Samsung NaviBot Robotic Vacuum SR8845 & SR8855 reviewed

Every profession is subject to outsourcing these days, but is a human maid replaceable? If Samsung continues to innovate with devices like the recently unveiled NaviBot vacuum, the answer is yes – someday.

Introduced in Vienna in February at Samsung’s European conference, the Samsung NaviBot aims to vacuum dirt intelligently, using visual and infra-red sensors, and without blindly bumping into furniture, walls, or other objects. The NaviBot initially takes a video of its surroundings, converts this into a digital blueprint of sorts, and then goes to work.

In addition to high-tech elements such as processor chips, the NaviBot has rotating brushes and sucks dirt like any conventional vacuum. It also returns to its charging station by itself when the power is low, then returns to the spot where it stopped to continue cleaning. A couple of hours of charging allow the device to clean for 90 minutes.

The Samsung Navibot comes in two models, the NaviBot SR8845 and the Navibot SR8855, ranging in price from $599 (£399) to $674 (£449).

Less attractive than a human maid, the NaviBot's rounded edges could nonetheless be described as “curvy.” Oh, and if you’re concerned about managing the device, there’s a remote control for household inhabitants to fight over, since they won’t have to argue about vacuuming any more.

NaviBot reviews suggest that it works fairly well, although slowly, and does not do well around the edges of a room or bases of furniture, evoking comparisons to human maids who may move more quickly, but yield similar results. Ideally though, one could return from work to find a relatively clean home with no personal effort expended, thus leaving more time for exercise on the treadmill or stair climber.

The Samsung NaviBot faces competition from other makers like iRobot, the creator of both the Roomba and a floor washing robot called Scooba.