The Complete Guide to Robot Vacuum Mapping: How it Works and Top Models

What Is Mapping on a Robot Vacuum 

Robot vacuum mapping is a process to understand the layout of cleaning areas and clean more efficiently. When you first use a robot vaccum, it’ll map out all the rooms, obstacles, and pathways during that initial run.  This is kinda like building an internal floorplan in its robot brain. 

Different brands use different technologies for the mapping such as cameras, lasers or infrared sensors. But the goal is the same: to give the bot a detailed lay of the land. With this map, your robo can clean in neat rows without missing spots or getting lost repeatedly. 

It’ll know which rooms are already vacuumed and which did not. You can even tell it to focus on certain areas if you don’t need the full monty. The vacuum remembers the map later too. So it doesn’t have to rediscover your home’s layout every time. . .

How Does Robot Vacuum Mapping Work

As indicated before, robot vacuums rely on a few different technologies to get the map of the land. 

Let me break down the main options: 

Camera Mapping:

This uses an actual digital camera to map things out. The vac will take photos of objects, walls, landmarks while going around your place. It stitches these together to create a detailed visual map. The upside is camera mapping is pretty darn accurate. The downside is that it doesn’t work well in low light or pitch black rooms.

Laser Mapping

 This techology  uses lasers to measure distances and angles in a room. It’s constantly scanning and building up a virtual floorplan based on the laser data. The good news is it’s more affordable than camera-based vacs. But the lasers aren’t as precise as a camera, so the maps can be a bit fuzzier.

Infrared Mapping

Here the vacuum uses infrared light waves to detect objects and boundaries. It senses the infrared reflections to map out an area. This works well even in dark rooms where cameras fail. The catch is that infrared isn’t as detailed as lasers or cameras, so the maps have less resolution.

VSLAM Mapping

Now this is the crème de la crème! VSLAM combines cameras, sensors and lasers for maximum mapping power. The vac uses computer vision from cameras plus lasers for depth perception. This creates the most detailed and accurate maps possible. Of course you pay more for this elite mapping tech. But for larger homes it can be worth it!

Why Is Mapping Important for Robot Vacuums?

• Allows the robot to understand the home’s layout for efficient cleaning routes 
• Enables the robot to track where it has and hasn’t cleaned to avoid repeat vacuuming 
• Provides better navigation to clean systematically without missing areas 
• Helps the robot maneuver around and avoid obstacles like furniture and walls 
• Allows the robot to locate the charging dock when battery is low 
• Gives the robot spatial awareness for thorough cleaning without constant supervision 
• Mapped robots clean in orderly rows, unmapped ones move randomly 
• Creates awareness of the whole area rather than just spot cleaning

 Caveats:

• Camera mapping can struggle in pitch black rooms 
• Dark floors or walls can confuse laser mapping

How Long Does It Take for a Robot Vacuum to Map Your House?

The time it takes for a robo vac to fully map out your place depends on a few factors: 

• Size of your home: Bigger houses mean more area to map out. This can take more initial cleaning sessions.
• Layout complexity:  Lots of rooms, hallways, obstacles will add mapping time versus a simple open floorplan. 
• Mapping technology – Laser, camera, infrared all map at different speeds. Fancier methods are generally faster.

 As a ballpark, it may take 2-5 initial cleaning runs before the vac bot builds a complete map. So for a decent sized house, plan on allowing a few hours of cumulative mapping time. 

The little vacuum really needs to cover every inch before it can store the most accurate floorplan in its robot brain. It’ll keep adjusting and perfecting the map over those first few sessions. 

Which Robot Vacuums Do Mapping

Many robot vacuums are equipped with mapping technology. Here are a few robot vacuums with  with mapping technology:

• Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra
• Neato Botvac D10
• iRobot Roomba j7+
• Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
• Samsung Jet Bot AI+

 According to Digital Trends, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra takes the position of the best overall robot vacuum with mapping technology. It’s self-emptying, self-cleaning, easy to set up, operates quietly, and excels at mopping. However, it could do better at picking up pet hair on carpets and has a rather large dock. 

CNN Underscored recommends the iRobot j7+ as the top pick for mapping. It’s a fantastic “set it and forget it” smart robot vacuum that even empties itself. It outperforms others in picking up dust, debris, and cat litter from hardwood floors and low-pile carpeting.

Robot Vacuum Mapping vs No Mapping

Robot Vacuums With Mapping:

• Efficiency – Mapping allows the robot to navigate systematically and not re-clean areas. This ensures thorough coverage.
•  Obstacle avoidance – Mapping enables the robot to detect and avoid obstacles like furniture. Non-mapping robots may bump into objects. 
• Navigation – The robot maps out the space and knows where it’s been and where it still needs to clean.

Non-mapping Robot Vacuums:

• Cost – Mapping robots are more expensive than non-mapping options.
• Battery life – Models without mapping can run longer on a charge.
• Mapping robots are pricier but clean more efficiently and thoroughly without bumping into objects. 
• Non-mapping robots are affordable but less efficient, may miss spots, and can damage surroundings.

How Robot Vacuums Work Without Mapping:

They rely on sensors to detect and avoid obstacles, but may still bump into things like furniture and don’t create a map of the area like. Rather, they use random movements or preset patterns to cover the floor. 

Keep in mind that they may

• Bounce around randomly until the whole space is cleaned.
• Move  in a zigzag or spiral to sweep the entire area.
• Take  longer and risks missing spots. 
• The upside is robot vacuums without mapping cost less and have longer lasting batteries.
• While not as efficient, they can effectively clean small spaces if you’re looking for an affordable option.

Can a Robot Vacuum Map 2 Floors

It depends on the specific robot vacuum model. Some key points:

1. Look for models that can save multiple maps if you have a multi-floor home. This allows cleaning each floor thoroughly.
2. Advanced navigation and mapping features help robots clean multiple floors more efficiently.
3. Some models like the iRobot Roomba i7+ and Ecovacs DEEBOT T9+ can map two or more floors. 

Keep in mind that not all robot vacuums have multi-floor mapping capabilities. Always check the product details. 

Upgrades may be needed for early models to gain the multi-floor mapping feature. Newer models are more likely to have it built-in. you should Consider battery life as well to clean all floors in one go without needing to recharge.

What Is LiDAR Mapping Vacuum?

LiDAR mapping vacuums use laser technology to map out the room. It’s like they scan the whole space to really see and understand the layout, you know? So LiDAR vacuums can detect walls, furniture, obstacles, all that stuff. They make a nice little map inside their robot brain that shows them exactly where everything is. 

That way, they can neatly navigate around chairs or table legs or whatever else is in the room. The lasers pick up even small objects most normal vacuums would miss. So these LiDAR robot vacs can plan the most efficient cleaning path without running into anything. It’s smoother sailing for them!

The end result is thorough cleaning that doesn’t miss spots like behind sofas or under tables. Because they’ve got that detailed map guiding them, LiDAR vacuums don’t waste time re-cleaning the same areas either.

 Pretty nifty how the lasers help them be methodical and avoid collisions at the same time. In a nutshell, LiDAR mapping gives robot vacuums a kind of spatial awareness that takes their cleaning skills to the next level.

What Robot Vacuums Use LiDAR?

Top robot vacuums that use LiDAR mapping technology: 

• Neabot Q11: Self-emptying model with high-precision LiDAR navigation 
• Proscenic M8: Powerful suction and advanced LiDAR mapping
• Ecovacs Deebot N8 Pro+: Smart mapping and obstacle avoidance 
• Wyze Robot Vacuum: Budget LiDAR model good for pets 
• iHome Orbita Pro: Self-emptying vac with LiDAR sensors 
• Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra: Top performing LiDAR vac with automatic mopping 
• Neato Botvac D10: LaserSmart mapping combined with corner cleaning brush 
• iRobot Roomba j7+: Self-emptying vac with LiDAR for superior obstacle avoidance 
• Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid: Twin-turbo technology and LiDAR navigation 
• Samsung Jet Bot AI+: Smart sensor coverage plus LiDAR mapping

How Accurate Is Robot Vacuum Mapping?

Robot vacuum mapping is pretty accurate, but it’s not flawless. Mapping robots can plan efficient cleaning routes since they have a layout of the space. This helps ensure full coverage without missing spots or redoing areas. 

However, there are some caveats: 

• Low lighting can confuse camera-based mapping causing the robot to get lost. 
• Dark-colored walls may distort laser mapping.
• Floor mirrors can make rooms seem larger than they are. 

Can I Edit the Map Created by My Robot Vacuum?

Yes, edit and customize the generated maps to your needs. You should check your robot vacuum’s app and features to see if map editing is possible. This gives more control to focus cleaning in certain areas. And the process varies by model. 

1. For Wyze vacuums, you can customize rooms and zones right in the Wyze app.  
2. Ecovacs lets you improve mapping by closing doors and clearing clutter beforehand. You can then edit zones in the app.
3. Dyson owners can name and edit zones after the initial mapping is complete.

Best Budget Robot Vacuum With Mapping

Here are some specific product recommendations for the best budget robot vacuums with mapping: