Or, I don’t normally do product reviews
Last year a canine of the mixed-collie-rescue variety joined our household. Her temperament is excellent with the boys and generally speaking she’s a good co-habitant. She is, however, incredibly hairy. Soft fur no doubt, but shed in dismayingly voluminous quantities. So in addition to the expected chores - the feeding, walking, picking up - has been added daily floor vacuuming.
Fast forward 6 months, and an idea strikes. Time for our first robot.
(Montage: nights of furious Googling, rapidly narrowing down to two choices - the established Roomba and the whipper-snapper Neato.)
The Neato is a proper vacuum, following a systematic pattern to clean the floor area. The Rooomba just brushes and uses a collision avoidance and a repetative chaotic walk to cover the surface. Thus, one Neato was ordered.
It arrived yesterday lunch time. Due discipline was on display as it was unpacked but charged overnight to give the battery a good stretch.
This morning felt like Christmas. And we were not dissappointed! (I saw “we” because Mrs is as smitten as I - despite residing on the opposite end of the tech- enthusiasm spectrum.) Neato was switched on, and after a few seconds to start up (reminiscent of a jet engine in some ways). Off it went, carefully and deliberately navigating around our downstairs rooms. Avoiding obstacles completely in most cases, gently nudging in a few. Riding over bumps and rugs. Fascinating to watch, but work had to be done so I went off to my office, the Mrs off to the shops.
An hour or two later, Mrs returned and I stepped out of the office. We discovered Neato had returned itself to its docking station, and switched itself off, the charging light gently blinking. Opening the dirt compartment was a revelation. It found an impressive amount of dirt and dog hair.
Welcome Neato!
Thoroughly recommended.
P.S. It’s also inspired some discussion regarding furniture. As we buy items in future, a new consideration will be how convenient it is for robots. For example, space for Neato to clean under a couch.
P.P.S. This inspires a prediction: the homes of the future will take robots into account in their design. For example, floor levels, electric plug points, waste removal and storage.