Robotic vacuum cleaner

Early designs included manual operation via remote control and a "self-drive" mode which allowed the machine to clean autonomously.

[1] Marketing materials for robotic vacuums frequently cite low noise, ease of use, and autonomous cleaning as main advantages.

It went quietly looking for dirt all day long, in search curves that could miss nothing .... Around dinner time it would go to its stall and soak up a quick charge.

[5] In 1969 on 2 April an episode of The Avengers was broadcast in which the character Inge Tilson played by Dora Reisser says "...I saw a demonstration once.

Dustbot was the first robot to feature a built in vacuum, and was able to turn when it sensed an edge or ran into something.

It launched the Roomba in 2002, which was able to change direction when it encountered an obstacle, detect dirty spots on the floor, and identify steep drops to keep it from falling down stairs.

[3] In 1997, one of Electrolux's first versions of the Trilobite vacuum was featured on the BBC's science program, Tomorrow's World.

[17] As of 2018, obstacles such as dog feces, cables and shoes remain very difficult for robots to navigate around.

Some advanced robot vacuum cleaners have a sensor that detects and avoids mopping in carpeted areas.