Robot Vacuum with Docking Station: Top Questions & Best Pick

What is a robot vacuum docking station?

A docking station is a device used to charge and store your robot vacuum. The robot will return to the docking station and charge itself automatically after finishing a cleanup. It also acts as a home base, a reference point that the robot uses to determine its relative position in the house.

You may wonder how a robot finds the docking base by itself, where to put the dock, etc. Here we address all of your inquiries regarding the robot vacuum with docking station. Let's begin!

Table of Contents:

1. How Does a Robot Find Its Dock

2. Where to Put the Docking Station

3. Best Robot Vacuum with Docking Station

4. FAQs on Robot with Docking Station

How Does a Robot Find Its Dock

When a robot does the cleaning job, it eventually returns to the docking base to charge and dock. But how can robotic vacuums locate their home base?🤔 For robots to make their way back to the charging bases on their own, there are two key principles.

1. Infrared Signals

This kind of vacuum devices usually has an infrared sensor. After cleaning or when the robot has low power, the infrared signal will indicate the location of the base. The robot will look for the signal from the docking station. And the signal will attract and guide the robot back to the charging base.

2. Advanced Navigation Technology

Some high-end devices apply cameras or laser-based mapping technology, allowing the robot to map your house. And the location of the docking base will also be shown on the map.

These robotic vacuum cleaners have the ability to recall your home’s layout and where the charging base is located.

Hint💡: For more information about robot vacuum mapping technology, read this blog.

Tips on Where to Put the Docking Station

Before you welcome a robot vacuum into your home, it’s important to store the charging base in the right place. There are some workable tips on where you should place the docking station in your home.

Tip 1: Give the Dock Plenty of Space

Placing the base in an open area helps the robot vacuum to receive signals and return to the base smoothly after the cleaning job is completed.

In general, we recommend having 1.5 to 3 feet of empty space on either side of the base. And in front of the base, at least 4 feet of open space should be left.

In addition, a location with no obstacles on all sides allows the robot to maneuver freely without being trapped.

Tip 2: Put the Base on a Level Surface

If you set the charging base on a level surface, your robot will clean more effectively and can get back to its home unobstructedly.

The hard floor is the ideal horizontal surface. Consequently, you should not place the base on surfaces with a height drop, such as thick carpets, door thresholds, stairs, etc.

Tip 3: Place It Near an Outlet

The robot returns to the base when it needs to rest and charge, so the charging base should be placed close to the outlet. Lean it against the wall and plug it into the outlet, tidying up any extra wires.

Tip 4: Don’t Store the Robot in Areas with Water

Keep your robot vacuum out of water-containing spaces, such as bathrooms, toilets, pet drinking bowls, etc. Your device will suffer serious damage if water seeps into the sensors, circuitry or motor, etc.

Tip 5: Place It in an Area with Well WiFi Coverage

Your robot will need to read the map on the app if it is using a camera or laser to navigate. As a result, you should ensure the docking station is kept in a position with a strong network signal.

Top Smart Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair with Docking Station - Lubluelu SG60

This overall mid-range robot vacuum is worth the investment. It comes with a charging dock to keep the device powered up at all times.

In our testing, it performs well on flat surfaces such as hardwood and tile floors. The "carpet mode" allows it to automatically increase suction on low-pile carpets to clean fine and large debris embedded in the carpet fibers.

The robot vacuum features a gyroscopic navigation system that enables the machine to move methodically back and forth across the room in a zig-zag path, while not missing any corners and spaces.

With the help of its versatile sensors, it can effortlessly identify and avoid everyday things like furniture legs, power cords, and even pet waste.

At the lowest suction setting, it has a runtime of up to 130 minutes, which can clean up to 1,200–1,400 sq. ft of space with one charge.

Due to its thin profile, it can easily clean underneath your couch, bed, and cabinets, moving freely throughout the room and removing any dust and dirt.

Additionally, it's worth considering if you have allergies. It has a built-in HEPA filter that captures 99.97% of allergens as small as 0.3 microns, effectively reducing the spread of allergens.

To discover more about this highly regarded robot vacuum with docking station, watch the video below.

 

FAQs on Robot Vacuum Docking Station

Q1. What to do if the docking station is in the wrong position on the map?

Put the robot on the base, and set it to "ALL" mode to clean. The robot will complete a full tour of your house before regenerating the map. It will properly find itself and relocate the dock to the right position on the map.

Q2. If I move the base, do I have to remap?

No, you don't. As discussed in the first section, if your robot uses infrared to discover the charging base, your device can still detect the base's infrared signal after you move it. The robot will find the dock once the cleaning cycle is completed.

If your device employs laser or camera navigation, it will update itself after a complete cleaning as long as you allow it to start cleaning at the new position of the dock.

Q3. Can I run one robot vacuum with 2 docking stations?

Yes, you can run the robot vacuum with more than one docking station. If you live in a large area with two or more floors, it’s easier for you to clean the house with several home bases. When it needs to be recharged or the cleaning job is finished, the robot will head to the nearest docking station.