Neato Robotics XV11

For decades there have been a myriad of technological promises from automated kitchens to flying cars.  Those of us who have been avid readers of the tech magazines have fantasized about having amazing devices propelling their life into the space age.  While the Neato Robotics XV-11 robot vacuum won’t teleport you to another location, it will automatically teleport… errr… remove dirt and debris from one’s floor.  The XV-11 is a product that the average consumer can purchase without requiring funding on the order of a DARPA initiative.  In fact, it does not cost any more than a fancy, high-end vacuum.

The XV-11 uses a laser range finder to continuously update a map of its environment allowing it to know where the walls and furniture exist.  The little robot is able to see and avoid obstacles, such as walls, furniture and stairs.  It will launch itself according to the programmable timer, un-dock from the charging station, clean hardwood floors and carpets, and then re-dock itself on its own.

Scrupulous homeowners will appreciate two things about the XV-11.  First, it does not bump into furniture or walls.  It avoids them using a digital map and sensors.  Second, the vacuum pattern is not just a random pattern like that used by other devices.  The XV-11 scans a room and it’s contents, and commences a systematic pattern using straight lines starting from the perimeter of a room and working its way towards the center, thus creating a visually appealing pattern on carpets.  If a owner wants to designate “off-limit” areas, the XV-11 is willing to allow the home owner to reign over the floor space by utilizing boundary markers to exclude areas where the XV-11 will roam.

The XV-11 has a programmable timer, allowing users to specify times and days when it will initiate its never-ending mission of clean floors.  While at first, it may be a fun novelty to have the XV-11 maneuvering around one’s feet while you’re watching TV, after the ‘gee-whiz factor’ has worn off, it can commence its mission while you are away.  Owners like me, may ‘accidentally’ program it to emerge from its docking and recharging station when guests are present, to ‘accidentally’ show it off.  Neato Robotics is appropriately named, because guests and visitors are likely to say, “Neat-o!” when the little robot vacuum starts roaming around autonomously, especially with an obviously intelligent pattern as opposed to wandering aimlessly.

There are a couple of hindrances and limitations to the device.  First of all, one’s pets are liable to go through an adjustment period. ‘Fluffy’ the cat may be driven to the brink of insanity, or wholly entertained, or ‘Sparky’ the dog may try to attack the XV-11.  Dogs do not usually like vacuums operated by humans, let alone one that suddenly decides to turn itself on and venture about its domain.  Speaking of houses, the major limitation keeping the XV-11 from absolute dominion over dirty floors and carpets in one’s home is that, while it can avoid stairs, it has no capability to ascend or descend stairs (although maybe some day there will be a hover-mod). Until then, users can buy an XV-11 for each floor, or simply move it and the charging station from floor to floor, where it will commence learning in its new environment.  The XV-11 has recognition software that will prevent if from toppling down the stairs.

While the XV-11 may not be a hovering car or teleportation device, its presence in your home certainly guarantees a clean and tidy future.