During this lockdown, and the maid not coming in to work, we need to do a lot of the cleaning ourselves. Wanting to offload the work, I thought of getting a Robot Vacuum cleaner which was in my mind for quite some time now, but with umpteen choices, which one do we pick? I have the 360 S7 Robot Vacuum cleaner with me, so let’s check it out.
This is my first ever Robot Vacuum cleaner, and the 360 brand has a great name in the Asian market, so though why not check it out. The general rulers of the segment Roomba are being dethroned with more affordable Vacuum models popping up.
Here’s the box, we are greeted with the manuals first thing.
First time I’m seeing this done right, manuals are generally hidden deep in the box and are found only after we try setting up a device. So, this is something I’m grateful for.
Taking off the top cardboard off we have the vacuum cleaner itself. Nicely packed, the vacuum looks quite nice in white. Let’s get this out and see what else is in the box.
Ah, we have the mopping attachment. This robot vacuum can mop the floors too, add water to the attachment, add it to the vacuum and it literally mops the floor.
Add sanitization liquid to the mix, and the floor gets sanitized too.
Next, we have the power supply, and charging station.
The vacuum can keep vacuuming and would home in on its charging station automatically when the battery is low. Need to see that.
Pretty straightforward, two metal prongs in the front which would contact the connectors behind the vacuum to charge it.
The charger also helps conceal the extra wire within, so that it looks neat on the outside.
Plug in and we can wind it up in the compartment here if you don’t need such a long cable.
I will be using all the wire I can, as my plug is quite high.
Ther power plug has a standard barrel port.
The power plug has different adapters, allowing you to choose the one that will work with your electrical sockets. Here’s an Indian one, but my sockets can take almost any type of plug, if needed any other you do have a choice.
This is how you snap in the power plug, slide in and done.
Now for the 360 Robot Vacuum.
Looks so cool, the white looks so pristine.
We have stickers, which look like eyes, if you want to add that look to it. I’ll be keeping it plain as I like it better that way.
There’s protective foam behind the bumpers, let’s remove that.
The top has the LDS LIDAR which uses the SLAM algorithm to find its way through the house.
LIDAR is better than camera-based detection, as it can work in the dark too. The SLAM algorithm maps out the house, and routes the best way for high coverage and efficient cleaning.
The dust container is found under the main flap and can be removed by holding down the clips.
These are the HEPA filters.
Right next to it is a brush, to clean touch hair and dirt from the dust container and also from the brushes below.
The wheels can move up and down, effectively shock absorbers when it climbs on or off a carpet.
Sweeping dust blades pull dust into the path of the vacuum.
Under this compartment is the main brush, where all the vacuuming takes place and the brush pulls the dust off the floor into the dust chamber.
Here’s the mopping attachment, it’s added to the bottom of the vacuum when you want it to mop.
When it’s attached to the bottom of the Vacuum, it switches to mopping mode automatically.
Here’s the bumper, which makes the vacuum stop before it rams hard into some obstacle.
Turning the vacuum on is done by pressing the power button available on top.
It is now charged and ready to roll.
The lidar looks so cool on top. The LIDAR as opposed to how a RADAR which works with sound pulses, a LIDAR uses lasers to detect objects and its distance to them.
This is how the Vacuum looks when it’s working. It is on a carpet so is using MAX suction mode, on normal floors it would lower the suction strength. It has a suction power of 2000PA, which i don’t understand, but as the number is big it should be good. Basically it runs at 800 PA in quiet mode, 1300PA during standard cleaning and 2000 PA in MAX mode, for areas such as carpets.
The main brush can adjust itself up and down when cleaning on uneven surfaces.
I had set up the device using the 360Robot app, and this is how you do it.
Quite simple. It’s available on both Android and iOS.
It connects via WIFI and you need to hold down the power and recharge button together to reset the WIFI if any is present. The light under the flap, marked Wi-Fi will blink indicating it’s ready to pair.
Once set, name the vacuum.
The cleaning schedules can also be set via the app, so that it can work uninterrupted especially when you are not home. We can also set an area to be cleaned, if you do not want the whole floor cleaned, or you dropped something recently. Oops.
You can also use Alexa to control the Vacuum.
It can move over obstacles too, if necessary, cool, this thing is a tank.
Noise is moderate, not very loud. Various modes are present on the vacuum.
Quiet mode, which is at 800 PA if you do not want it to make too much noise. Standard which is the default mode 1300 PA, and powerful mode runs at 2000 PA.
Ok, let us leave it to its own devices ha-ha (leave it to its devices), let us give it some alone time to map out the area. The area slowly starts to display on screen as visible on the app.
Just look at it go.
Once the areas are mapped out, we can set the restricted zones so that the vacuum stays out of those areas.
This is how we set up restricted zones.
Zooom, this thing looks like a race car, video is sped up though. If it does get stuck, it would send a notification on the app for us to help it and also reminds us to set off limit areas. This is possible with the AI technology embedded within. Once mapped the areas can be named.
The bumper and anti-collision sensors help it find its way through the precarious maze of furniture and objects.
When it comes closer to an obstacle, it slows down so as to avoid collision which might damage it. If you have curtains in the way, it will pass through as it can identify which objects it can pass through and the ones it cannot.
When it hits an obstacle or comes close it just turns around and continues with its work.
Also, anti-drop sensors, prevent it from falling off edges. There are four sensors on the bottom which help with that.
The cleaning is thorough, it moves in straight lines moving up and down then side to side cleaning any dust and debris on the way.
Reminds me of the children in Japanese schools cleaning their classroom. Only we would need more of these vacuums to be equivalent. But that would cost “Money”
Let’s give it something to clean, I have some Tea powder on the floor, and let the vacuum have a go at it. This would simulate fine dust particles.
It managed to get most of it, a few are still on the floor.
Lets try with some pieces of paper, these are black colored paper, let’s see how well this gets cleaned up. If you have kids this scenario is quite possible. It managed to pick up everything.
Next, we have Soya chunks, to simulate big particles. These were the easiest to pick up by the Vacuum.
Now let’s try out the mopping attachment. Fill the water in the tank, and mopping mode activates. Open the flap on top, fill it with water, attach and you’re ready.
The pad allows the water to seep through slowly and effectively mops the floor as it moves.
The mopping pad is removable and is held on using Velcro. These are replaceable and come off like this. And the replacement can be installed back like this. Not sure of the life of the pad, will update in a few months.
The dust compartment on top is easy to access and empty. Open up the compartment and empty directly. It was a bit tricky for me to find out how to open it, make sure you hold it like it’s shown with the arrows pointing upwards and flip open. Now you can empty it directly into the dustbin.
When the battery is low, it automatically makes its way to the charging station and charges itself. One charge should give us around 120 minutes of cleaning time. As it had mapped out the area, it knows exactly where the charging station is. It looks cool when it’s reversing into its charging station.
Now what are my thoughts on the 360 S7 Robot Vacuum cleaner, it’s smart, it does a great job cleaning all accessible areas, but therein lies the problem, it won’t be able to sweep behind your sofas, and if your sofa is not tall enough it won’t be able to sweep even under it. Mine being tall enough the vacuum can get through but the lidar sensor doesn’t. Also move the chairs to allow enough space for it to move through, then the area under the dining table will also get clean. If any wet items are on the floor, it will need to be removed before you start the vacuum, as it can damage it.
You will need to make space for the vacuum, maybe move the furniture a bit and then turn the vacuum on. The spares are easily available from a company named Cambium Retail who sell this 360 Robot vacuum via their own website and also via Amazon, which would be the biggest concern for most users. If you live in a flat or a single story house, it would have no problems accessing all the rooms, but if you live in a multi-story house you will need to pick it up and plug it on the floor above to clean. Can’t climb stairs yet, but the vacuum does support multiple floors mapping.
If you have pets this device will help clean out the hair that they shed. This is a great product, if you are a cleanliness freak, and like to get the floors cleaned more than one time a day. The mopping feature is also a great addition and being able to add sanitizer to the mix makes it a great buy. I’ve been using it for almost a week now and found it to be doing it’s job remarkably well. Would totally recommend the 360 S7 Robot Vacuum for the peace of mind it provides in keeping the house clean.
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