Robot vacuum cleaners are increasingly efficient and complete devices, and are incorporating new features, such as self-emptying bases, scrubbing stations or UV-C ultraviolet disinfection, a technology that allows achieving a higher degree of hygiene and disinfection in the home, making it perfect for homes in that there are allergic people and/or pets.
Robot vacuum cleaners provide great convenience when it comes to keeping your home clean. For those who want or need maximum hygiene, there are already some models that incorporate disinfection using ultraviolet light., similar to what some mattress cleaners do (such as the successful Hoover Ultra Vortex).
Ultraviolet light has a germicidal effect, which kills bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, making the surface or the environment on which it is applied cleaner.
Table of contents (click to show/hide)
The 4 robot vacuum cleaners with UV-C ultraviolet disinfection
Ultraviolet disinfection technology is gradually being incorporated into robot vacuum cleaners, and on our website we have already analyzed some outstanding models, such as (in alphabetical order):
OPEN X8: ABIR is a Chinese brand whose acronym stands for A Best Intelligent Robot, and its models are characterized by a high power and a magnificent navigation system, the X8 being its current top of the range.
Amibot Pure Laser: The French brand has various models, but the Pure Laser is the most complete and advanced, standing out for its beautiful white design and high absorption capacity, as well as a great price.
Phoenix Technologies LaserBot360: Phoenix Technologies is a Spanish brand based in Granada, and its flagship is the LaserBot360, which combines power, smart navigation and a reasonable price with silent and efficient operation.
Viomi Alpha UV S9: The Alpha UV S9 is the top of the range from one of the most prominent brands in the Xiaomi ecosystem, and It stands out for its high quality, excellent performance and self-emptying base., which provides greater comfort.
Next, we will tell you how this system works and what the qualities of these devices are.
What is ultraviolet (UV) light?
ultraviolet light It is a type of light invisible to humans., since it falls outside the spectrum that our eyes can capture (on the other side of the spectrum are infrared).
The UV wavelength is between 100 and 400 nanometers, between X-rays and visible light. The sun is the most common source of ultraviolet light, although it can be produced artificially, using UV lamps.
What types of ultraviolet light are there?
Ultraviolet light is divided into 3 subtypes, from lowest to highest intensity: UV-A, UV-B and UB-C, the latter being the one used to disinfect, since it can destroy the RNA/DNA composition of microorganisms, thus preventing their reproduction.
Advantages and disadvantages of UV disinfection
Ultraviolet disinfection using UV-C uses a wavelength of about 254 nm, which allows kill various pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses.
The effectiveness of the system also depends on factors such as distance between the light emission and the surface, the power of the light, the Shadows created by other objects, etc.
In times of coronavirus, these types of devices have become fashionable. It should be noted that UV-C radiation can also cause harm to people., which is why the machines used to purify air and that are based on this technology should be used only by professionals, and at times when there is no one in the place. For the same reason, UV-C light should not be used on the skin, nor should it be looked at directly, as it could cause damage to the cornea.
In the case of robots with ultraviolet disinfection (as in the case of mattress cleaners), these aspects are highly controlled, since the lamp at the bottom of the device allows it to shine very closely on the surface, achieving great efficiency without affecting its surroundings.
The four robots included in this comparison have a UV-C lamp on the bottom, next to the main brush, which allows the floors to be disinfected as the robot navigates the house.
In addition to its high effectiveness, Another advantage of ultraviolet disinfection is its non-chemical, environmentally friendly approach, since it does not contaminate or leave residues., resulting in a simple, clean and non-invasive method.
According to some studies, Home floors have up to 7 times more bacteria than hospital floors. UV sterilization kills germs in a more natural way, without using chemicals, avoiding odors, residues and skin irritations.
Robot vacuum cleaners with ultraviolet disinfection: analysis by characteristics
Next, we will see the main characteristics of these four models. They are all high-end robots, with good overall performance and high cleaning performance., so any of them can become a great helper to keep your home clean.
Power
All models in this comparison offer a high suction capacity, typical of new generation high-end models, starting from the remarkable 2.500 Pascals of the Phoenix Technologies (the same figure as, for example, the best-seller Roborock S7). The ABIR
Navigation system
In this case, all the models included in this comparison are high-level robots, with intelligent laser-based navigation systems, which provide great precision in movements, so they move fluidly, quickly and efficiently.
Scrub
The four models in this analysis are designed to achieve the most complete cleaning and They include a water tank with a mop, so they vacuum, scrub and disinfect.
In the case of the ABIR, the Phoenix and the Viomi, they have a advanced scrubbing system, thanks to which the robot performs a Y-shaped movement, which imitates what people do when scrubbing, passing over the same place several times to achieve a better result. In addition, these three robots allow water to be dosed at three levels, to adapt the flow to the needs of the moment.
Easy to handle
The four models They are manageable through a mobile application, which provides great comfort and versatility, since we can operate the robot whenever we want and wherever we are, in addition to accessing a wide variety of information and functionalities.
Except for Amibot (although these types of issues may vary in OTA updates that are carried out automatically), all of them allow you to save several maps, so they can be used in duplexes and other homes with multiple floors, or to clean several houses.
The Viomi Alpha UV S9 stands out for its operation through the well-known Xiaomi app, Mi Home, to which many users are accustomed, and which offers many functions, although it is the only one of the four that does not include a remote control. For its part, the WeBack app—used by the Phoenix and the ABIR—has certain similarities with it, and the Amibot app is its own app, simpler, although with all the necessary functions.
Deposit and filtering
All models have a dust container with ample capacity, 600 milliliters, which allows you to completely clean a home even more than once, except for the Viomi, whose tank has 300 milliliters.
However, in this case it is not necessary to have a great amplitude, since, in reality, the Viomi Alpha UV S9 is the most capable, thanks to its automatic emptying base. Self-emptying allows you to forget about dust for weeks, in addition to providing greater hygiene, thanks to the self-sealing bags, which prevent secondary contamination.
The four robots in the comparison have a effective multi-layer filter system, which allows microparticles to be trapped inside the tank, obtaining cleaner air.
Conclusions
Robots with UV-C ultraviolet disinfection systems make it possible to achieve a higher degree of disinfection and hygiene of the home, killing viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms allergens.
The four robots included in this comparison are high-end models, with smart navigation and high suction power, so all four are very effective on all types of soils, with ABIR X8 standing out for its great absorption capacity.
In the comfort section, the Viomi stands out for its automatic emptying base, which facilitates the treatment of dust, since its bags have an approximate capacity for a month, during which time there is no need to deal with this issue; The robot itself, upon returning to the base, empties itself without user intervention.
As for the price, although this may vary depending on the offers that may be available, at the time of making this comparison, the most affordable are the Amibot Pure Laser and the Phoenix Technologies LaserBot360, placing the ABIR X8 in an intermediate place, and the Viomi Alpha UV S9 as the one with the highest price, due to the inclusion of the self-emptying system.
Do you want to know other interesting robot vacuum cleaners to keep your home clean, in a comfortable way? Visit our analyzes:
