The best robot vacuum cleaner for Home Assistant (2021)
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In this list, you will find the best robot vacuum cleaners that can be integrated with Home Assistant. I have picked a list of the most popular robot vacuum cleaners among the members and compared their level of integration with Home Assistant. Every model has been hand-picked and researched, before consideration.
While I do not own all robot vacuum cleaners mentioned in this article, I did write this list of the best robot vacuum cleaners for Home Assistant based on many reviews and community reports. I gathered the bulk of the information on the robot vacuum cleaners performance from the popular and very thorough YouTube channel Vacuum Wars. Additionally, I used both the Home Assistant community forum and subreddit to check for issues and compatibility.
It has been claimed that robot vacuum cleaners, or Hoovers as I wrongly like to call them, are one of the best additions to everyday life in recent times. In the Europe and America, this started with the emergence of iRobot's Roomba series and since then, many more manufacturers have joined the fray. While a robot vacuum cleaner won't replace your big and powerful manual vacuum cleaner anytime soon, they are great at picking up crumbs and dust lying around the modern smart home.
How I selected the best robot vacuum cleaners for Home Assistant
Integrating a robot vacuum cleaner with Home Assistant makes perfect sense. Using a simple automation, you can set it to clean your house when nobody is home. Or you have Home Assistant tell the robot vacuum to clean up after you in the kitchen using a physical smart button.
As with everything Home Assistant does, the possibilities are near endless. No robot vacuum cleaner would be complete without a proper brain behind its operation. And Home Assistant is, most likely, the best brain you can gift to any robotic butler.
I have divided the best robot vacuum cleaners for Home Assistant in to three distinct categories. Depending on what you are looking for, the models to take in to consideration can greatly vary. You can use the table of contents to easily and quickly jump to each selection.
First are robot vacuum cleaners for the tinkerers among us. These can be used with the popular cloud replacement, Valetudo. By using Valetudo, no data will leave your smart home, but it does require some tinkering.
The next selection includes robot vacuums that are deeply integrated with Home Assistant but are easy to set up. These will not require any complicated steps.
Finally, I will also be covering the most luxurious and powerful robot vacuum cleaners on the market.
The best robot vacuum cleaners that integrate with Home Assistant and have Valetudo support
Valetudo supports the following robot vacuum cleaners, and they can thus be deeply integrated with Home Assistant. Before getting into the nitty-gritty, a quick explainer on what Valetudo actually is:
Valetudo is not an alternative firmware for robot vacuum cleaners. It doesn't change the way how the robot vacuum cleaner operates. That means it won't be able to, for example, add multi-floor mapping to robot vacuum cleaners that don't support the feature in firmware. Valetudo is a cloud replacement for robot vacuum cleaners, enabling local-only operation.
Be warned that the manufacturers might one day disable any of the mentioned root methods. This could be done using a hardware revision or a firmware update. Make sure you inform yourself whether what you are looking to achieve is still possible, before making a purchase.
To be able to use Valetudo, you will need to root your robot vacuum. Once your setup is complete, you can benefit from the following features Valetudo offers:
Your robot vacuum cleaner will no longer upload maps of your home and information about your home network to any remote server. Without Valetudo, it will do this a few times per hour.
The Xiaomi Home app is no longer required to operate the robot vacuum cleaner. Due to the access this app needs to operate, it can be considered a privacy risk.
Valetudo makes it easy to see your robot vacuum cleaner's access token, making it trivial to integrate it with Home Assistant.
With Valetudo, you can customize your robot with voice packs. Do you want your robot vacuum cleaner to sound like GLaDOS? Now you can.
The mighty powerful and cheap Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop (Mijia 1C)
At a glance
Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop (Mijia 1C)
Suction power: 2500 Pa
Noiselevel: 63~70 dB
Battery life: 40-110 minutes
Navigation and mapping: Optical sensor with mapping support
With a noise level of ~63 dB in standard mode and ~70 dB in turbo mode, it isn't the quietest option, but it isn't annoyingly loud either.
It supports mapping and route planning and can cross barriers up to 20 mm.
Xiaomi claims it has a battery life of 110 minutes in silent mode, which, according to reviews, is correct. In max mode, it will last ~40 minutes. The Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop (Mijia 1C) achieves this by having a 2400 mAh battery.
The easiest way of identifying the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop (Mijia 1C) is by looking at the sensors. This robot vacuum cleaner does not have the pod containing the LiDAR sensors that many others do. The Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop Essential (Mijia G1) does look similar, but is missing the optical sensor behind the buttons.
The Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop (Mijia 1C) isn't perfect
That's not to say that the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop (Mijia 1C) is perfect. There are a few downsides to this Home Assistant compatible vacuum cleaner that might be dealbreakers for you:
It uses a camera pointed at the ceiling instead of a LiDAR sensor navigation. This makes it slimmer, but while LiDAR can function in complete darkness, the camera can't.
The included charging dock doesn't have cable management. This can be solved using some Velcro or a cable clip.
The Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop (Mijia 1C) is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum that supports mopping. However, the mopping feature isn't very useful. This is the case for most models, except for the Roborock S7.
How to root the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop (Mijia 1C) and use Valetudo
With the Dreame L10 Pro, you pay more, but you also get more (much more)
If the Mijia 1C is your everyday commuter car, the Dreame L10 Pro is nothing less than a Rolls-Royce. It has an astonishing suction power of 4000 Pa, a number I have so far not seen topped. The Dreame L10 Pro uses LiDAR for mapping and lasers for object avoidance, meaning it doesn't have to bump in to an object to know that it is there.
The Dreame L10 Pro's 5200 mAh battery gives it a runtime of 150 minutes in standard mode. Despite that, it isn't much larger than the Mijia C1. As with most robot vacuum cleaners, this one area it doesn't excel at is mopping. Reviews on Amazon praise the robot vacuum's suction power and its noise level, when compared to others.
As with the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop (Mijia 1C), to root the Dreame L10 Pro, you will be using the UART method. Make sure this method is still doable before making a purchase.
Rest in peace, Roborock S5 series (S50/S51/S55)
For the nerds and tinkerers, the best robot vacuum cleaner for Home Assistant used to be the very popular Roborock S5 (S50/S51/S55) series of robot vacuum cleaners. If you're confused about the model numbers, these refer to the different available colours. The Roborock S50 is the white version, the S51 the white version with a red trim, and the S55 is the black version.
The Roborock S50
The Roborock S55
The Roborock S51
The Roborock S5 was the first robot vacuum that wasn't from iRobot to make a big splash in the US and Europe. The reason these used to be the top picks of this category are twofold: They are excellent at what they do for the price, and they can easily be rooted. Furthermore, the fact that the LiDAR mapping sensors are in a little pod on top of the vacuum cleaner makes it look like a product from a sci-fi film.
I write in the past tense because the Roborock S5 series has been succeeded by the Roborock S6 and S7 series. Consequently, stock is slowly but surely running out. Your best bet of purchasing a Roborock S5 is by checking the second-hand market.
Do not buy the Roborock S5 Max, S6, S6 Pure, and S7 for rooting
While it is possible to root the Roborock S5's many successors, it is much more complicated than even the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop (Mijia 1C) and Dreame L10 Pro. Rooting the Roborock S5 Max S6, S6 Pure, and S7 requires a complete disassembly of the robot vacuum and soldering wires to the motherboard.
The Roborock S6 MaxV is technically also supported by Valetudo, but its root method is even more complicated than the aforementioned models and is thus not recommended. If you do not know what you are doing, you should not be rooting any current Roborock robot vacuum. It is too easy to brick or destroy your newly bought gadget.
The easiest robot vacuum cleaners to integrate with Home Assistant
Rooting a robot vacuum isn't for everyone, and some of you might just want one that works. That's what this category is all about: Robot vacuums with good Home Assistant integration, without any faffing about.
Navigation/mapping: LiDAR (works in the dark), supports multiple floor plan maps
Battery/runtime: 2100 mAh, up to 90 minutes
Cleaning options: Whole house and spot cleaning, scheduled cleaning
Shape: D shape with a longer brush roll than others
Speciality: Does a better job of cleaning edges and corners
Neato Robotics is a company based in San Jose, California and is an independent subsidiary of German corporate group Vorwerk. While they highlight privacy as one of the D8 Intelligent Robot Vacuum's features, I haven't been able to find out any details on what this entails. The one downside to Neato Robotics' products is pricing. The Neato Robotics D6, which doesn't support zones, will still cost you ~US$450.
Neato Robotics highlights privacy as a feature, but doesn't tell us what exactly it entails
The Neato Robotics Neato D8 is the model of choice because it, unlike the cheaper variants, supports zones. Zones can be set up in the Neato Robotics app (Android and iOS). In turn, these can be accessed by Home Assistant. Using the zones, you could, for example, have the robot vacuum cleaner clean the living room while you are in the office with the door shut. You could also tell a voice assistant to clean the kitchen area after you are done eating.
If you don't need the ability to clean zones and want to save a bit of money, other connected Neato Robotics robot vacuum cleaners, such as the D6, can also be integrated with Home Assistant. Neato Robotics' robot vacuum cleaners do not support mopping, but considering most others do less than a stellar job at it, this shouldn't be a big loss.
Navigation/mapping: LiDAR (works in the dark), supports multiple floor plan maps
Runtime: Up to 120 minutes
Cleaning options: Whole house and spot cleaning, scheduled cleaning
Shape: D shape
Speciality: Does a better job of cleaning edges and corners
Neato Robotics D8 is the easiest robot vacuum cleaner to integrate with Home Assistant
The Neato Robotics Neato D8 wins the prize for being the best robot vacuum cleaner that easily integrates with Home Assistant. You could claim the iRobot Roomba integration is just as easy, or even easier, but it doesn't offer as many options. Once integrated, there are several platform types, Home Assistant will deliver:
A camera entity allows you to view the latest cleaning map.
Home Assistant displays the battery level as a sensor.
A handy switch allows you to enable or disable the schedule.
Using the vacuum entity, you can start, pause, or stop the Neato Robotics. Additionally, you can send it back to its base, locate it, and start a spot cleaning.
The Roborock S6, S6 Pure, and S6 MaxV integrate with Home Assistant (without root)
Just because you shouldn't buy the Roborock S6, S6 Pure, or S6 MaxV for rooting, doesn't mean you can't integrate them with Home Assistant. Home Assistant's Xiaomi Miio integration uses the python-miio library, which has support for most, if not all, Roborock robot vacuums. Even if the list of supported devices doesn't mention them, a quick glance at the release notes reveal that they are.
To integrate a Roborock robot vacuum with Home Assistant, you will need to know the vacuum's token. The easiest way of finding that token is by using the Xiaomi Cloud Tokens Extractor tool. Piotr Machowski, the developer of that tool, has also provided the community with the Lovelace Xiaomi Vacuum Map card, which enables you to specify a target or start a zoned clean-up using a live or static map.
As I have already published a thorough article on how the individual Roborock models compare, I won't be listing all the features here. The Roborock S6 is essentially a quieter S5, while the S6 Pure is cheaper than the S6, but has a smaller dustbin. All have a suction power of 2000 Pa. The Roborock S6 MaxV is the first Roborock robot vacuum cleaner with an increased suction power of 2500 Pa. It also has two front-facing cameras with onboard AI for object detection and avoidance.
The luxury robot vacuums that integrate with Home Assistant
The following list contains what I call luxury robot vacuums. These will integrate with Home Assistant and have bonus features, such as auto-emptying docks and best-in-class specifications.
The iRobot Roomba s9+ locally integrates with Home Assistant
The iRobot Roomba s9+ is possibly the most feature-rich robot vacuum cleaner you can buy, but is, unexpectedly, also the priciest of them all. iRobot's Roomba vacuums are auto-discovered by Home Assistant and thus, the integration couldn't be any easier. The integration with Home Assistant isn't as fully featured as you might have hoped for. From what I can tell, there is only a basic functionality available without having the ability to display a map. I do not own a Roomba, so I can't confirm this.
Suction: Approximately 2500 Pa (iRobot does not list the number in the spec sheet)
Advanced dock: The Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal that allows the s9 to empty itself for up to 60 days
Navigation: vSLAM
To my knowledge, the iRobot Roomba s9+ is the first robot vacuum cleaner which has an auto-emptying dock. That could make it a favourite among those who want the most complete automation. It is also directly compatible with both the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Reviewers have praised this robot vacuum cleaner for its ultra-powerful suction, but that does have the downside of making it louder. The iRobot Roomba s9+ does not support mopping. Home Assistant connects to iRobot Roomba robot vacuum cleaners using an MQTT server, which runs on the vacuum itself. Theoretically, this allows you to use it without having it connected to a cloud service.
The Roborock S7 is the king of mopping and integrates with Home Assistant
The Roborock S7, the latest in a line of highly regarded robot vacuum cleaners that integrate with Home Assistant, is the king of mopping. It uses hypersonic mopping, similar to how an electric toothbrush works, for the best result ever seen from a 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately, earlier models appear to do a better job at vacuuming. Perhaps the S8 can combine best-in-class mopping with just as good vacuuming.
There is an optional auto-emptying dock (the Roborock Auto-Empty Dock) available to purchase separately. What I like about this dock is that it uses a cyclone and not bags. Though that does depend on where you purchase it, as it appears, the US version only works with bags.
Sonic Mopping Technology: Roborock S7 robot vacuum mops with the power of sound, scrubbing up to 3,000 times per minute.
Intelligent Mop Lifting: S7’s VibraRise mop lifts when a carpet is detected, so you can mop hard floors and vacuum carpets in a single clean.
Powerful Performance: With 580g mop pressure and 2500PA HyperForce suction, Roborock S7 easily lifts dust and hair from floors and pulls it from deep inside carpets.
Liam Alexander Colmanis an experienced Home Assistant user who has been utilizing the platform for a variety of projects over an extended period. His journey began with a Raspberry Pi, which quickly grew to three Raspberry Pis and eventually a full-fledged server. Liam's current operating system of choice is Unraid, with Home Assistant comfortably running in a Docker container. With a deep understanding of the intricacies of Home Assistant, Liam has an impressive setup, consisting of various Zigbee devices, and seamless integrations with existing products such as his Android TV box. For those interested in learning more about Liam's experience with Home Assistant, he shares his insights on how he first started using the platform and his subsequent journey.
Comments
Mijn vrouw en ik zijn beiden 84 jaar jong. We zoeken een voor ons bedienbare robotstofzuiger die voor ons oudjes het meest geschikt is. Kunt u ons helpen uitzoeken? Wij zien door de bomen het bos niet meer.
Mijn vrouw en ik zijn beiden 84 jaar jong. We zoeken een voor ons bedienbare robotstofzuiger die voor ons oudjes het meest geschikt is. Kunt u ons helpen uitzoeken? Wij zien door de bomen het bos niet meer.
How do you integrate the Roborock S7 into Home Assistant? As far as I know it’s not really possible.
Check out this thread: https://old.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/s9f488/heres_my_roborock_s7_vacuum_map_automations/