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Dyson 360 Eye

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Re: Dyson 360 Eye

#161

Post by robert_tweed »

I really want to know how this compares with the LG Roboking. Inevitably, all the comparisons (especially those in Dyson's own marketing) will be with Roomba, which has terrible AI, terrible suction, terrible range and hasn't significantly changed since the first version released in 2002.

Back in 2002, the "insect" AI was actually quite innovative, and necessary for the computing power available at the time, but it's not 2002 anymore.

The latest Robokings are much closer to the Dyson in terms of AI (possibly better as details on the Dyson are still a bit vague). For example, it will map out a route through multiple rooms. If it needs to recharge, it will return to its base station and pick up where it left off. Unlike the Roomba, it does not use a random pattern so it will generally achieve about 97% coverage, compared to about 75% coverage for Roomba. It will also do it in roughly half the time.

The Dyson will likely have better suction, but presumably it still won't be good enough to completely replace a standard vacuum, so that may not matter at all. I think the things that matter most in a robot vacuum are:

- Can it clean multiple rooms efficiently, recharge itself when necessary and pick up where it left off after emptying its dust compartment?

- How quickly can it do that?

- How much noise does it make when it's running?

- Will it avoid getting trapped on rugs, curtains, under couches, etc?

Ideally, it should empty its own dust compartment too. As far as I know, Karcher make the only robovac that does this and I'm not sure how it stacks up in other areas. Plus it is really, really expensive.

Re: Dyson 360 Eye

#162

Post by martin_ »

tonylemesmer wrote: post #97

I worked on this product back in 2002-2005. I developed the initial wheel system for this and early prototypes of their digital (switched reluctance) motor once we realised we'd need a very high power density compressor motor. Sadly the battery technology has taken a long time to get to the point where it can now give a useable run time, even when the vacuum only consumes 100W (typical cabled vacuums use 1.7-2kw). Al…

Video caption: "16 years. 200 engineers. £28m investment. The result? Tell us what you think it is." - wow.

Re: Dyson 360 Eye

#163

Post by cpr »

MrFoof wrote: post #138
cpr wrote: post #52

Others have commented similarly, but I just have to say that we've tried various Dysons over the years, and they always start off brilliantly. E.g., we vacuumed a nominally clean bedroom with a new Dyson upright and it was like steam-cleaning, or better, since it was dry--we pulled out a whole container's worth of dirt. But then after 6 mo to a year, they start to fall apart, with (their many internal) joints not sea…

Do you primarily have carpet or hard flooring. Whenever I have predominantly hard flooring, the Dysons work without a fault. Plush carpet? They're just not up to that task. You need something considerably more heavily built.

No, very low-pile carpets and Orientals.

Re: Dyson 360 Eye

#164

Post by cpr »

IshKebab wrote: post #136
cpr wrote: post #52

Others have commented similarly, but I just have to say that we've tried various Dysons over the years, and they always start off brilliantly. E.g., we vacuumed a nominally clean bedroom with a new Dyson upright and it was like steam-cleaning, or better, since it was dry--we pulled out a whole container's worth of dirt. But then after 6 mo to a year, they start to fall apart, with (their many internal) joints not sea…

My parents have a DC01, and about a week ago it started making burning smells. Turns out the motor brushes had run out. How many products can you say that you've used until their motor brushes run out? I don't think it's ever happened to me. I think you've just been unlucky. They have a 5 year warranty anyway for such an event.

Yes, our motor burned out after a couple of years, and then we had to chase all over kingdom come (about an hour's drive) to find a dealer who could fix it.

Re: Dyson 360 Eye

#165

Post by partition »

They claim that avoiding vacuuming the same area twice saves power, but is that true in every situation? Math-wise, it seems possible for a self-avoiding path (with thickness) to be _longer_ than a similar path (with thickness) that does self-intersect, so the vacuum is on longer, so it actually consumes more power.

Edit: And if you do go over the same spot twice, you should be able to detect that with your navigation system so that you can turn the brushes and suction off or something.

Re: Dyson 360 Eye

#166

Post by moogleii »

cpr wrote: post #52

Others have commented similarly, but I just have to say that we've tried various Dysons over the years, and they always start off brilliantly. E.g., we vacuumed a nominally clean bedroom with a new Dyson upright and it was like steam-cleaning, or better, since it was dry--we pulled out a whole container's worth of dirt. But then after 6 mo to a year, they start to fall apart, with (their many internal) joints not sea…

I've had mine for about 4 years now and it's fine. Perhaps you weren't emptying the tank often enough, which is when it fills about half way for whatever reason. Otherwise, no idea, sorry.

Having said that, I was expecting wonders from it when I first got it, but the suction isn't as amazing as I thought it would be. I suspect it's just very good suction considering it's bagless. I'm tempted to switch to a Miele as well when my Dyson dies...which it seems to be taking its sweet time doing. But I suspect I will miss not having to pay for cyclical costs (i.e. bags).

Re: Dyson 360 Eye

#167

Post by prawn »

gwern wrote: post #146
prawn wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cleaning bathrooms is horrible. I don't know why we haven't built bathrooms that can be sealed, towels/art put in a cupboard, and then a button pushed to pressure spray the interior and blow dry it. Waterproofed components, lighting and cabinetry wouldn't be impossible. We pay a cleaner mostly because the bathroom is little joy to clean.

> I don't know why we haven't built bathrooms that can be sealed, towels/art put in a cupboard, and then a button pushed to pressure spray the interior and blow dry it. I recall that Buckminster Fuller tried to build that sort of bathroom: the idea was that it'd be basically a one-piece metal thing with no seams or cracks for mold/dirt and all rounded corners, so one could just spray it down. I guess it didn't work f…

There are self-cleaning public toilets in many places these days.

I think it would be possible if the right suppliers set their minds to it. I guess it requires the spraying and drying technology and that won't exist until the bathroom hardware itself exists, and that won't change until the spraying/drying is an option.

Re: Dyson 360 Eye

#168

Post by m_eiman »

melling wrote: post #99
m_eiman wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm really not sure why robots aren't already vacuuming our floors, raking the leaves and mowing our lawns by now. Eh, they are? It's not like this is the first of its kind. As far as I can see its claim to fame is a more powerful suction device, the other features already exist in other products.

No, they're not. Smartphones existed before the iPhone. And cars existed before Henry Ford too. There's the first to market companies then there's the company that creates the product that pushes it into the mainstream.

At least in Sweden, robot vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers have been mainstream tech for years. It's not just some enthusiast thing, a large portion of house owners have these things.

Re: Dyson 360 Eye

#169

Post by jamessb »

prawn wrote: post #93
adventured wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any task that humans really hate to do, but like or need to have done. In one giant category: cleaning. That includes dusting, cleaning walls and ceilings, cleaning showers and tubs and toilets, cleaning windows. Cooking food. Starting initially from simple things, evolving to more elaborate combinations. Chef3000 can now cook over 500 things! Self-cleaning! Mowing the grass. Some companies are already deep into tryi…

Cleaning bathrooms is horrible. I don't know why we haven't built bathrooms that can be sealed, towels/art put in a cupboard, and then a button pushed to pressure spray the interior and blow dry it. Waterproofed components, lighting and cabinetry wouldn't be impossible. We pay a cleaner mostly because the bathroom is little joy to clean.

A woman called Frances Gabe essentially did this with her entire house ('the self-cleaning house'): http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/17/garden/son-of-carwash-the-...

Re: Dyson 360 Eye

#170

Post by jonah »

githulhu wrote: post #59
delsarto wrote: post #23

"17,000 rpm with digital pulse technology" ... I guess that means a PWM DC motor controller?

"Digital motor" raised my eyebrow too. Apparently it's this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reluctance_motor Guess marketing didn't think "Reluctance motor" had quite the same ring, and I'd tend to agree.

Linked from that page is this article which goes into the design and development of the motor a bit: http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/power/dyson-vac...
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