Miele RX1 Scout

Cleaning robots are not new, but this new model from Miele is a winner

The Miele RX1 Scout is designed to vacuum clean a 1,600 square foot area on a single charge, and then automatically return to its base to recharge before it begins to clean another section or repeat a cleaning cycle.

The RX1 uses a triple cleaning system of rotating side brushes that target difficult-to-reach areas along the walls of rooms and furniture, sweeping the dust to the centre of the unit where a removable beater bar picks up coarse particles; and then in a final step, a fan sucks dust into its dust compartment like a vacuum cleaner. Its 0.6 litre dust bag can be released at the touch of a button to empty it once full.

This robot uses a proprietary navigation system of parallel tracks to cover an entire area, instead of the random crisscross patterns other robotic vacuum cleaners follow, ensuring a better clean up job and an optimised battery usage.

The RX1 also features a high quality digital camera on top of the unit, which scans the ceiling of the room several times a minute to keep itself on course. There are three sensors at the bottom of the unit that stop it from tipping over the edge of stairs. It can also easily negotiate rugs up to 2 cm thick and keep cleaning. Seven infra red sensors around the unit make sure it does not bump into anything. And if you want to keep it out of a specific room, just install a magnetic strip at the doorstep and it will not cross this line.

You can command the RX1 by pressing one of the buttons on the top panel, or via its remote control unit. You can also programme it to start and finish at pre-defined times—while you sleep or are away at work.

The RX1 offers four modes of cleaning: ‘Spot’ mode for cleaning a defined area of 6 square foot, ‘Corner’ mode for cleaning the full room, ‘Turbo’ for 50 per cent faster pace but with wider spacing between its cleaning lines, and an ‘Auto’ default mode.

A source tells me that this unit will soon be available in India.

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Gagandeep Singh Sapra