The iRobot iOS App - Automations and Productivity Hacks
iRobot is a company that produces home cleaning robots, including the Roomba vacuum and Braava mopping robots. With the new iRobot Home App, you can now unlock a cleaning experience designed around you. The app provides enhanced maps, the ability to clean specific objects, custom routines, seasonal suggestions, and intuitive smart home integrations. The app has been redesigned to give you ultimate control over your cleaning routine.
Customizable maps of your home enable your robots to go to the mess, cleaning by room, object, or area while staying away from Keep Out Zones. You can use Automations to connect to your smart devices and personalize your cleaning experience by scheduling your robot to clean when you leave the house.
iRobot Home, is it Abadon-ware or Well-maintained?
Over the last few years, the app has been updated fairly regularly - with an update frequency of 1 or 2 updates every few months. Although customers would certainly benefit from a faster cadence for bug fixes, we’d consider this a positive cadence.
Hacking your Productivity with “Automations”
Here are some examples of Automations you could create with a robot vacuum cleaner:
Schedule cleaning: You can create an Automation to schedule your robot to clean your home at a specific time each day, such as when you’re at work. This will ensure that your home stays clean without you having to manually start the vacuum every day. Clean specific rooms: Many robot vacuum cleaners come with mapping features that allow you to map out your home and set boundaries for where the robot should and shouldn’t go. You can create Automations to clean specific rooms or areas of your home, or to avoid certain areas altogether.
By scheduling the cleaning process at a specific time each day, you are freeing up time and mental energy that would otherwise be spent on the task of vacuuming. By setting up automations to clean specific rooms or areas of your home, you can be sure that your robot vacuum is cleaning exactly where it needs to, without wasting time or energy on areas that don’t need attention.
Trigger cleaning with voice commands: If you have a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, you can create Automations to trigger your robot vacuum with voice commands. For example, you could say “Alexa, start the vacuum” and your robot would begin cleaning.
Voice commands save you time and effort by eliminating the need to physically press a button or initiate the cleaning process manually. Simply instruct the robot vacuum to start cleaning without even leaving your seat.
Clean based on sensor data: Some robot vacuum cleaners come with sensors that detect when a room is particularly dirty or when there is a lot of dust in the air. You can create Automations that trigger the robot to clean based on this sensor data.
By automating the cleaning process based on sensor data, you no longer need to constantly check and monitor the level of dust and dirt in your home. This saves you time and energy that would otherwise be spent on manual cleaning, allowing you to focus on more important tasks.
Notify when cleaning is complete: You can create Automations that send you a notification when your robot vacuum has finished cleaning. This way, you can stay informed about when your home is clean and when the robot needs to be emptied or recharged.
By receiving a notification when the robot vacuum has finished cleaning, you can ensure that your home is always clean and tidy without having to spend time and energy checking on the cleaning progress.
These are just a few examples of the many Automations you can create with a robot vacuum cleaner. With a little creativity, you can customize your cleaning experience to fit your specific needs and preferences.
App compatibility
The iRobot Home App is compatible with voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Alexa-enabled devices, allowing you to clean with your voice. Your robot will stay up to date with automatic software updates. However, you must meet some requirements for the app to work correctly. Wi-Fi-connected Roomba 900, 600, 800 and e Series vacuuming robot models only support Wi-Fi networks with 2.4GHz band. Roomba i Series robots support both Wi-Fi networks with 2.4GHz and 5GHz band. The Braava jet 240 mopping robot uses Bluetooth Low Energy (built into most common mobile devices).
The app is designed to work with most iRobot Roomba, Braava, and Root products.
See our review of the iRobot S9+ which uses the iRobot Home App
Reviews are pretty good!
Customers generally have positive feedback about the app. They love the convenience of being able to control their devices from their phones, schedule cleanings, receive notifications when the devices need maintenance and get detailed maps of their cleaning progress. The app’s ability to learn from cleaning experiences and optimize future cleanings has been highly appreciated by customers, as it ensures that their floors are always spotless.
Complaints generally center on the following categories:
- Connectivity Issues: Some users have reported experiencing issues with connecting to their robot vacuum or maintaining a stable connection through the app.
- Limited Features: Although the iRobot Home App offers many features, some users have reported that the app lacks certain features that they would like to see. For example, users have requested the ability to customize cleaning schedules more thoroughly or to create custom cleaning zones.
- User Interface: Some users have reported that the user interface is not as intuitive as they would like, making it difficult to navigate and use the app effectively.
- App Stability: A number of users have reported experiencing app crashes or freezes, which can be frustrating and may require restarting the app or even the phone.
The iRobot Home app has made cleaning more manageable and more efficient for customers, and its user-friendly interface has won many fans. If you’re looking for a convenient way to control your iRobot devices, the app is highly recommended - if not essential.
Do I have to use the App?
Users can use physical buttons on the iRobot devices to control basic functions such as power on/off, cleaning mode selection, and docking. Advanced features and settings can only be accessed through the iRobot Home App.