Tag Archives: Robots

PlayStation teams up with Bad Robot and the creator of Left 4 Dead for a co-op shooter

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Sony Interactive Entertainment has signed a deal to produce and publish a game from Bad Robot, JJ Abrams’ production company. The two sides are keeping most of the details close to their chest for now, but the game is a four-player co-op shooter for PlayStation 5 and PC directed by someone who knows a thing or two about that genre: Left 4 Dead creator Mike Booth.

Bad Robot Games — which is a fully remote studio — was formed in 2018 with the help of Tencent. It has lent a hand on games including Weird West (as an investor and creative consultant) as well as interactive streaming series Silent Hill: Ascension. This new game is the first one that Bad Robot Games is developing in-house.

A few months back, Booth dropped into the Left 4 Dead subreddit to say that he was working on a new co-op game “built on the foundations of what made L4D special. If you enjoyed the teamwork, tension and replayability of my past games, you’ll probably find this one interesting. It expands on the co-op formula in ways I’ve wanted to explore for a long time.” He added that, while the game was still in early development, Bad Robot was opening up a waitlist for access to playtests.

According to a press release, “Bad Robot Games is a dedicated game studio working on new and existing transmedia franchises.” So, this project could well be part of an entirely new franchise, but the prospect of co-op shooter from the designer of Left 4 Dead that’s set in the Cloverfield universe is pretty darn intriguing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/playstation-teams-up-with-bad-robot-and-the-creator-of-left-4-dead-for-a-co-op-shooter-144637802.html?src=rss

Dyson Cyber Monday deals: Robot vacuums and cordless vacuums are up to $600 off right now

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Cyber Monday deals are here, and a great one to check out is at Dyson. The discounts on Dyson's site right now are some of the best we've seen; one of those is $600 off the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum, which is down to a record low of $400.

In our testing, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vac was one of the most powerful models for suction, making it a good option for households with pets, and it also impressed for its obstacle avoidance. It has Wi-Fi connectivity and an easy-to-use mobile app from Dyson, but the 360 Vis Nav doesn't have a self-emptying dust bin and no mopping capabilities. Since this model doesn't boast too many high-end features, a sale like Cyber Monday is a great time to take advantage for people who want a simple and reliable choice for keeping floors clean.

Cordless vacuums are also a part of the sale. Take the Dyson V9 Motorbar cordless vacuum on sale for just $270 at both Dyson and Amazon, which is a discount of $330. That's more than half off. Dyson devices are all over our list of the best cordless vacuums, and for good reason. The company makes effective products. The V9 Motorbar has been designed to clean all floor types, in addition to upholstery. It's also been engineered to squeeze into tight spots, which is great for hitting those oft-neglected parts of the home.

The suction power is on point and the battery lasts for 40 minutes before requiring a charge. That's just enough time to vacuum a standard-sized home if you don't stop for too many breaks. The V9 is getting a bit long-in-the-tooth. If you want a newer model, the V11 Extra is on sale for $400, which is a discount of $260. This one boosts the suction power and increases the battery life to 60 minutes.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/dyson-cyber-monday-deals-robot-vacuums-and-cordless-vacuums-are-up-to-600-off-right-now-090059733.html?src=rss

Come Together Adds Rolling Speaker and Mini Fridge to Your Couch

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TVs keep getting brighter and sharper, but the viewing experience is still broken up by small, annoying tasks. Getting up for a drink, fiddling with lights, or pausing mid-scene to adjust the volume. These micro-interruptions chip away at immersion more than we admit. Come Together is a concept that tries to design around those gaps instead of just upgrading the panel, treating the home theater as a full ecosystem rather than a screen on a wall.

Come Together is a three-part home theater system made up of a Tower, a Base, and a Station. It’s meant to sit alongside a premium TV as an accessory, not replace it. The Tower handles drinks, lighting, and phone charging. The Base handles spatial sound and movement. The Station is a compact dock that cools, charges, and keeps everything ready for the next movie night.

Designer: Woojin Jang

Most of the time, the Tower sits as a calm black cylinder, but when needed, it rises up to reveal a mini fridge that can hold up to five cans. An optional tray on top can be swapped in for snacks. Adaptive mood lighting under the top disc syncs with what’s on screen, and the very top surface doubles as a Qi2 wireless charging pad for your phone, so it doesn’t die halfway through a marathon.

Instead of a static soundbar, the Base is a circular spatial sound unit with drivers arranged around its perimeter and a 3D ToF sensor for spatial awareness. It maps the room, figures out where you’re sitting, and quietly rolls itself to the best spot for audio. The drive system borrows from robot vacuums, but here the goal is better sound rather than clean floors or delivering drinks in an awkward dance.

The Station is a small, low-profile dock that the system returns to when it’s done. There, it recharges and cools the mini fridge for the next session. A simple display on top shows the time and the fridge temperature, giving you just enough information at a glance. The Station keeps the whole setup feeling like a single, coherent appliance rather than a pile of separate gadgets fighting for outlets and attention.

All three components share a cylindrical, black-glass aesthetic that feels more like high-end audio gear than robots. The Tower’s rising motion and glowing top give it a bit of theater without tipping into gimmick. The Base and Station stay visually quiet, so the TV remains the focal point while the system supports it in the background, both literally and in how it shapes the room.

Come Together shows how robotics might slip into home entertainment without feeling like sci-fi props. By bundling drinks, lighting, and spatial sound into a calm, coordinated system, it treats immersion as something you can design from end to end. For anyone who’s ever hit pause just to grab a drink, the idea of a home theater that comes to you is appealing.

The post Come Together Adds Rolling Speaker and Mini Fridge to Your Couch first appeared on Yanko Design.

Disney teases an Olaf robot for its parks

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Disney has unveiled a new animatronic in the form of Olaf, the carrot-nosed snowman from the Frozen series of films. The robotic character will roam the streets of the upcoming World of Frozen (coming soon to Adventure World at Disneyland Paris) and make "limited-time special appearances at World of Frozen at the Hong Kong Disneyland resort," Disney wrote on its parks blog. 

Olaf, seen in prototype form in a 30-minute Disney video, can walk on his little snowball legs, emote realistically and speak with visitors. During the video, Disney Imagineering Paris exec Michel Den Dulk removes and replaces the robot's nose and arm, something park visitors will also be able to do. 

To help make Olaf look authentic and toon-like in his movements, the Imagineering team used AI reinforcement learning. That allowed them to teach the robot how to walk and perform "graceful" motions in far less time than it would have taken to program it manually, Disney said. The fact that Olaf has a soft, snow-like exterior also let them "fully articulate his mouth, eyes, and removable carrot nose and arms." 

The timing of the announcement is pretty wild considering that Defunctland, the amusement park history site, just released a four-hour YouTube documentary about the broken promise of Disney's animatronics. The main point was that Disney has announced many such characters but only shows them off at a few special events before shoving them away, Westworld basement-style, never to be seen again. 

A few examples of those are the Wall-E robot in the aughts and, more recently, Groot and Star Wars droids. Those served mainly as marketing pieces for Disney, as they only appeared in the parks for specific tests and then disappeared. Disney even made a robot called Big Dino that was 13 feet tall and weighed 11,000 pounds — though it's probably best that one wasn't roaming around the parks greeting visitors.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/disney-teases-an-olaf-robot-for-its-parks-151017739.html?src=rss

Memo home robot brews espresso and loads the dishwasher on its own

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We are all getting busier by the day. And simple household chores and repetitive to-dos often slip through the cracks. But what if there were a robot that could work 24/7 to make our lives easier? This has been a long-time dream for most roboticists, yet home robots have not really reached a stage where they can be trusted, until now. However, this stands to change. At least that’s what the first demonstration of the Memo robot by Mountain-View-based Sunday Robotics suggests.

The robot demonstrated how efficiently it can make a cup of espresso, from start to finish, all by itself, while also being able to carry out a few other repetitive tasks, such as uploading crockery to the dishwasher. The household humanoid was quietly introduced to the world on November 19, and since it has been in the news. The personal home robot designed to assist families with some time-consuming household chores uses homebuilt hardware and integrated AI assistance to perform tasks that require deft handling and precise control.

Designer: Sunday Robotics

Standing 1.7 meters tall and weighing 170 lbs, Memo has a white torso and a friendly face. Instead of moving on legs, the robot is designed to move on a wheeled base. That could mean limited mobility, restricted to level surfaces, but Memo has a telescoping spine allowing the robot to reach up to 2.1 meters to handle tasks like reaching overhead cabinets with ease. The battery-powered robot boasts four hours of runtime, and it takes about an hour to fully charge.

While the capabilities are unlimited, it’s Memo’s demonstrated skill to make a cup of espresso that has really won hearts. In the demonstration, the robot responds to a request for an espresso by using its hands to deftly operate the espresso machine. It is seen filling the portafilter with coffee grounds and then tamping it perfectly before installing it back into the machine to brew a cup by pressing the button. The robot then places a cup in the designated slot to collect the brewed cup of espresso and serve it to the person who asked for it.

Making a cup of espresso might not seem all that spectacular, but Sunday assures Memo is learning to do a range of other chores, such as clearing the table and loading the dishwasher. Besides, it should also be able to fold laundry or sort your shoes for you. “We want to build robots that free people from laundry, from the dishes, from all chores,” cofounder and CEO of Sunday Robotics, Tony Zhao told Wired. Of course, the prospects look nice, but how would the Memo perform in real-life settings: in households with kids and pets, and other messy routines remains to be seen.

The robot’s dexterity, Sunday informs, is based on the company’s training model. It allows Memo to learn directly from real-world domestic behavior and not the industrial simulations in closed lab environments. A reason we are personally resting our stake on Memo to redefine the use of home robots. For this, Memo collects daily household data from more than 500 households, using a Skill Capture Glove. This is a $400 “wearable device that records how people move, clean, sort, and organize objects.” The data accumulated from the glove is provided to an AI model, which then uses it to control the robot’s actions like a human.

Sunday Robotics has started accepting applications for Memo’s beta testing. If you’re interested, you will have to be in the fifty households that will be early adopters to beta test it next year. The idea is to check how the robot performs and to also gauge how people respond to having a robot at home.

The post Memo home robot brews espresso and loads the dishwasher on its own first appeared on Yanko Design.

Uber Eats will use Starship robots in the UK to make deliveries

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Uber Eats has announced it'll soon start using Starship robots to complete food deliveries in certain parts of the UK, beginning in the Leeds and Sheffield areas. These little robo-couriers will only be able to handle deliveries from "select merchants" for the time being.

The robots won't accept tips, for obvious reasons, but customers can still rate their experience via the app. We aren't sure what happens to a particular robot with enough bad ratings. Maybe it gets sent to a farm in the countryside somewhere. 

The service launches in December and the platform says it'll share more information at that date. Uber Eats also says it plans on expanding the operating territory in the near future. To that end, Starship robots are coming to "additional European markets in 2026" and more US markets in 2027.

This isn't Uber's first foray into robot deliveries. Uber Eats has used robots from Serve Robotics and Avride in the past to deliver food.

As for Starship, these diminutive delivery robots have actually been around since 2018. The company says there are currently around 3,000 robots in operation across the world in more than 270 different locations. They can be found at several college campuses, including Purdue University and George Mason.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/uber-eats-will-use-starship-robots-in-the-uk-to-make-deliveries-171928694.html?src=rss

The best robot vacuum for 2026

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Looking to keep your home clean without having to vacuum and mop every day, pick up dirt, the dinner your child threw on the floor or your furry friend’s endless pet hair? Join the club. Smart home gadgets have come a long way over the years, and that includes robot vacuums. With newer technology including voice controls, object detection and more automation features, investing in a robot vacuum cleaner makes more sense now than ever before. Some of the best robot vacuum cleaners even have mopping capabilities, roller brush options and self-emptying bases, too, and there are plenty that don't cost a fortune either. If you’re ready to adopt a less hands-on approach and let a robot vacuum cleaner do the hard work for you, consider our recommendations below.

CES is typically a time for robovac manufacturers to unveil new innovations and this year was no different. Companies like Eufy announced new models, many of which are on the higher end of the price spectrum. Those flagship announcements are often paired with more minor ones that usher in mildly upgraded versions of midrange and entry-level machines.

Now that robot vacuums are ubiquitous, the new models that make headlines tend to have some sort of gimmick like a built-in arm for picking up clothes, or offer (supposedly) top-tier suction power and a slew of extras. They also tend to be super expensive. However, most people will be served just fine with a robot vacuum that doesn’t choke at the first sign of dust bunnies or pet hair, and maybe has mopping capabilities if you want a machine that can tackle hard floors in addition to carpet. Those other innovations are nice-to-haves, not necessities.

Arguably even bigger than CES announcements is the fact that iRobot, a name synonymous with smart cleaning robots, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the end of 2025. What does that mean for Roomba owners? Not too much immediately, as the company stated that it will continue to operate with “no anticipated disruption to its app functionality, customer programs, global partners, supply chain relationships or ongoing product support." However, this also means that buying a new Roomba in 2026 is a questionable decision.

Despite companies coming out with gimmicky extras and new software perks in their robot vacuum lineups, the core competency of these devices have remained the same for years: sucking up dirt without needing your attention. You want a robot vacuum with the strongest suction power you can afford. Those with tile and hardwood floors can consider robovacs with mopping capabilities, and those who want peak convenience should opt for a model with a self-emptying base. However, both of those extra features will cost extra.

First and foremost, we recommend considering the floors in your home: Do you have carpet throughout, or tile and hardwood floors, or a mix? Robots with stronger suction power will do a better job picking up dirt on carpets as they can get into high piles more easily. Some machines have “max” modes as well, which ups suction power, but also typically eats battery life faster than the “normal” floor cleaning mode.

Suction power is an important factor to consider. Unfortunately, there isn’t a standard power scale that all robovacs adhere to, so it’s difficult to compare among a bunch of devices. Some companies provide Pascal (Pa) levels and generally the higher the Pa, the stronger the vacuum cleaner will be. But other companies don’t rely on Pa and simply say their robots have X-times more suction than other robots. If you’re looking for the best vacuum for your needs, it’s helpful to pay attention to real-world testing and how well the machine can pick up fine dust, crumbs and pet hair in an environment similar to that of your home.

Wi-Fi connectivity is a key feature for most robot vacuums. Some of the affordable devices aren’t Wi-Fi connected, so it’s best to double check before you buy something on the low end of affordable. Wi-Fi lets a robot vacuum cleaner do things like communicate with a mobile app, which then allows you to control the device from your phone.

Past a certain price threshold, you’ll find advanced perks like home mapping features and improved object detection. Home mapping is exactly what it sounds like: The vacuum uses sensors to map your home’s layout as it cleans, allowing you to send it to particular rooms or avoid no-go zones where you don’t want it to roam.

Most robo-vacs have object detection, but some will be better than others at actually avoiding things like chair legs and children’s toys. High-end models even go so far as to promise obstacle avoidance to steer clear of things like pet poop that can potentially ruin your machine.

Mopping features are much more common now in robot vacuums than they were just five years ago. Machines that support this will have a water tank either built into the robot’s chassis, the auto-empty bin or as a separate piece that you swap in for the dustbin when you want to mop your floors. It makes the robo-vac more useful if you have hard floors in your home that you like to keep squeaky clean, but it does require more work on your part.

Filling and emptying the reservoir remains a human’s job for the most part (except on the most expensive machines), as does adding cleaning solutions if the mopping robot comes with this feature to ensure it uses clean water for every cycle.

Finally, for peak convenience, consider a robot vacuum that comes with a self-empty station. These are basically garbage bins attached to the machine’s docking station. At the end of each job, the robo-vac automatically empties its small dustbin into the large clean base – that means you won’t have to empty the dustbin yourself and you’ll only have to tend to the base once every few weeks.

Just keep in mind that many self-emptying bins require proprietary garbage bags – another long-term expense you’ll have to factor in (look for mentions of “bagless” to avoid this all together). Also, any vac-and-mop robot with a water tank will not dump its dirty water into the clean base, so you’ll still have to clean up that yourself.

First and foremost, always empty your robot vacuum’s dustbin after every cleaning job. If you have a model with a self-emptying base, there’s less work for you to do yourself. If not, simply detach and empty the dustbin as soon as the robot is done cleaning. It’s also a good idea to take a dry cloth to the inside of the dustbin every once in a while to remove any small dust and dirt particles clinging to the insides.

In addition, you’ll want to regularly examine the machine’s brush roll to see if any hair has wrapped around them, or if any large debris is preventing them from working properly. Some brushes are better than others at not succumbing to tangled hair, but it’s a good idea to check your robot’s brushes regardless — both their main brush and any smaller roller brushes or corner brushes they have. These parts are often easy to pop off of the machine (because they do require replacements eventually) so we recommend removing each brush entirely, getting rid of any tangled hair or other debris attached to them and reinstalling them afterwards.

Robot vacuums also have filters that need replacing every couple of months. Check your machine’s user manual or the manufacturer’s website to see how long they recommend going in between filter replacements. Most of the time, these filters cannot be washed, so you will need to buy new ones either directly from the manufacturer or from other retailers like Amazon or Walmart.

We primarily test robot vacuums by using them as they are intended to be used: in a home, across different types of flooring and in the face of all sorts of messes including pet hair, spilt coffee grounds and other food debris, dust bunnies, stairs (gasp) and more. We set up all robot vacuums according to their provided instructions and run multiple cleaning jobs during a testing period of at least one to two weeks per machine.

If the robot has mopping capabilities, we also test those as well on hardwood and tile flooring. For models with self-emptying bases, we rely on those built-in trash cans for all post-job cleaning, and we make sure to test the robot vacuum's mobile app for usability and convenience. As we're testing, we make note of things like how loud the robot and its components are, how much human attention the robot needs on a regular basis, how the robot handles large messes and big dust bunnies, if the robot gets stuck on rugs, doormats or other furniture and more.

We tackled this question when we reviewed budget robot vacuums and the answer is yes, especially if vacuuming is one of your least favorite chores. Robots take the hard work out of cleaning your floors – just turn the thing on and watch it go. Any robot vacuum cleaner worth buying is semi-autonomous in that it will suck up dirt around your home until its battery is low and then make its way back to its charging dock. Unlike a regular vacuum, you should only have to interact with it to turn it on, empty its dustbin and untangle it if it were to get stuck somewhere.

That’s not to say robot vacuums are perfect. They’re almost always less powerful and less flexible than traditional vacuums. Since most robo-vacs are much smaller than traditional models, they often don’t have the same level of suction you’ll get in an upright machine. Plus, their dustbins are smaller, so they will need to be emptied more frequently. While Wi-Fi-connected robot vacuums give you the flexibility to start a cleaning job from anywhere using an app, targeting a small area of your home can be more complicated. Some robo-vacs have spot-cleaning features that focus the machine’s attention on a specific area, which almost – but not quite – mimics the spot-cleaning you’d be able to do yourself with a regular or cordless vacuum.

Robot vacuums can last many years, if you take care of them properly. Check out our recommendations for robot vacuum maintenance above, but in a nutshell, you should make sure that you're emptying the machine's bin after every job and periodically cleaning the interior of the bin and the brushes. It's also a good idea to check the user manual to see how often your robot vacuum's filter needs changing.

There's no straight answer to this question. Robot vacuums offer more convenience than handheld vacuums, so for those who are looking to automate a chore, that could mean one of these devices works better for them than a standard vacuum. However, handheld vacuum cleaners often have stronger suction power, and they give the user a bit more control. It ultimately depends on how you intend to use your main vacuum cleaner and what you want to prioritize most.

Cleaning a robot vacuum isn’t too much of a chore, but you’ll want to give it a little TLC every few weeks or so, depending on how often you’re running it and how much dirt it’s picking up. The dustbin usually needs to be emptied after each cleaning run, especially if you have pets or lots of carpet where dirt can hide. Many newer models have self-emptying docks, which means you won’t have to empty the dustbin yourself after every use, but the main bin will still need a good clean once a month or so. Also, it’s a good idea to check the side brushes and main brush for any hair tangles or debris every couple of weeks to keep things running smoothly.

Robot vacuums won’t work for everyone. One of the biggest drawbacks is that they usually don’t have the same suction power as a full-sized upright vacuum or even a cordless stick vacuum, so they might struggle with deep-cleaning thick carpets. They’re also designed for floors only, so if you’re looking to clean furniture, stairs or other tricky spots, you’ll still need a traditional vacuum to do that. Plus, they can sometimes get stuck or miss spots, especially if you’ve got a lot of furniture or obstacles in the way. While their sensors help, they might still bump into things or need a little help getting out of tight spots. And while most have decent dirt detection features, they’re best for keeping things tidy rather than doing heavy-duty cleaning.

Check out more from our spring cleaning guide.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/best-robot-vacuums-130010426.html?src=rss

One of our favorite Shark robot vacuums is 58 percent off right now for Black Friday

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Our pick for the best robot vacuum (or at least one of its many variants) is on sale. Amazon's Black Friday deals include the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum. This model has a list price of $599, but you can snag one for $250. That's 58 percent off — and a record low.

One of this model's standout features is its bagless design. Like many robovacs, it has an auto-empty station. But here, you can remove part of the base, dump its contents in the garbage, and lock it back in place. The base holds up to 60 days of dirt and debris, and you'll never need to order bag refills.

The Shark AI Ultra has strong suction and decent obstacle avoidance (via LiDAR). The robovac cleans in a matrix grid. It auto-maps your home and supports Google Assistant and Alexa for voice control.

The vacuum has a runtime of about 120 minutes. (If it needs to stop and charge, it will auto-resume afterward.) Also note that this is a vacuum-only model: no mopping here.

But Shark has other Black Friday deals if you're interested in a robovac that also mops, or even a cordless stick vacuum instead. The Shark Stratos 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop is 60 percent off and down to $400 right now, while the Power Detect Pet Plus cordless vacuum with self-emptying base is down to $380.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-shark-robot-vacuums-is-58-percent-off-right-now-for-black-friday-100013224.html?src=rss

Monocoque Drone with Hubless Rotors is designed to withstand any extreme flying conditions

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Ask any experienced drone pilot about their worst crash, and you’ll likely hear a story that ends with a collection of fragmented parts. The conventional quadcopter design, while effective at flying, is notoriously poor at surviving the unexpected kinetic events that come with operating in the real world. Whether it’s a sudden gust of wind, a GPS error near a structure, or a simple pilot miscalculation, the result is often the same: a compromised frame and a costly repair.

With the Mono Mothra, we see a design that fundamentally rethinks this vulnerability. The concept’s strength lies in its two core principles: a load-bearing monocoque shell and protected, ducted rotors. Instead of discrete arms that can snap and motors that can be damaged, the entire structure is designed to absorb and distribute impact forces. It’s a “what if” exploration into a different kind of aerial platform, one where resilience isn’t an afterthought but the very cornerstone of its design philosophy.

Designers: Rify Studio® & Martunis

Unlike the familiar bolted-together cross-frame of most drones, the Mono Mothra is conceived as a single, continuous unibody. This monocoque approach, common in automotive and aerospace applications, means the outer skin is the primary structure. There are no joints between the central body and the rotor housings to act as fracture points. An impact on the outer ring doesn’t concentrate stress on a single screw or plastic weld; the force is spread across the entire continuous surface. This not only creates a far more durable machine but also allows for a cleaner, more holistic form where every curve is both aesthetic and structural.

This philosophy of integration extends directly to the propulsion system. The outer ring of the monocoque doubles as a set of four substantial propeller guards, completely enclosing the rotors. This ducting provides an obvious and immediate layer of protection against side impacts with walls, branches, or the ground. The renders hint at a clever mechanical solution for the hubless look, with a gear-driven system hidden beneath the rotors. While a gear-driven system introduces complexity compared to a direct-drive motor, it allows the design to maintain its clean top profile and fully protected rotors, reinforcing the drone’s identity as a ruggedized tool.

The camera module itself rejects the fragile, exposed gimbal common on consumer and prosumer drones. Instead, the lens is bunkered within a solid, purpose-built housing that appears to be just as robust as the main body. Whether the ribbed side panels are functional heat sinks for a high-performance sensor or purely an aesthetic choice, they communicate a sense of durability. The entire unit is mounted securely to the forward section of the frame, suggesting it is an integral part of the drone’s hardened structure rather than a delicate payload that has been simply attached.

What a concept like Mono Mothra truly demonstrates is the necessary evolution for drones to mature beyond their hobbyist origins. The industry’s current focus on modularity has created a landscape of capable but delicate machines. This design, by contrast, argues for a future built on structural integrity, where a drone’s ability to withstand the environment is as important as its ability to fly. It’s a shift from disposable components to a resilient, unified whole – a critical step if these devices are to become the indispensable, all-weather tools promised to professionals.

The post Monocoque Drone with Hubless Rotors is designed to withstand any extreme flying conditions first appeared on Yanko Design.

The best robot vacuums on a budget for 2026

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If vacuuming is your least favorite chore, employing a robot vacuum can save you time and stress while also making sure your home stays clean. While once most robo-vacs landed on the higher end of the price spectrum, that’s not the case anymore. Sure, you could pick up a $1,000 cleaning behemoth with mopping features, but it would be incorrect to assume that you need to spend that much money to get a good machine.

Now, you can get an autonomous dirt-sucker with serious cleaning chops for $500 — sometimes even $300 or less. But you get what you pay for in this space; don’t expect affordable robot vacuum cleaners to have all of the bells and whistles that premium machines do, like self-emptying capabilities or advanced dirt detection. After testing dozens of robot vacuums at various price points, I’ve narrowed down our top picks for the best budget robot vacuums you can buy right now.

Since I've tested dozens of robot vacuums, I'm often asked if these gadgets are "worth it" and I'd say the answer is yes. The biggest thing they offer is convenience: just turn on a robot vacuum and walk away. The machine will take care of the rest. If vacuuming is one of your least favorite chores, or you just want to spend less time keeping your home tidy, semi-autonomous robotic vacuum is a great investment. Many models, albeit more expensive ones, even come with features like a self-empty station to further reduce maintenance.

There are plenty of other good things about them, but before we dive in let’s consider the biggest trade-offs: less power, less capacity and less flexibility. Those first two go hand in hand; robot vacuum cleaners are much smaller than upright vacuums, which leads to less powerful suction. They also hold less dirt because their built-in bins are a fraction of the size of a standard vacuum canister or bag. Fortunately, some models include features like an auto-empty station, which helps with dirt capacity, especially in homes with pet hair.

When it comes to flexibility, robot vacuums do things differently than standard ones. You can control some with your smartphone, set cleaning schedules and more, but robo-vacs are primarily tasked with cleaning floors. On the flip side, their upright counterparts can come with various attachments that let you clean couches, stairs, light fixtures and other hard-to-reach places.

When looking for the best cheap robot vacuum, one of the first things you should consider is the types of floors you have in your home. Do you have mostly carpet, tile, laminate, hardwood? Carpets demand vacuums with strong suction power that can pick up debris pushed down into nooks and crannies. Unfortunately, there isn’t a universal metric by which suction is measured. Some companies provide Pascal (Pa) levels and generally the higher the Pa, the stronger. But other companies don’t rely on Pa levels and simply say their bots have X-times more suction power than other robot vacuums.

So how can you ensure you’re getting the best cheap robot vacuum to clean your floor type? Read the product description. Look for details about its ability to clean hard floors and carpets, and see if it has a “max” mode you can use to increase suction. If you are given a Pa measurement, look for around 2000Pa if you have mostly carpeted floors. Pay attention to the brush roll mechanism as well, especially if you're dealing with dog hair or other stubborn debris that can cause tangles. Many budget models use bristle brushes, while others offer tangle-free designs to minimize maintenance.

You may find some budget robot vacuums also offer vacuum/mop combo capabilities. These bots feature a water tank, which means they can offer mopping functionality, enhancing debris pickup, and resulting in shiny floors. However, these are less common when you’re shopping in the lower price range.

Size is also important for two reasons: clearance and dirt storage. Check the specs for the robot’s height to see if it can get underneath the furniture you have in your home. Most robo-vacs won’t be able to clean under a couch (unless it’s a very tall, very strange couch), but some can get under entryway tables, nightstands and the like. As for dirt storage, look out for the milliliter capacity of the robot’s dustbin — the bigger the capacity, the more dirt the vacuum cleaner can collect before you have to empty it.

You should also double check the Wi-Fi capabilities of the robo-vac you’re eyeing. While you may think that’s a given on all smart home devices, it’s not. Some of the most affordable models don’t have the option to connect to your home Wi-Fi network. If you choose a robot vac like this, you won’t be able to direct it with a smartphone app or with voice controls. Another feature that’s typically reserved for Wi-Fi-connected robots is scheduling because most of them use a mobile app to set cleaning schedules.

But Wi-Fi-incapable vacuums usually come with remote controls that have all the basic functions that companion mobile apps do, including start, stop and return to dock. And if you’re concerned about the possibility of hacking, a robot vac with no access to your Wi-Fi network is the best option.

Obstacle detection and cliff sensors are other key features to look out for. The former helps the robot vacuum navigate around furniture while it cleans, rather than mindlessly pushing its way into it. Many also offer no-go zones, letting you block off areas you don’t want the robot to enter. Meanwhile, cliff sensors prevent robot vacuums from tumbling down the stairs, making them the best vacuum for multi-level homes.

When we consider which robot vacuums to test, we look at each machine’s specs and feature list, as well as online reviews to get a general idea of its capabilities. With each robot vacuum we review, we set it up as per the instructions and use it for as long as possible — at minimum, we’ll use each for one week, running cleaning cycles daily. We make sure to try out any physical buttons the machine has on it, and any app-power features like scheduling, robot mapping and more.

Since we test robot vacuums in our own homes, there are obstacles already in the machine’s way like tables, chairs and other furniture — this helps us understand how capable the machine is at avoiding obstacles, and we’ll intentionally throw smaller items in their way like shoes, pet toys and more. With robot vacuums that include self-emptying bases, we assess how loud the machine is while emptying contents into the base and roughly how long it takes for us to fill up the bag (or bagless) base with debris.

First and foremost, always empty your robot vacuum’s dustbin after every cleaning job, or use a self-empty station if the model supports it. Simply detach and empty the dustbin as soon as the robot is done cleaning, and then reattach it so it's ready to go for the next time. It’s also a good idea to take a dry cloth to the inside of the dustbin every once in a while to remove any small dust and dirt particles clinging to its insides.

In addition, you’ll want to regularly examine the machine’s brushes to see if any human or pet hair has wrapped around them, or if any large debris is preventing them from working properly. Some brushes are better than others at not succumbing to tangled hair, but it’s a good idea to check your robot’s brushes regardless — both their main brush and any smaller, side brushes or corner brushes they have. These parts are often easy to pop off of the machine (because they do require replacements eventually) so we recommend removing each brush entirely, getting rid of any tangles or other debris attached to them and reinstalling them afterwards. If you have a robot vacuum with mopping capabilities, you’ll need to wash the bots’ mop pads too, to avoid any unpleasant smells or tracking mess around your home. Similarly, if your robot vacuum has a water tank, it’s worth washing this out regularly to keep it clean.

Robot vacuums also have filters that need replacing every couple of months. Check your machine’s user manual or the manufacturer’s website to see how long they recommend going in between filter replacements. Most of the time, these filters cannot be washed, so you will need to buy new ones either directly from the manufacturer or from other retailers like Amazon or Walmart.

Yes, budget robot vacuums can be good for pet hair. Just keep in mind they generally tend to have lower suction power and smaller dustbins than more expensive (and larger) robot vacuums. If pet hair is your biggest concern, we recommend getting as expensive of a robot vacuum as your budget allows, or consider investing in a cordless vacuum since those tend to be more powerful overall.

Budget robot vacuums typically last 40-60 minutes per charge, and the best ones will automatically return to their charging dock when they need more power.

Yes, budget robot vacuums work on both carpets and hardwood floors.

Home mapping features are typically exclusive to more expensive robot vacuums. Check the product description of any robot vacuum you're thinking of buying and look for "smart mapping" or "smart home mapping" in the feature list if you want a device that supports it.

Check out more from our spring cleaning guide.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/best-budget-robot-vacuums-133030847.html?src=rss