Newark, CA and Chicago—March 2, 2013—What’s the number one complaint people have about vacuuming their floors?  According to new research from Neato Robotics®, it’s maneuvering the vacuum around table and chair legs and underneath furniture – along with getting close enough to edges and corners. Dealing with vacuum cords and lugging around a heavy vacuum were also cited among the most annoying aspects of vacuuming. Yet almost half of those surveyed wished there was a way they could vacuum their floors every day.

Enter the new Neato XV Signature Series of robot vacuums.  Introduced today by Neato Robotics, a Silicon Valley company that pioneers robot technologies to free people from household chores, the new vacuums are the smartest and most powerful robot vacuums yet.

The new sleek black models, which include the Neato XV Signature and Neato XV Signature Pro, feature Neato’s unique square front and low profile design, which lets them vacuum underneath furniture and close to corners and walls for maximum pick-up of dirt, dust, debris and pet hair.

Just as a coffee maker can be programmed to brew at a designated time, Neato vacuums can be set to clean a house whether the owner is home or not. The Control Center allows users to easily schedule daily cleanings, spot clean, or just push a button for instant cleaning.  Daily vacuuming – without the hassles – is automatic and simple.

Unlike other robot vacuums that bounce around a room in a random style, Neato’s advanced laser-guided navigation automatically maps a room to choose the smartest cleaning path.  Its Smart Sensor technology automatically detects and avoids stairs, and doesn’t bump into furniture like other robots do.  It’s even smart enough to return to its base to recharge and then resume vacuuming where it left off.

Features of the new Neato XV Signature™ Series also include:

• A high-powered vacuum that picks up dirt, debris, pet hair, dander and microscopic fibers, often overlooked by lesser-powered vacuums.

• A new capability called Corner Clever that help the robot vacuum enter and back out of corners more precisely, and continue around the corner to ensure it has thoroughly cleaned the entire floor.

• High-performance filters that rid homes of allergens, make homes healthier, remove particles from the air stream down to 0.3 microns in size, including mold, spores, dander, dust mites, pollen, textile and carpet fibers.

• Improved navigation that extends Neato’s lead as the only vacuum smart enough to navigate and clean multiple rooms.  Neato knows where it’s been, where it’s going and returns to where it left off.

• Large bag-less dirt bin, making it easy to use and environmentally friendly.

“Our new XV Signature series of robot vacuums demonstrates Neato’s commitment to developing the smartest and most powerful home robots to help consumers with household chores,” said Nancy Nunziati, vice president of marketing of Neato Robotics, Inc. “Our research confirms that people want a cleaner home but don’t like doing the tasks and don’t want to invest more time in cleaning. That’s where the value of a robot vacuum comes in—it automatically takes of care of cleaning the floors so people don’t have to.”

Along with the introduction of the new products, the company also announced the latest version of the Neato Robot software and the new Neato Software Update Tool. Neato Robotics is the only company to offer continuous improvements through upgrades available to customers, meaning their robots only grow smarter.

Customers can update their robots by visiting www.NeatoRobotics.com and clicking on the Software Updates link under the Support tab.

Availability and Pricing
The Neato XV Signature robot vacuums will be available for purchase in early April through the company’s many retail partners and directly from the Neato Robotics website. To purchase a Neato robot visit http://www.neatorobotics.com/products/.

The MSRP of the Neato XV Signature Pro is $449 and includes the new XV Signature aerodynamic vacuum design, two high-performance filters, and a versatile brush system, including combo brush and blade brush, for even more effective cleaning on all floor types plus pick up of tough pet hair.

The MSRP of the Neato XV Signature is $399 and includes the new XV Signature aerodynamic vacuum design, a high performance filter and blade brush for more effective cleaning.

See Neato Robotics’ new XV Signature line at the International Home and Hardware show in Chicago, IL March 2-5, Lakeside Hall Booth 11161, in Electronics + Home Healthcare.

About Neato Robotics
Neato Robotics believes it is possible to create robots smart enough to perform household chores as intelligently and efficiently as a human. Neato is dedicated to improving consumers’ lives, allowing them to spend less time cleaning and more time with family and friends. Neato is driving innovation with products like the Neato Robot vacuum that are smarter, more powerful, and more effective than anything previously seen on the market. For more information, visit http://www.neatorobotics.com/

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeatoRobotics

Keep up with the latest on Twitter: @neatorobotics

Check out our videos: http://www.youtube.com/neatorobotics

For product photos, logo and infographic on Neato Robotics research go to: http://www.neatorobotics.com/xv-signature/ or contact Barbara@krause-taylor.com

Media Contact:

Krause Taylor Associates for Neato Robotics

Barbara Krause

408.981.2429

Barbara@krause-taylor.com

The post NEATO ROBOTICS XV SIGNATURE™ SERIES TAKES ROBOT VACUUM CATEGORY TO NEW LEVEL appeared first on Neato Robotics.

January 10, 2013– Neato Robotics®, a Silicon Valley company that pioneers new technologies and products to free people from household chores, today announced that operations veteran Larry Wuerz has joined the company as senior vice president of worldwide operations.  Wuerz, a distinguished executive who has led global operations for some of the world’s most successful consumer electronics companies, will report to Neato Robotics CEO Warren Flick, effective immediately.

“Larry’s three decades of leadership and operational excellence at blue chip technology companies will be put to good use at Neato Robotics as we accelerate our growth plans,” said Flick. “He’s no stranger to fast product cycles, extraordinary competitive pressures, complex global supply chains and the need for relentless focus on costs.  Larry’s expertise and leadership will be central to our future achievements and we are very pleased he’s joined our team.”

Most recently, Wuerz served for five years as senior vice president of worldwide operations at Plantronics, a $700 million public company that successfully delivers world-recognized high quality consumer electronics product to retail, online and business channels. He was responsible for worldwide operations and supply chain, direct management of factories and all aspects of cost, delivery inventory, quality, procurement and support, including responsibility for over 3500 employees in several facilities around the world.

Before Plantronics, Wuerz held numerous leadership positions at Hewlett Packard, including worldwide vice president of operations and supply chain for HP’s Desktop Personal Computer organization.  Previously, Wuerz held the same title leading HP’s Consumer Desktop Personal Computer organization, where he helped grow the business from inception to the global market share leader. His extensive supply chain experience within the retail sector helped HP speed product cycles, reduce operational costs and adapt to competitive pressures.

“It was an easy decision for me to join Neato Robotics,” said Wuerz.  “It’s exciting to be joining a world-class management team that’s bringing robotics into the home – and helping create a whole new breed of consumer technology for mainstream consumers.”

In addition to Wuerz’s operations roles at HP, he also served in senior positions in other functional areas, including research and development, and human resources. He holds an MSEE from Stanford University and a BSEE from the University of Missouri Rolla.

About Neato Robotics
Neato Robotics believes it is possible to create robots smart enough to perform household chores as intelligently and efficiently as a human. Neato is dedicated to improving consumers’ lives, allowing them to spend less time cleaning and more time with family and friends. Neato is driving innovation with products like the Neato Robot Vacuum that are smarter, more powerful, and more effective than anything previously seen on the market. For more information, visit http://www.neatorobotics.com/

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeatoRobotics

Check out our videos: http://www.youtube.com/neatorobotics

Media Contact:

Krause Taylor Associates for Neato Robotics

Barbara Krause

408.981.2429

Barbara@krause-taylor.com

The post NEATO ROBOTICS RAMPS UP FOR ACCELERATED GROWTH IN 2013 WITH APPOINTMENT OF CONSUMER ELECTRONICS VETERAN LARRY WUERZ appeared first on Neato Robotics.

Newark, Calif., July 9, 2012 – Neato Robotics®, a Silicon Valley company that pioneers new technologies and products to free people from household chores, today announced the appointment of Nancy Nunziati as vice president of marketing and Allen Hollingshead as vice president of sales, Americas. Both executives will report directly to CEO Warren Flick.

As vice president of marketing, Nunziati will lead marketing strategy development and execution, product marketing, branding and corporate identity, company and product positioning, advertising and public relations, and internal and external communications for Neato Robotics. She is responsible for driving global demand generation, retail product and packaging design, and all online and social media properties.

In his role as vice president of sales, Americas, Hollingshead will oversee the sales team and channel marketing programs for the Americas. His responsibilities include account penetration, distribution and overall growth.

“Nancy and Allen will each play pivotal roles in driving demand and sales for Neato Robotics products through our rapidly-expanding channels of distribution around the world,” said Neato Robotics CEO Warren Flick. “They both have outstanding track records and decades of experience in growing the value and market share of numerous leading brands.”

With more than 25 years of experience working with technology companies, Nunziati has developed and executed dozens of creative and dynamic marketing strategies and programs. Her management experience ranges from early-stage startups to multi-billion dollar global powerhouses, such as Cisco and Logitech. She worked with Logitech for more than a decade in various roles, including director of Internet marketing and e-commerce; senior manager, customer satisfaction; and various product marketing management positions. Other brands she represented include NETGEAR, Dolby Laboratories and Palm/HP. Nunziati also worked on pro-bono marketing projects for non-profits through the Taproot Foundation. In addition to her extensive technology marketing experience, Nunziati has recently worked with several up and coming musical artists to produce a music video and an award-winning album. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Hollingshead is a dynamic leader with extensive marketing, sales and general management experience. During the last fifteen years, he has generated more than $3 billion in revenues and driven significant margin and market share growth for several global business leaders. Prior to joining Neato Robotics, he served as senior vice president of international sales and business development for Sensio, Inc., a privately-held international home kitchen appliance company that designs, markets and manufactures products for the retail consumer products category. He expanded its private-label business for large retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kohl’s and JC Penney’s, as well as core branded business across all retailers.

Between 1995 and 2009, he worked in various senior management roles for Hamilton Beach Brands, including more than 12 years as vice president, consumer, global commercial sales and international consumer sales and marketing. Hollingshead earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Arizona State University. He also completed executive management programs at Harvard Business School, University of Michigan and the Thunderbird School of International Business.

About Neato Robotics
Neato Robotics believes it is possible to create robots smart enough to perform household chores as intelligently and efficiently as a human. Neato is dedicated to improving consumers’ lives, allowing them to spend less time cleaning and more time with family and friends. Neato is driving innovation with products like the Neato Robot Vacuum that are smarter, more powerful, and more effective than anything previously seen on the market.

The post NEATO ROBOTICS EXPANDS GLOBAL SALES AND MARKETING LEADERSHIP WITH TWO SENIOR EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS appeared first on Neato Robotics.

As vice president of marketing, Nunziati will lead marketing strategy development and execution, product marketing, branding and corporate identity, company and product positioning, advertising and public relations, and internal and external communications for Neato Robotics. She is responsible for driving global demand generation, retail product and packaging design, and all online and social media properties.

In his role as vice president of sales, Americas, Hollingshead will oversee the sales team and channel marketing programs for the Americas. His responsibilities include account penetration, distribution and overall growth.

“Nancy and Allen will each play pivotal roles in driving demand and sales for Neato Robotics products through our rapidly-expanding channels of distribution around the world,” said Neato Robotics CEO Warren Flick. “They both have outstanding track records and decades of experience in growing the value and market share of numerous leading brands.”

With more than 25 years of experience working with technology companies, Nunziati has developed and executed dozens of creative and dynamic marketing strategies and programs. Her management experience ranges from early-stage startups to multi-billion dollar global powerhouses, such as Cisco and Logitech. She worked with Logitech for more than a decade in various roles, including director of Internet marketing and e-commerce; senior manager, customer satisfaction; and various product marketing management positions. Other brands she represented include NETGEAR, Dolby Laboratories and Palm/HP. Nunziati also worked on pro-bono marketing projects for non-profits through the Taproot Foundation. In addition to her extensive technology marketing experience, Nunziati has recently worked with several up and coming musical artists to produce a music video and an award-winning album. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Hollingshead is a dynamic leader with extensive marketing, sales and general management experience. During the last fifteen years, he has generated more than $3 billion in revenues and driven significant margin and market share growth for several global business leaders. Prior to joining Neato Robotics, he served as senior vice president of international sales and business development for Sensio, Inc., a privately-held international home kitchen appliance company that designs, markets and manufactures products for the retail consumer products category. He expanded its private-label business for large retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kohl’s and JC Penney’s, as well as core branded business across all retailers.

Between 1995 and 2009, he worked in various senior management roles for Hamilton Beach Brands, including more than 12 years as vice president, consumer, global commercial sales and international consumer sales and marketing. Hollingshead earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Arizona State University. He also completed executive management programs at Harvard Business School, University of Michigan and the Thunderbird School of International Business.

About Neato Robotics
Neato Robotics believes it is possible to create robots smart enough to perform household chores as intelligently and efficiently as a human. Neato is dedicated to improving consumers’ lives, allowing them to spend less time cleaning and more time with family and friends. Neato is driving innovation with products like the Neato Robot Vacuum that are smarter, more powerful, and more effective than anything previously seen on the market.

For more information, please visit www.neatorobotics.com

The post Neato Robotics Expands Global Sales And Marketing Leadership With Two Senior Executive Appointments appeared first on Neato Robotics.

Each cleaning cycle varies, depending on what kind of floor you’re running the Roomba on and how dirty the space is. For example, the Roomba’s first session in my two-bedroom apartment lasted about 50 minutes, while subsequent cycles were much shorter.
My Roomba had a mind of its own. It bounced off walls, barrelled its way into different bedrooms, plowed through piles of shoes, wasn’t afraid to look under the bed, and eventually found its way out from under a chair. Sometimes, when I pressed “Dock” on the remote to return the Roomba to its resting place, it took about five minutes to finish cleaning and get back to home base. At other times, it would return to the dock in about a minute.
My apartment is so small that I didn’t really have to use all three towers to create boundaries. I did, however, place a couple near the two bedroom doorways, thus successfully preventing the Roomba from going into those rooms (and making a bigger dent in my messy shoe pile).
When the Roomba finished a cycle, it made a triumphant little noise, as if to say, “Look, Ma — no hands!”
While the Roomba 790’s path to cleanliness at times seemed random, iRobot says the Roomba is designed to cover the same areas over and over again, with the belief that cleaning multiple times is key to getting a cleaner floor. And to that point, iRobot says, it more realistically mimics human behavior, as we often vacuum over the same area twice.

The Roomba uses a combination of software and optical sensors on the robot to read the area in front of it, and then chooses from more than a dozen programmed behaviors to decide how it’s going to tackle that floor.
Also, like earlier models, this Roomba has a tiny brush that sweeps from side to side as it is sliding around — like the tail of a horseshoe crab.
But the 790 definitely didn’t pick up everything on the hardwood floor. It left behind or entirely ignored coins, pieces of Styrofoam, and some dust tufts in hard-to-reach corners.
That’s where the remote control came in handy. Using that, I could easily direct the Roomba to pick up items it had missed; I could press “Spot” to instruct the Roomba to focus on a specific area. However, guiding and following the Roomba with a remote led me to believe I could do a better job myself if I just had a regular old vacuum in front of me. And it kind of defeats the whole idea of a robot vacuuming the house while you’re gone.
I could also schedule the Roomba for a cleaning. In my test, it started when it was supposed to, and returned itself to the dock when it was done.
I then placed the vacuum on a carpeted area. The Roomba is supposed to automatically adjust by lifting itself a little higher when it transitions from a flat surface to plush carpeting. The Roomba did a pretty good job of picking up obvious particles on the carpet.

After a few good runs, the Roomba was ready to be emptied. I simply turned it over, squeezed the plastic section where the dirt and dust had accumulated, removed it and emptied it into the trash.
In my case, there was such a lopsided ratio of hardwood-to-carpet that I wondered if a floor cleaner geared toward hardwood and tile floors might be a better ’bot for me. IRobot makes such a product: the Scooba, which, at the high end, currently retails for $500. Evolution Robotics makes a competing cleaner, the Mint Plus, which both sweeps and cleans.
I ran the Mint Plus after the Roomba was done vacuuming, just to see how it works. The Mint is square-shaped and much quieter than the Roomba. When the Roomba was running, I couldn’t make a phone call without explaining I was testing a robot. When the Mint was careening around in the kitchen, it sounded like a light-footed, curious cat.
But the Mint, which took a more methodical approach to cleaning, was also a little bit lethargic. Each of its sessions lasted about 10 minutes — making it more efficient, but not necessarily more effective.
For a whopping $700, I was hoping that the Roomba 790 would clean up every dust bunny, every last strand of hair, and in a super-intelligent way. So, while the robots may someday take over the world — and robotic cleaning certainly has its hassle-free benefits — this one’s not taking over all of your domestic duties just yet.
If you’re sold on what the Roomba can do, and like the idea of putting a robot vacuum on a schedule, a cheaper model without all the accessories might do the trick.

The post New Roomba Is Fully Loaded, But It Won’t Do All Your Dirty Work appeared first on Neato Robotics.

Nothing fancy, one day I hope to have it made into an actual sign.
But it illustrates my obsession with clean floors.
It’s this obsession that led me to be fascinated with the Neato Robot Automatic Vacuum. You mean a vacuum that doesn’t require you to push it around the house? Hello, this is the holy grail for vacuum obsessed folks like me.
Needless to say, I was extremely excited by the opportunity to get to test one out.
Neato Automated Robotic Vacuums are real vacuum cleaners, not simply floor sweepers that push the dirt around and suck up some of it. Neato vacuums clean up all sorts of dirt and debris from carpet and hard floors, and it does it automatically with a touch of a button or by programming it to vacuum on a schedule. The Neato does it all without any help from you including returning to its base to charge when it is finished. The only thing you have to do is empty the collection bin.
Take a look at some of the additional features of a Neato Robot:

The Neato XV-21 is specially designed for pet owners and allergy sufferers.
Description
New! Neato XV-21 Automatic Vacuum Cleaner is specially designed for pet owners and allergy sufferers. With the most powerful suction of any automatic vacuum cleaner, the Neato XV-21 picks up dirt, debris, and even the toughest pet hair. It vacuums your floors so you don’t have to do it.
The Neato XV-21′s special filter retains more than three times the amount of fine dust particles of standard filters, which is perfect for those with allergies.
A new bristled brush improves the pick-up of pet hair, dander and fibers.

Setup and assembly:
The Neato XV-21 requires no assembly. It comes with a base/charger, a roll of boundary marker, and an original style vacuum brush (no bristles) in addition to the already installed pet hair brush. Setup requires finding a proper location for the base unit, plugging it in and allowing the Neato to charge.
How to use:
The Neato Robot is easy to use. You can follow the instructions on the small screen to start the vacuum or you can set it to schedule at a specific time or day. You can also stop it at any time and send it back to its base. Once the Neato completes the vacuuming it will return automatically. The boundary marker allows you to set certain areas off limits for the Neato in case there is an area or room you don’t want it to enter in its cycle. It will keep going from room to room until it finds itself back where it started.
If you want to clean just a small area (4′x6′) you can position the Neato centered and facing the area to be cleaned and select “spot clean” and it will clean just that small area.
The Neato uses laser based tracking and positioning and maps the rooms locating walls and furniture. The map is constantly updated as it vacuums to ensure it doesn’t miss a spot. It is super smart and senses stairs and does not fall down them.
How it performs:
I was pretty impressed by the Neato XV-21. It’s smart and actually cleans very well. It moves slowly and methodically covering every inch of the floor. It picked up a lot of dirt and a lot of dog hair. I feel confident my floor is clean after it vacuums.
I really like the idea that I can do other things while the Neato does the vacuuming, but it doesn’t eliminate my work all together. Because I am not there doing the vacuuming, I have to do a cursory walk-through of the house to make sure there is nothing it will suck up that will clog it or break it such as a doll with long hair or water from the dogs bowl that dripped all over the floor. But really this is such a short exercise that it’s a small price to pay for having your floors cleaned while you get other things done.
Also, while the dirt compartment does seem to hold quite a bit for its size, it is nowhere near the size of a traditional vacuum. This means you have to empty it frequently and the unit doesn’t seem to indicate when it is full while in use. I wish the unit would stop and beep when the collection cup was full. There is an indicator light that claims it will turn from green to amber when full, and the screen is supposed to tell you it is full but the unit does not stop, it will keep running even though it is full. Plus the indicator light stays green and I do not get a full notice on the screen when the cup is full.
The noise level of the Neato is pretty great. It’s much quieter than my regular vacuum.
The Neato does very well between rooms, over thresholds and on small bathroom rugs. It doesn’t get stuck, even if it seems like it might, it manages to get itself corrected. I also like that it cleans under the beds and tables without me having to move them.
Finally, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that you can actually tell the carpet was cleaned when you look at it. It leaves those streaks that leave you feeling satisfied and sure your carpet has recently been vacuumed.

One annoyance I have found is that on manual use, if the unit runs out of charge, it returns to the base but doesn’t give you the option to pick up where it left off. When you schedule cleanings, however, the unit will stop to charge and return to where it left off to complete the cleaning.
Overall I give the unit a thumbs up. Simon, however, keeps letting it run over his tail and more than once has stood up with it attached, so he is not a big fan. Toby follows it around like it is another animal and is intrigued by it. I wouldn’t use it for full blown cleaning of an entire house with dogs if you haven’t vacuumed in a few days or so. I would probably vacuum with my regular vacuum then set the Neato to perform all my future daily maintenance because of the dirt collection volume.
See it in action:
The video below was taken as I told the unit to return to its base (sorry for the dogs barking). It’s fairly long but gives you an idea of the speed and smartness of the Neato XV-21. Please note that it hadn’t run a full cycle so you will still see some stuff on the floor.

Where to buy:
You can purchase the Neato XV-21 on Amazon.com for $429.99 or on the Neato Robotics website.

The post Neato XV-21 Pet & Allergy Automatic Vacuum Cleaner appeared first on Neato Robotics.

Robots don’t talk back.

Not that my kids talk back when they clean the house or anything (*cough, cough*) but if a robot would do a better job cleaning than my kids, without complaining about how much its arms hurt, or that its legs feel broken and I’m the most horrible mother in the world, I’d throw in a Christmas bonus.

So it’s pretty serendipitous that fate stepped in; I’ve got a robot vacuuming my bedroom while I write this. It’s called the Neato XV-21. My kids call him Robo-Buddy (yes, he’s a he) and are completely obsessed (in a good way) about the fact that he’s trying to replace them. In fact, the day he showed up my 7-year-old spent the entire afternoon following him from room to room, dropping to floor level to watch him clean up the corners full of dust.

The double awesome thing about Robo-Buddy is that once he starts up and goes bananas vacuuming all over creation, anything is fair game. Old crayons, Legos, special-pieces-of-paper-only-used-for-making-super-special-paper-airplanes, all of it, has to be snatched up off the floor and put away or Robo-Buddy will make it disappear. He vacuums on a regular schedule, (M-W-F at 10:30am) and picks up dirt and cat hairs that the upright (or the children) miss.

Robo-Buddy won’t replace our upright vacuum, he just doesn’t have the capacity to vacuum our entire house every day, but he might replace the kids. The amount of dirt, dust, and cat hair showing up in Robo’s vacuum filter is unbelievable. He runs under beds and across sections of pre-vacuumed floor and still manages to pick up things the naked eye can’t see, and I’m forever grateful to him for that. Pieces of pet and dust dander that have been simmering in my carpets for years (probably) are getting scrubbed and deep cleaned in a way they haven’t before. He goes home to his charging station when he’s out of juice and says thank you (via text on top of the vacuum) when I change his filter.

Thanks Robo-Buddy, I’ll take two of you.

The post Pay a robot to clean your house? appeared first on Neato Robotics.

I’m here to report that I have become a willing victim.

Yes, I’m weak. When given the opportunity to get a review sample of the Neato XV-21 Pet & Allergy Automatic Vacuum Cleaner I took the chance to observe a robot up close. Maybe knowing my enemy better could help me in some dystopian robot-controlled future. Besides, it’s not like I need the help. I barely do any chores around here due to my super responsible kids. Let me tell you, those kids were excited when the box arrived.

Because the instruction book noted a large open wall was best for a docking station, my family insisted it get a prime spot in our front hall where every visitor can now see who dominates the home. Our robot.

The Neato XV-21 is a compact little machine. It operates using “laser-based vision.” Each time it is turned on it scans the room with laser eyes, mapping the layout. It has no trouble clambering from carpet to tile, or from room to room. Cleaning it is surprisingly easy. Open the filter, empty the dust bin, snap shut. Takes 30 seconds. And the operating options are also simple.

But we couldn’t just call it a robot or XV-21. No, the humans here insisted it have a name. Proposals included Vacuumus Aurelius, J. Edgar Hoover, and Locutus of Floor. Locutus won. Also, the little thing has become a “him.” I will try to pretend I still call Locutus “it” for the purposes of this review but this is harder than you might imagine.

From the first time we first ran the Neato XV-21 we were impressed. When first turning on it powers up, surveys its surroundings, then gets to work with the sort of friendly purposefulness our Pomeranian thinks he exhibits. (Except the vacuum is actually useful.) The vacuum easily fits under furniture that even super responsible kids don’t move when they do chores. It pauses in a considerate sort of way when a moving object, human or pet, passes by. It displays polite prompts on its screen like “please put me down on the floor” when picked up and asks nicely when its dust bin needs to be emptied. The contents of that dust bin are a potent reminder of how useful a Neato XV-21 can be. OMG. The first time it had to be emptied twice before recharging. But following instructions, we ran it every few days (far more often than humans vacuum around here) and sure enough, the dust bin had less debris. In other words, our floors are demonstrably cleaner.

This is quite an accomplishment for a machine that’s about the size of two college textbooks. We have a big family tracking in who knows what from the barn, plus three dogs and all sorts of visitors. Yet we’ve noticed some amazing, totally unexpected Neato XV-21 side effects.

My family is fond of our little robot. When it gets stuck under our couch they cheerfully pull it out. They regularly straighten up to remove obstacles that might clog our suction-happy friend, keeping the floors freer of backpacks and magazines and other messes than ever before. They clean their bedrooms so the robot has a reason to visit (it’s screen politely asking to be put down as they carry it upstairs). And here’s the most wonderful side effect of all. Because the floors are cleaner, it motivates us to do better elsewhere. It’s like the vacuum has set an example for us to follow. The sinks get wiped out more often, the couch blankets put away, the library books tucked back in the trunk, well, you get the idea. One of my kids pointed out that our house looks like we’re expecting company. Not so sure that’s true. One of my super responsible kids isn’t really keeping up with that dusting.

But I’m a convert. I adore the Neato XV-21. I know the dander and pet hair has been substantially reduced around here. I can tell the floors look better. Maybe a robot-run future won’t be all that bleak. I may draw some eyes on our vacuum so I don’t feel quite so silly reminding him it to stop going under the couch.

Want to win your own Neato XV-21? Tell us in the comments what you would name your own vacuum. A winner will be randomly chosen from all our clever robot-naming entries. (You will be notified by email so please supply one on the comment form.) Deadline is Wednesday, June 27, 2012.

The post Giveaway: Neato XV-21 Pet & Allergy Automatic Vacuum Cleaner appeared first on Neato Robotics.

Neato XV-21™ Pet and Allergy Vacuum made by Neato Robotics Inc, includes vacuum, charging base, boundary markers, charging cable, 2 brushes, 1 filter
Specially designed for pet owners and allergy sufferers
Works on all floor types
Full-display LCD screen
Methodical cleaning
Easy to use by pressing start, selecting spot cleaning or programming a cleaning schedule
Automatically adjusts between hard and carpeted floors
Charges automatically; returns to charging base when done
Large dirt bin – about 3/4 of a quart
Obstacle avoidance sensors
Smart Path cleaning, planning using the laser map
Designed as a true vacuum with a beater brush
Strong suction; increased airflow (from previous model)
Picks up dirt, debris, the toughest pet hair
Allergy filter retains more than three times the amount of fine dust particles of standard filters
Includes Pet & Allergy Brush and Filter
Bristled brush improves the pick-up of pet hair, dander and fibers
Learn more from the manufacturer
1 Year limited warranty
MSRP $429.99
How Neato XV-21 Performed

Neato XV-21 Pet & Allergy Automatic Vacuum

Photo © Neato Robotics Inc
June 11, 2012
It was fairly easy to get familiar with the Neato LCD display and to program the vacuum. Just watch the 12 or 24-hour clock set up that runs the scheduling time, if you don’t want to be awakened by an eager vacuum during the night. If you just want cleaning on demand, you simply hit the start button to wake up the machine and again to get it going. It couldn’t be simpler.

We tried the spot cleaning, but since that’s limited to a 4′ x 6′ space, a scheduled cleaning every day takes care of most crumbs, lint, dust, hair, allergens and best meets our lifestyle. We could still get a full cleaning again on-demand (hit start twice) should we need it or if transferring the vacuum to another level or room.

We positioned the base on the main floor, allowing some wall space on each side and that worked well. The vacuum itself is roughly 13″ x 15″ but with the base, you need a 15″ x 15″ block of floor space. And it doesn’t work well to try and hide it under something. This is not a cave dweller; it likes a visible home base. Though it appeared confused at times when returning to its base, even stopping occasionally to mull things over when coming from the other end of the house, it never failed to return and properly connect.

Our floor plan is anything but typical and not robot vacuum friendly, semi-open with adjoining rooms and hallway. Steps by the way were no problem; the vacuum sensed the drop and turned away every time. We did clear its path to some degree when time allowed. This just makes sense, since energy wasted by Neato trying to disentangle from cords and so on, means less run time.

Speaking of run time, that’s excellent. Neato took an hour or more to vacuum the main floor and only twice halted to recharge and then resumed without prompting. Cleaning seems very planned, the way it scouts around, then starts row by row in the first section, moving on as needed to the next area. Definitely more focused than I am sometimes (vacuuming). Recharge time is very reasonable. We didn’t find the magnetic strip very useful. It mostly tried to go over and pushed it around. I found it easier to just place a chair/obstacle there, or close a door.

As for performance, I have to say that it wasn’t love at first clean, since I’d occasionally find specs that it missed. I know this may sound crazy, but Neato seemed to clean better, the more familiar it got with the space. It now seems less confused and more focused after a few days of cleaning, though it still occasionally misses something near furniture and I’m sure it missed an adjoining room a couple of times. Its obstacle sensors might be too sensitive, causing it to turn and vacuum a couple of inches alongside furniture, missing the odd spec there. That said, I still found it extremely handy even with the odd miss.

Being able to get the main living areas vacuumed every day (scheduled) without lifting a finger – except to empty the bin – is a big help. It also does not bump into furniture; more of a nudge and most of the time, just turns when it gets close to obstacles, without touching. Low pile entrance mats were no problem. My hubby loves working wood and that means there’s usually some sawdust around, especially on the mats. Neato kept them clean.

The main floor is all hard surfaces but the basement is berber-style carpeting. It didn’t seem to mind either way, but motored slightly slower of course, on carpets. How much it picked up in the bin while vacuuming carpets was amazing. As for operating noise, you can certainly hear it but it’s reasonable vacuum-wise. I’ve heard much noisier (regular) vacuums. There are no pets in this home but lots of allergies, so keeping allergens at bay is important.
Overall Impression

Things that impressed me the most about Neato: The smarter cleaning strategy, stronger suction than expected (just look in the bin), the way it transitions around obstacles and its ability to back out of tight places and free itself. Love the allergy filter and the size of the dirt bin.

But, appalled at the stuff in that dirt bin after just a couple of cleanings. Where did all that dust, hair, dirt come from? I can understand the haul from under the bed – there are bunny conventions there, but the main living area? And it’s not even going under/behind furniture. So every time I started pondering if an automatic vacuum was really necessary or practical given that I would also want to keep a regular vacuum on hand, I just needed to look into that dirt bin. And I’ve been shocked every time I look in that bin, especially when Neato did the same route the day before and there’s only two of us.

As for cleaning efficiency, Neato has the best suction I’ve seen in an automatic vacuum and the brush really helps with hair pick-up. It cleaned efficiently most of the time. There were some noticeable small specs that were missed and it occasionally returned to a previously cleaned area (to get more?). It was not able to pick up the dirt just below the edge of the recliner, or navigate in between some chair legs or in tight spaces, which is rather typical of robotic vacuums. Only twice did we have to help when it got stuck in odd places.

Overall, you still can’t beat the convenience of hands-off scheduled cleaning or starting it as you leave the home, to return to a mostly vacuumed spaced. In my opinion, Neato or any automatic vacuum will not totally replace a regular vacuum. I would still use one for those tight spaces and under/behind furniture, for stairs and crevices. That said, one place that a robotic vacuum does a better job than a regular vacuum, is under the bed and Neato did a great job there.

A robot vacuum can certainly free you from vacuuming or sweeping for several days in between routine cleanings, when you have better things to do, or you’re rushing to get ready for company. Neato did allow me to do other essential tasks during the testing phase so I didn’t have to vacuum for several days and that was very helpful. So it did prove its worth during testing.

As for price, Neato is comparable to some other robotic vacuums and reasonable considering the technology. Replacement parts unfortunately seem a bit pricey and you should get extra filters if purchasing one. A good question to ask yourself when justifying the expense of an automatic vacuum is: What’s your time worth?

As far as vacuuming strategy goes, it actually did a better job than many would do, because it took its time to stay the course. With our busy lifestyles, we often tend to run the vacuum around quickly and that’s not really good. Vacuuming slower is better; you pick up more. Neato took an hour or more to vacuum the main areas – more than I would take for that space. The proof was in the dirt bin!
About the Company and Related Resources

Neato XV-21 Pet & Allergy Automatic Vacuum

Photo © Neato Robotics Inc
Neato Robotics, Inc is based in California’s Silicon Valley. That certainly doesn’t surprise me since the area seems to be a hub for computer specialists and electronic advancements.

And Neato Robotics, Inc is on a mission – to replace homemakers with robots (that’s my take) – but certainly in the best way possible. That is, to make the smartest automatic vacuum – one that can do the work for us, so we can do more enjoyable things.

According to Neato, their “engineers and scientists dream big and innovate tirelessly with the promise of making all of our lives clean and simple.” I like that, so keep dreaming big. We can all use a helping hand.

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I had the opportunity to try out the Neato XV11 for the past month and all I can say is Love. Love. Love. This little gadget operates all on its own and is fully programmable. It can be set to operate while the house is empty or when someone is there to monitor it. The slim design makes it super easy for the vacuum to fit under really small places which I think is one of the best features. You can also mark off areas of your home where you do not want it to go with simple magnets.
The Neato Robotic was designed to help save people time since it automatically does the vacuuming for you, but I’ve also found it to have another purpose. It is quite entertaining! The boys and I have gotten quite a kick out of seeing the Neato move about the house picking up debris and finding its way back to the base. You’d be amazed just how amazed we are with our little Neato. So instead of doing something productive ourselves, we find ourselves watching it do all the work. Even our dog Spinna thinks it’s amazing. From the sound of his barking, I’m not sure if he’s trying to figure out what the neato is doing or if he’s telling him ….Hey, come over here, you missed a spot!

Growing up I used to always watch the cartoon, the Jetson’s, and I was a fan of the robot housekeeper Rosie. I always wondered how cool would it be to have a robot around to help out with the house cleaning. Well, we don’t have a Rosie, but we do have a Neato Robotic and it has become my new little helper. Neato also gets the boys involved. My oldest is now taking the initiative to keep his room cleaner and I no longer have to ask them to vacuum their rooms. But wait…just how much work is involved in the push of a button? Well he does have to pick up the pile of clothes off the floor for neato to do his work, so I guess that constitutes cleaning.
Results for the Neato Roboto Vacuum
Everyone can use a little extra help now and then, especially for busy individuals. All-in-all the Neato Robotic is a good buy as long as you are not expecting a robotic maid. There is only so much the Neato Roboto Vacuum can pick up before it will need to be emptied and reset. He’s good but not that good so that’s where you’d have to come in. Neato can clean just about any surface. I’ve tried him on both a tile surface and carpet with great results. What’s neat about the Neato robot vacuum is it’s smart technology that allows him to know the difference between a wall and a doorway. He can even recognize ledges and stairs so he won’t fall down.
YOU CAN SEE THE NEATO ROBOTIC IN ACTION HERE

This is one powerful little cleaning tool. I was amazed by how much debris it picked up. You will probaly have to make a few runs over the floor just to make sure all the debris you can’t see in the carpet is picked. And due to the size of the vacuum the dirt cup is moderately sized so you may have to empty it a few times in the beginning.
Easy to use – simply place it in the center of the room and push the “ON” button
Low maintenance – The most that I have to do is empty the full dust bin and change the filter now & then
Charges automatically – the Neato XV-11 finds it’s own way to the charging base when it’s low on batteries and then continues cleaning once it’s charged
Works by itself – I can set it before leaving and come home to clean floors
Avoids obstacles – for the most part it goes around things it can’t get under and goes around furniture and along the walls
Schedule ahead – you can set the Neato XV-11 to clean at designated times by setting its timer
Path planning – this vacuum first assesses the room before vacuuming in a methodical pattern
REAL VACUUM – with a full beater brush and strong suction, it works as hard as your upright or canister
As with any product, there are Cons.
Some might argue about the price of the Neato XV-11. It is a bit pricey, but compared to some uprights I’ve tried it is very effective making it worth the price. The cleaning power and suction is amazing and it does well on pet hair. It may be small but it’s definitely not wimpy. The other is that for anyone with a large home, the vacuum is going to need to be emptied often.
Those are only a couple of issues but in my opinion not big one’s at all… and besides the deep cleaning of the Neato is really impressive. Considering the cost of many ‘standard’ high end vacuums these days, the NEATO is within budget for luxury appliances, and well worth it! I give it 5 stars for the performance!

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