Background
Day 1 (of running)
Finally got my Roomba going. Had all the boxes and equipment waiting repair off the floor so got ready to do mapping and there was not option to map. Triple checked model was supposed to do mapping and found posts that it might take a few runs to pull an update before that work work. So ended moving on the cleaning. Wish I'd know that first since I would have been using it before clearing the floor.
Next I sweep all over well in prep. With 2 large dogs, one with long hair, that go in and out all day and night plus cats coupled with being a bit behind on cleaning I figured it would not be a fair test. (Seriously it was getting to look bad especially in the kennel and hallway to the kennel but the pile I swept up was unreal. The size of a couple large cats. Granted we are talking ~1400 sq. ft.) Thought I did a great job sweeping as is felt clean to bare feet but Roomba emptied itself 4 times before clogging up with fur wrapped around the brush bearings. Thankfully a lot easier to clean than the older models I've had with brushes you had to cut and comb the fur out of. Pretty quick but battery was almost gone so put back on the charger planning to fire up again when charged and see how many more passes it takes to be "Roomba clean".
Note my cats seem to think the Roomba is a new dog, some equal threat or maybe a toy that needs watched from a safe location. But watched intently to classify.
Day 2
Note seemed have to start over instead of resume. It ran a couple more clean and dump cycles and signaled bin full. I had not remembered to get more bags so I proceeded to try and empty the bag to reuse it. Turned out most of what was in there was fur and there is a sort of funnel sleeve inside the bag which make it a bit harder but I got it done. Also dumped the bin and blew out the filter that was looking pretty coated by now. Fired up and said bin full. App said might be dirt on sensor so took out to blow out. When I removed the bin I found stuff in there. I can only guess was inside the Roomba between the rollers and bin. Emptied and blew everything out and I was back in business. But again starting over. I think I messed up not using the clean button on the Roomba instead of the app will have to see.
It found and ingested a zip tie and called for help but otherwise ran till the battery needed a charge. I could here is was finding dry dog food or small rocks somewhere and the got transferred to the bag. I do not think it finished yet. It did make a couple trips down the hall and into the kennel. Second time I noticed I could not hear it so I went looking and found it heading back. Ethel (my white dog) was in there and seemed unconcerned till she saw me and headed outside if it was time for walks. I grabbed video from some of the indoor cams and it appears the Roomba "sees" Ethel after bumping her food bowl and decides go back to cleaning on the far side of the room. Note the camera in night vision (black and with footage) you can see the IR sensors on the Roomba. Also notice how it knows to come straight down the hall to pickup where it left off. That would seem to indicate it is building a map even if one is not showing in the app yet.
So it looks like you might get by with cleaning the "disposable" bits but best to have spares. Looks like there are plenty of cheaper options so I ordered both iRobot versions and cheap versions so I'd have the iRobot ones as backups if the cheap versions do not work well. Might be worth a compare as well later. Here is what I ordered.
More to come.
