What is the Matic Cleaning Robot?
Content
Introduction
Introduction
What is the Matic cleaning robot? The Matic is a smart floor cleaning robot that tackles both soft and hard surfaces, combining vacuuming and mopping capabilities. It functions as an autonomous home appliance capable of cleaning carpets, hardwood, tiles and other flooring types.
The Matic's cleaning prowess extends beyond vacuuming and mopping, as it navigates your home with remarkable stealth. Equipped with five color cameras, it constantly adapts to its surroundings, responding to real-time changes like a seasoned explorer. Just like other smart home devices, it's receptive to gestures and voice commands, further enhancing its user-friendliness.
Dimensions
Body
Width: 11”, Length: 9.4”, Height: 7.8”
Head
Width: 4.1”, Length: 9.4”, Height: 1.6”
What's In the box
Matic robot vacuum
Charging dock
Power adapter
2 HEPA bags
2 mop rolls
2 brush rolls
User manual
Quick start guide
You can also purchase an optional Matic membership for $15 per month. This membership includes the following:
Automatic delivery of replacement HEPA bags, mop rolls, and brush rolls
Free shipping on all replacement parts
24/7 customer support
Extended warranty
Exclusive access to new features and software updates
Features
Obstacle avoidance
Real time 3D floor mapping
Cutting edge vision software
Wet/dry vacuuming and mopping
Auto toggles between cleaning modes
Responds to your voice and gestures
Works hard day or night - stays quiet
Data stored locally
Smartphone integration
The mop roll is constantly cleaning itself (so you don’t need to keep changing it) and everything collects in a HEPA bag for easy disposal.
What makes the Matic different from the others is its ability to perform simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). It is the method used by autonomous vehicles which give them the ability to build a map and localize their location on that map at the same time. SLAM algorithms also allow the vehicle to map out unknown environments. This information is used to carry out tasks such as path planning and obstacle avoidance.
Particulars
Source: Pixar
Science fiction often envisions fictional technologies that may predict real-world inventions. The Matic does appear to follow this lineage, bearing a slight resemblance to the M-O bot from the animated film WALL-E.
Noise
I use a Dyson v11 for general vacuum chores and on the high setting it is around 82 db noisy. The Matic is rated at a maximum of 55 db. For comparison I asked Bard to list other items which produced sound around 55 db. The following are five items it identified.
Quiet refrigerator: The humming sound of a refrigerator is typically around 55 decibels. This level of sound is considered unobtrusive and is not likely to cause any hearing damage.
Quiet conversation: A normal conversation between two people typically takes place at a sound level of around 60 decibels. However, if you speak in a softer voice, the conversation can be as low as 55 decibels.
Whisper: A whisper is a very soft sound that is typically around 30 decibels. However, if you whisper very close to someone's ear, the sound level can increase to around 55 decibels.
Light rainfall: Light rainfall produces a gentle patter that is typically around 50 decibels. However, if the rain is heavier, the sound level can increase to around 55 decibels.
Rustling leaves: The rustling of leaves produces a soft, airy sound that is typically around 20 decibels. However, if the wind is blowing, the sound level can increase to around 55 decibels.
Ease of use
The Matic is operated via voice commands, gestures, or from the smartphone app.
Durability
The body of the device is made of ABS plastic which is used in a variety of products, including appliances and electronics. The lid is PC plastic and the wheels rubber.
Energy efficiency
According to independent testing, the Matic robot vacuum uses an average of 10 watts of power per hour. This is significantly less than many other robot vacuums on the market. For example, the Roomba 980 uses an average of 25 watts of power per hour, and the Neato Robotics D7 uses an average of 30 watts of power per hour.
Challenges
Pesky dust bunnies and pet hair tumbleweeds lurk about in every home. Low-clearance pancake vacuums are able to slither under beds and cabinets to suck up these lurkers. Unfortunately, the Matic lacks this slim-fit capability. At about 8 inches tall, it cannot squeeze into cramped spots harboring grime.
To compensate for its limited reach, the Matic employs sensors to detect problem areas proactively. Dirt-detecting radar constantly scans for debris and stains. When it pinpoints grime out of reach, the Matic logs it as a task pending manual cleanup.
If Matic encounters an item determined to be grime but is too large to vacuum, such as a leaf, it will log it as a task pending manual cleanup and navigate around it.
If Matic encounters a large spill, it can determine if it has the capacity to clean it. If not, a notification is sent to alert you of this circumstance.
Conclusion
I consider the Matic robotic vacuum a capable premium appliance. Its ability to make decisions comes from a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. The 845 shares many attributes with the popular Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 used in many smartphones and tablets..
However, it is important to set expectations. Unlike the M-O bot, robotic vacuums can not do it all. There will be times when humans will have to step in to perform cleaning tasks and as with all vacuums, there may be debris it doesn't handle well such as string or long hair.
Another important fact to remember is most, if not all, of the current generation of robotic vacuums lack the ability to navigate stairs which makes them best suited to single story homes.
How much Matic do you need? A single Matic should be able to care for a two thousand square foot space. But if you need or want more, a total of four Matics can share the same environment and coordinate tasks.
As a high-end appliance, the Matic comes at the premium price of $1795. If you order before the end of the year you can purchase at the introductory price of $1495 and to encourage your purchasing decision, you will receive a complimentary one year Matic membership.
Whether the price is an impediment will depend on your needs and budget. Other high end robotic vacuums are being discounted for the holidays and can be purchased for less.
Not a good fit. An alternative to a robotic vacuum may be a cleaning service. In the area where I live, $1795 will almost buy a year of monthly professional cleaning which includes more than the floor. There may also be a use case where professional cleaners come in monthly to do a thorough cleaning and the Matic keeps things tidy in between.
