Every day modern man becomes less free time and spend those minutes and hours for cleaning your home or apartment does not want. Still, it is much more interesting and useful things! But to get out because someone needs, and it remains only to decide who that is. This task is quite capable home robot iRobot Braava 380t, and it is not just a vacuum cleaner – its functionality is much broader.
iRobot Braava 380t is a robot for dry and, more importantly, wet cleaning, so that neither vacuum nor wash the floors you no longer have. Today the assistant in our test, so we’ll see what it is, and is it worth it to buy it. The robot provided by the online shop GearBest.
Packaging
Robot iRobot Braava 380t comes in a very massive box of white cardboard strength. In size it resembles the packaging from the laptop. The material is dense, there’s a handy carrying handle. In some photos there is a matchbook for scale.
Every square inch of the box has information about the robot: it has pictures, package, key features and a brief list of the functions that are inherent in it. The quality and information content of the package deserves the highest rating, but there is a caveat: the data given in both Chinese and English languages.
Picking
But by itself, the robot iRobot Braava 380t is quite compact, therefore, in the box with it for sure is a lot of additional accessories. So it is: in addition to the standard components, the device is delivered in a very interesting utility.
So, buying this robot, you also get: docking station for charging, a power supply, a detailed manual, NorthStar navigation cube 2.0, two batteries for it, plus have a spare microfiber cloth and the module for wet cleaning Pro-Clean with an optional accessory for the liquid.
It is important to note that the navigation cube is needed here in order for the robot to successfully skirted all obstacles, be it a sofa, a pet or a table leg. In addition, with the help of the robot will stay away from ladders and falls from her. Also note that the instructions here only in Chinese, but in the Internet you can find a translation of it into Russian. The power supply also has a Chinese plug, and adapter is not included.
Characteristics
Specifications robot iRobot Braava 380t is in the instructions, and also there is a short list on the box. More detailed information can be found on the official website of the manufacturer or the store GearBest. The following is the combined table of the features of the gadget.
– kinematics: two wheels;
– method of cleaning: dry and wet wiping cloths;
– operation mode: dry or wet cleaning, normal or fast cycle
– the efficiency of cleaning: dry cleaning to 93 m2 (up to 186 m2 with additional navigation cubes), wet cleaning of up to 32 m2;
– built-in sensors of obstacles: mechanical front/side bumper, IR proximity sensor and the mechanical sensor of the height difference;
sensors orientation: navigate using the NorthStar cube, the rotation sensors of the drive wheels;
– controls: mechanical buttons on the case;
– display: led, beeps;
– autonomy: 4 hours (dry cleaning), 2.5 hours (wet cleaning);
– charging: 2 hours at the dock, 4 hours from power supply;
– battery: Ni-MH 7.2 V, 2000 mAh;
– material: glossy plastic;
– dimensions: 210х210х70 mm;
– weight: 1.8 kg.
Appearance
Robot iRobot Braava 380t is made in the body from black plastic with square shape. This decision is dictated by the need to expand the functionality of the robot, in contrast to the round competitors, is able to clean even in the corners.
The device itself is very compact, which allows you to store it on the floor or under the table, and it will not take much space. All control buttons located on the top cap for ease of use, and next to them there are four blue LEDs that show the current operating mode and battery charge in a given time. The coating semi-glossy on the upper lid has a slight bevel that allows the robot to wash the floor, for example, under low-lying bed.
In the center of the top panel has a cutout in the shape of a rhombus, an indoor glossy plastic under it hidden sensors navigation system NorthStar, and this area should always be kept open, not to cover anything. Also have front neckline, pick up the black transparent plastic is the place of deployment of sensors to determine the obstacle in the direction of motion. The back is hinged a spring-loaded handle for transporting the robot.
The bottom face of the robot body are not less interesting. In the front it has two spherical protrusion with automatic height adjustment – a sensor determining the height differences. Here there is a niche for installation cleaning the panels from the delivery kit.
The robot has two wheels, they are rigidly fixed to the platform, ie suspension travel they do not have as such. But the platform itself can move up and down and left and right, which makes the iRobot Braava 380t is very maneuverable. In addition, the wheels have a tread of soft rubber with small slats – that allows the robot to move easily on any surface, even on wet linoleum. Bottom the robot has input for power supply from the kit, and at the rear of the pad to charge from the docking station.
Ergonomics
The dock supplied, to use, you will probably not want to, and there are two reasons: it is large and takes a lot of space, it must be placed vertically, which is not very convenient: on your own iRobot Braava 380t charge can not. The only plus: half the time charging than directly from the PSU.
The robot has the ability to collect fingerprints and bad to be cleansed from them, that is flat will Shine after him, but he will always be smeared with fingerprints. Moreover, with the regular use of the docking station handle for transportation will not be available because it is where and contact pads that is in the back.
Panels for dry and wet cleaning are attached to the robot and removed very easily, but they mount very securely: in the process of cleaning it won’t hurt anything and will not depart. The design of these panels is simple: to figure out how to attach a rag or pour liquid, is not difficult, even without instructions.
The battery inside the iRobot Braava 380t has a separate niche, closed the lid with a single screw. The battery is connected by cable and can be easily changed in the event of a failure.
Napkins manufacturer recommends the use of genuine and at the time of writing counterparts on the trading floors was found. The water tank should fill only water, not detergent – this will reduce the life of your microfiber cloth and the robot.
Suitable flooring
iRobot Braava 380t can be used on virtually any floor covering – linoleum, tile, laminate, parquet and so on. During the tests the robot was tested on the granite and on plain and textured linoleum, coped with its task very well.
It is important that the floor surface was as smooth as possible from the point of view of the texture of material: from the ledges and climbs the suspension copes, but damage wood and other protruding parts render useless napkin. Also on the floor should not be large debris or hairballs and dirt.
Basic functionality and navigation
The main task of the iRobot Braava 380t is washing floors, removing them from thin layers of dust or dirt. Its functionality is comparable to a quick cleaning with mops. Also, the robot is able to scrub gently, not stubborn contamination.
Navigation is using the NorthStar cube supplied: it projects on the ceiling of the room a special label, which focuses iRobot Braava 380t. By itself, the cube has a small footprint and the frame is made of black matte plastic with led indicator on the side. Inside are placed two batteries of the standard “C” supplied. Tags are not visible to the eye, as projected in the IR spectrum.
In the process, the robot iRobot Braava 380t can move the cube and thereby to bring down the exposed label, so we recommend to put NorthStar on the dais – table, chair and so on.
If you disable a cube or not to change the batteries in it, the cleaning will still continue – iRobot Braava 380t can operate without him, however, the effective cleaning area will be reduced. However, the robot without problems fulfilled his task without Cuba in the rooms of 12 and 18 square meters, including washed the floors under the kitchen table. All the obstacles except two chairs, he determined independently.
Operating mode
iRobot Braava 380t has two modes of operation – wet and dry cleaning with a difference primarily in the nature of the movement and the amount of time spent. When the profile of the dry cleaning, the robot starts moving “snake” to capture the maximum amount of floor area, and upon activation of wet cleaning “snake” is replaced by “Christmas tree”. While the robot is moving further left and right to quickly clean the entire floor.
Stated that one cycle wet cleaning is limited to 32 m2, otherwise you’ll have to re-fill the tank with water, but it was enough for about 25 m2, which is also very good. The liquid level sensor no, so, in the absence of wet cleaning will become dry.
There are also modes quick cleaning, wet and dry – they are activated by long pressing the corresponding button. In the end, the robot is almost twice as fast, but tries to avoid walls and other obstacles, leaving the large unwashed areas. To use these modes, we recommend, if you prefer to clean every day, that is, when the degree of soiling is minimal.
Noise level
Work iRobot Braava 380t can not be called quiet, and sleep in the process of cleaning will not work. However, it is quieter than a regular robotic vacuum cleaners, and distract from the conversation as its dimensional hum, he just will not.
Measurements of volume were performed with a special sound level meter located at the level of an adult male is about 180 cm. The noise level depending on the size of the premises ranged from 40 to 50 decibels.
Test wet cleaning with the NorthStar cube without it
Test iRobot Braava 380t was held in the premises 12+18 square meters, which eventually gave 30 m2. Floor is smooth linoleum in one room and textured in another. The cube was placed on the windowsill near one of the walls. The robot coped with the task in 1 hour and 10 minutes, the tissue was maximally hydrated.
Cleaning in this mode was carried out fairly accurately traces the dust was left anywhere, even close to walls and furniture, but once had to add water to the tank. And yet, the robot is too slow: manually the same purity of flooring can be achieved in 20 minutes. A quick wet cleaning was completed in 30 minutes, but the robot does not reach the walls and furniture of approximately 10-12 inches, which is quite a lot, but the quality is still high.
Without NorthStar cleaning is very slow: the robot spent a lot of time for self-familiarization with obstacles and was very afraid to get close to the door jambs. The final cleaning of 30 m2 about 2 hours. However, the cleanliness of the sexes was good. In both cases, although the microfiber cloth was very dirty, indicating the efforts of the robot.
Test the dry cleaning with the NorthStar cube without it
In this mode, the robot iRobot Braava 380t uses no water and just wipes the floors, sweeping the dust and pet hair. The tests were conducted under the same conditions as during a wet cleaning, and installation took about 40 minutes for both rooms. The quality of cleaning using the navigation cube can be evaluated on a 4+ out of 5.
Without navigation cube dry cleaning iRobot Braava 380t takes 1 hour and 20 minutes, but the quality is satisfactory, i.e., satisfactory. A lot of missed areas, remnants of the dust on the road following all this says is clearly not in favor of the robot.
Summary
Buy robot iRobot Braava 380t for cleaning definitely worth it as it performs its work quite well, however it is best used in tandem with a robotic vacuum cleaner – it will collect large debris, and then iRobot Braava 380t will wash the floors to Shine. The quality of wet cleaning at height, dry cleaning also claims not originated, but always in time to change the batteries in the navigation cube – it will save a lot of time to both you and the robot. Also, don’t forget to add water to the reservoir if you plan to do all of it – the fluid in the container cover 25 square meters.
Conclusion
Final impression iRobot Braava 380t left positive: pleased with the high quality of performance, and the package is very rich – even the Energizer batteries have not forgotten to put. The disadvantages include the lack of instructions at least in English, a relatively high noise level and dependence on the navigation cube. Thanks to the online shop GearBest for the given instance iRobot Braava 380t for testing!
