with the iRobot mobile application. In addition to the fact that Roomba s9 + and Braava jet m6 can work in conjunction, as described above, they can be programmed to perform cleaning in certain rooms at a certain time and day of the week. The mobile application will inform you of what is happening with the help of system notifications.
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Moreover, Amazon Alexa support is claimed,Google Assistant and IFTTT. I will tell you a little more about integration with the latter. To get started, you need to log in to IFTTT and bind your iRobot account to it. After that, we have access to a set of ready-made recipes. If desired, you can design your own. Three triggers are available: start of work, shutdown and emergency (robot stuck). By triggering these triggers, you can automatically assign any existing actions in the system. And for other system triggers, you can run actions available for iRobot devices. Five such actions are available: starting the robot, stopping, pausing, returning to the docking station and cleaning a specific room selected from the list. Thanks to this, you can collect fairly sophisticated automation recipes such as "start cleaning in the living room if the last member of the family left the house before 12:00." In general, the geolocation chip (when someone came or went) seems to me the most practically useful, because robots can clean up in your absence. For her and a number of other chips, the presence of the IFTTT mobile application on your smartphone is required. Another interesting recipe is “pause the robot when I answer the call.” Very appropriate, because robots, although quiet, are not soundless. Of course, it’s possible to start cleaning using Twitter, without this anywhere
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Possibility of integrating iRobot devices with the IFTTT service
In the description of Imprint Link technology, the manufacturertalks about integration with Amazon Alexa, down to controlling phrases like “Alexa, ask Roomba to clean the bedroom and Braava jet to mop the kitchen.” It sounds cool, but I didn’t have the opportunity to test it. A small but nice feature is the robot search function. If he suddenly got lost somewhere under the closet. We go to settings, click “Robot location” and the device beeps so you can find it.
What do you need for care and maintenance?
There are no specific requirements.It is clear that visual inspection of devices should be carried out regularly, especially from below. On Roomba, we check the condition of the brushes and wheels, and also, if necessary, rinse the dust container. Collected hair can be wrapped around the brushes; it is advisable to cut it carefully and not pull it out of the soft roller along with the meat. If anything, damaged brushes can be replaced with new ones; they can be easily removed for cleaning or replacement. The side brush (the one with five blades) can be unscrewed with a screwdriver.
Braava jet works with replaceable cloths andnapkins. As the name suggests, they need to be changed from time to time. Wash, dry and replace when worn. In general, the principle is similar to caring for a regular rag or floor mop. The manufacturer also recommends paying attention to cameras, sensors and contacts: they should be wiped when dirty, so as not to impair coordination of movements and other functions of the device (this also applies to Roomba). In general, the white color of the body requires some attention, if only to maintain its beauty.
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In the dry residue
Roomba s9+ and Braava jet m6 impressan almost uncompromising system for automatic cleaning of premises for the home or small office. They clean efficiently, in several ways, quite autonomously. Simple, yet flexible to configure. The docking station with dust storage helps minimize contact with collected dust. Perhaps I would like something similar for a robot mop, some kind of automatic system for replacing, spinning, washing and drying rags. Although I can imagine how such a device would affect the price tag of the device. By the way, about prices. Both robots are new at the moment. On the Ukrainian market, the official price of Roomba s9+ has not yet been announced; on the American website, the device is priced at $1,400. There, Braava jet m6 costs $500, and in Ukrainian stores you can already buy a top-end robot mop for 16,900 UAH. Not cheap. However, we should not forget that we are considering flagship models with maximum capabilities. Roomba s9+ will compete primarily with its direct ancestor Roomba i7+ (here the price factor may be decisive), and, possibly, with top models from more “household” brands like Samsung and Miele. And Braava jet m6 with an iRobot robotic vacuum cleaner is definitely the optimal choice; it is an ideal pair with centralized control. The question remains open about the advisability of purchasing two devices instead of one. It makes sense to invest in the purchase of such a system if you have a sufficiently large cleaning area. Moreover, if this area is dominated by hard surfaces, which must be removed with a vacuum cleaner and mop.
4 reasons to buy Roomba s9+ and Braava jet m6
- you need high-quality dry and wet room cleaning;
- this room is large and covered mainly with hard surfaces;
- At the same time, I want to participate in the process as little as possible;
- and control it from one application (or from Twitter, that is, by voice, well, you get the idea).
3 reasons not to buy Roomba s9 + and Braava jet m6
- one type of cleaning is enough for you, which one device can handle;
- You are using a device from another manufacturer and do not want to change the ecosystem;
- The room that needs to be cleaned is small, and it’s easier to do without such equipment altogether.
Roomba s9+
Flagship iRobot Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Top robot vacuum cleaner with maximum capabilities. It is equipped with a base for dumping garbage, has an updated design of the body and brushes, maps the room and is controlled via a cloud service.
Vacuuming
iRobot Braava jet m6
Valuable assistant for mopping
Robot mop for dry and wet cleaning. It perfectly complements the capabilities of the vacuum cleaner and can work in conjunction with other iRobot devices.
Wipes and washes
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