The Advantages of Using a Sweeping Robot Essay

If current trends are anything to go by, then one can predict that the world is entering an era that Rossiter calls the Robotics Revolution (1). The use of robotic technology at places of work and homes has been on a steady rise. By definition, a robot is an artificial machine with the capacity to carry out complex tasks automatically. They are mostly programmable via a computer. Robotic machines are used in virtually every area of the economy from the industrial production to the military and the domestic environment. An example of a product that is gaining popularity is the robotic sweeper. Citing relevant examples, this essay discusses some of the benefits of the sweeper.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

To begin with, robotic sweepers help save time. The robots are programmed with patterns for cleaning open surfaces. The machines can be programmed with customized layouts of the spaces to be cleaned. In the world of today, time is an important resource. Most households consist of children and employed parents. In such environments, cleaning is a tiresome process, especially in bigger homes. A robotic sweeper does all the cleaning by itself without any supervision. For instance, before the advent of the robots, it took a worker eight hours to navigate approximately 75 percent of a floor in a building. However, the use of the robotic sweeper has reduced the time to five hours (Rossiter 1).

Secondly, robotic sweepers can work on different types of surfaces such as tile, concrete, wooden floors and linoleum. Notably, some latest models can easily navigate between diverse types of surfaces in the same cleaning schedule. Besides, it can also sense stairs and walls and turns automatically around them. Other models, however, require a change in the position and setting of the machine (Mollenkamp 1).

Importantly, robotic sweepers are easy to use. As a general rule, a user only needs to program the machine for a specific space and time. After that, the robot actually controls itself. The only thing that is important subsequently is to place the gadget on the floor at the desired start point and everything else takes care of itself. Moreover, recent models have advanced technologies and are virtually self-regulating meaning accidents are more and more improbable with the improving technology. Malfunctions such as sticking of the machine on surfaces are increasingly becoming rare (Mollenkamp 1).

Robotic sweepers are also very efficient. Today's sweepers offer multiple tasking abilities. Not only do they sweep but they can remember the arrangement of your space, dispose the dirt and navigate their way to their charging points. Some models are able to do light mopping chores. In addition, they have cutting-edge sensors that can allow you to control them using smartphone applications (Mollenkamp 1). Also, they are designed to move in such a manner that they cover every pre-programmed space and hence a better cleaning outcome.

Generally, there is a concern about green energy in many economies today. This robotic technology is considered greener and safer. Firstly, the gadget comes with a preinstalled recycling component that reprocesses water and decreases the amount of water and chemicals necessary for cleaning by approximately 85 percent. The financial savings from the water and chemicals though not massive, are sufficient to compensate for the investment in roughly ten years. Initially, there were concerns regarding the safety of the sweeper. However, the gadgets have inbuilt safety features that are so reliable that a user with three machines that operate for a minimum of 10 hours a day has did not report any accident within a period of one year (Mollenkamp 1).

Another benefit of the robotic sweeper like other cleaning machines is that it helps people with mobility problems. There are several people who are confined to wheelchairs due to old age or on medical grounds. Their conditions notwithstanding, they still need to maintain hygienic conditions in their places of residence. The robotic technology has yielded exceptional results especially in terms of costs saving because the alternative housekeeping services are generally expensive (Mollenkamp 1).

Another benefit of the robotic sweeper is its ability to function only within the pre-programmed perimeter. For example, if one has young children in other areas of the house while the machine is functioning, one can adjust the virtual wall settings to inhibit it from moving across entrances and other accessible rooms. Similarly, one can also limit the range of the robot so that it doesn't scare pets that remain at home when it is operating (Wonning 20).

The Mint Automatic is an example of a robotic sweeper in the market. It is programmed with the Northstar Navigation System to traverse the home or office. The technology contains a cube used by the gadget as a point of reference. It can chart approximately 800 square feet of cleaning area and use the information to deliver satisfactory cleaning outcomes. Specifically, the Mint usually conducts a perimeter sweep after every cleaning schedule. Upon completion, it parks at the original starting point so that the owner can easily find it. Within the settings is a rapid clean mode that omits the perimeter scan. That further reduces the amount of cleaning time. Besides, the Mint traverses the floor in a straight line to and fro. This movement enables it to pick up hair, dirt and other forms of rubbish using a dry cleaning material (Wonning 21).

Despite the many benefits, the robotic sweepers are however not without disadvantages. First, the machines require frequent cleaning after approximately three or four rounds of usage. This may prove to be particularly challenging to the users with mobility problems. Secondly, the machines operate only on level surfaces. Their inability to navigate through stairs means one must conduct the traditional cleaning approaches on such surfaces. Mostly, the gadgets can only navigate a maximum slope of 35 degrees. In addition, the robots do not have the capacity to navigate through all obstacles. Occasionally it can get stuck in odd places with a drained battery. It is therefore important to assess the ability of a machine to maneuver through spaces before deployment (Mopping Robot 1).

Several issues have been reported among users of the Mint Automatic. Mainly, it has battery issues for instance if the machine stays in discharge for some time it makes a lot of noise when one attempts to recharge. A section of users has also reported cases of wheel failure, however, this is not a common occurrence (Mopping Robot 1).

Conclusion

In summary, robotic technology plays an important role in many aspects of the modern society. In many instances, they add value by improving the efficiency of different processes. The usage of the technology in the military, for example, can significantly reduce human casualty during a war. The disadvantages notwithstanding, robotic technology remains a vital milestone in scientific invention.

Works Cited

Mollenkamp, Becky. The Advantages of Robotic Cleaning. 25 February 2016. 6 September 2018 <https://www.cleanlink.com/cp/article/The-Advantages-of-Robotic-Cleaning--19314>.

Mopping Robot. Mint Floor Cleaner Problems But 3 Best Mops. 6 September 2018. 6 September 2018 <http://www.moppingrobot.com/mint-floor-cleaner-problems/>.

Rossiter, Jonathan. Robotics, Smart Materials, and their Future Impact for Humans. 6 April 2017. 6 September 2018 <https://www.technologyreview.com/s/604097/robotics-smart-materials-and-their-future-impact-for-humans/>.

Wonning, Paul R. The guide to robotic vacuum cleaners: Vacuum your floors automatically. New York: Abe Edwards, 2011.