Since entering the era of smart technology, consumers have increasingly high expectations for various home appliances. Smart TVs, smart dishwashers, smart mattresses, and other products are constantly emerging. Consumers even wish to replace all the power outlets in their homes with smart ones.
Smart cleaning has also received widespread attention from consumers in recent years. As someone who is keen on improving their "quality of life," Little Lei has purchased several so-called hands-free sweeping and mopping robots. However, these robots not only fail to free up hands but also often bring new cleaning problems to Little Lei.
For example, one sweeping and mopping robot has very poor self-cleaning ability. Even though Little Lei always makes it self-clean again after each cleaning, over time, the base station's drain still accumulates a pool of dark and smelly water. As a result, Little Lei occasionally has to endure the stench and clean the drain, leading to Little Lei eventually choosing to stop using this product.
The other few products also have various minor issues, such as the app frequently failing to connect to the robot, or not cleaning various sanitary dead corners thoroughly. While they are generally usable in most situations, they fall far short of the manufacturers' claim of "completely freeing up hands."
It is believed that Little Lei is not the only one who has encountered these situations. Not only do consumers pay unnecessary prices, but it also indirectly damages the overall atmosphere of the sweeping and mopping robot market.
As a leading figure in the field of intelligent cleaning in China, Zhumai naturally understands the various issues and pain points that consumers encounter in smart cleaning. They have successively launched products like X20 and X30, which not only perfectly address user pain points but also set a clear direction for the entire robotic vacuum market.
So, can the Zhumai X40 Pro Ultra released in 2024 truly free your hands and alleviate the pressure of household chores? Will it once again spark a new wave of competition in the smart sweeping and mopping robot market?
This is how a smart sweeping and mopping robot should be.
From the previous text, it can also be seen that the sweeping and mopping robot used by Xiaolei before was really just a simple sweeping and mopping robot, which is hard to associate with the word "smart." Besides its poor self-cleaning ability, it often gets blocked by data cables on the floor or gets stuck, not only failing to complete the cleaning task but also requiring Xiaolei to pull the data cables out of the brush one by one.
This is closely related to the radar and algorithms equipped in the sweeping robot. Currently, most sweeping robots on the market use LDS single-point laser radar. Its advantage lies in its low cost and a set of sophisticated matching algorithms, but the downside is that the maps it generates tend to be 2D, making it difficult to achieve precise positioning when faced with objects with high reflectivity, such as mirrors or shiny panels.
The X40 Pro Ultra is equipped with an industry-first panoramic LiDAR (dToF LiDAR) technology. By measuring the time interval between light pulse emission and reception, it can determine distance information about the surrounding environment. With a mechanical rotating structure, the dToF LiDAR achieves a 360° panoramic coverage without blind spots, enabling more precise and faster mapping. Combined with years of algorithmic expertise, it mimics human-like dynamic vision and computational capabilities, allowing for centimeter-level precise obstacle avoidance.
To test the Roborock X40 Pro Ultra's response to sudden obstacles, Xiao Lei placed his foot directly in its path. The robot hesitated briefly for a second, then swiftly changed course, efficiently cleaning the surrounding area without touching Xiao Lei. During mapping, the Roborock X40 Pro Ultra identifies all obstacles on the map, such as socks or shoes in one area, and a large amount of cables and wires in another. If any errors are detected, they can be promptly corrected in the app. With guidance from Roborock's AI algorithms and user input, the X40 Pro Ultra continues to become smarter, evolving into a true "smart butler."
Some attentive readers familiar with robot vacuum cleaners may have noticed that although the Dreame Bot Z10 Pro Ultra is equipped with an LDS laser radar, why doesn't it have a protruding radar like other robot vacuum cleaners? This involves the second major highlight of the Dreame Bot Z10 Pro Ultra. It features an industry-first retractable radar module. During daily cleaning, the radar will rise, and when it detects a relatively low area ahead, it will automatically retract the radar module, making the body more lightweight.
Some readers may have already noticed by now, isn't this similar to the "pop-up camera" that was popular in the smartphone market a few years ago? Indeed, there is a resemblance between the two, but the radar design in the Quest X40 Pro Ultra has more practical significance. It allows the Quest X40 Pro Ultra to delve into low areas as shallow as 8.8cm for cleaning, addressing a common pain point for many consumers.
However, areas like under the sofa, bed, or TV cabinet are typically poorly lit. Can the Quest X40 Pro Ultra rely solely on its radar and camera to complete cleaning tasks in these dark areas? To enhance the cleaning effectiveness of the Quest X40 Pro Ultra in low areas, Quest has equipped it with an automatic LED fill light that activates when the lighting is insufficient. With this triple assurance, the Quest X40 Pro Ultra can effortlessly navigate in the dark.
The radar solution equipped in the X40 Pro Ultra by Dreame not only positions Dreame far ahead in the market but also pioneers a new technology that could lead the development of the entire robotic vacuum and mop market. We believe that this year we will see many robotic vacuum and mop products incorporating this technology.
When robots also learn to "lend a hand"
As mentioned earlier, traditional robotic vacuum and mop cleaners have always struggled with cleaning dead corners like wall edges and table legs. Even though some manufacturers have come up with solutions like "twisting the butt," there would still be some residual dead corners left, requiring users to clean them again.
Dreame set a precedent with its previous X20 series by introducing a bionic mechanical arm structure that automatically extends the mop of the robotic vacuum and mop cleaner, effectively cleaning up debris in corners and edges. However, relying solely on the extended mop still falls short of achieving full coverage in dead corners, as hair and small particles of debris can be dragged around by the mop.
Therefore, on the Dreame X40 Pro Ultra, we see a dual bionic mechanical arm design, where both the right side brush and the right mop can automatically extend. The front brush sweeps away debris in front, while the mop follows to wipe away stains and dust along the edges, finishing the cleaning job with a graceful "tail flick."
After using this set of "smooth combo moves," not only can it handle daily small trash, but it can also clean even stubborn stains spotlessly. This is closely related to the all-new self-developed ultra-large suction fan equipped in the pursuit X40 Pro Ultra, with a suction power reaching the industry's largest at 13,000Pa. Combined with the new all-rubber dual main brush design, it can clean dust, snack crumbs, or even larger solid waste in one go.
By the way, Xiao Lei also discovered another advantage of the robotic arm during use: increased flexibility in maneuvering. Traditional mopping robots have fixed mops, which can lead to scraping or even getting stuck when encountering table legs. In contrast, the extendable robotic arm of the Dreame Bot Z10 Pro Ultra enhances its obstacle avoidance capabilities. When detecting furniture, the robot can dynamically adjust the mop with its mechanical arm to the appropriate position for cleaning, eliminating concerns about furniture placement affecting the robot's cleaning performance.
In terms of details, considering the main brush and side brush picking up dust while sweeping, and easily causing a "water flicking" effect on water and stains, the X40 Pro Ultra also provides functions for raising and lowering the side brush and main brush. In mopping mode, both the main brush and side brush are raised and do not participate in mopping at all. This is the only robot vacuum and mop in the industry that can freely raise and lower the side brush, main brush, and mop, making it fair to say that Zhiyun is a pioneer in new technology.
A robot vacuum and mop that can "bathe" itself
Self-cleaning has always been a challenging issue for robot vacuum and mop devices, as they come into contact with all kinds of dirt every day. Inadequate cleaning can easily lead to odors and bacteria, especially in humid and hot climates like Guangdong, where residual dirt may even mold in the base station, resulting in unpleasant smells.
In this regard, the Zhiyun X40 Pro Ultra provides me with a sense of security. Firstly, it has made three improvements to address the most common residual dirt on the chassis. It is equipped with dual scraper bars similar to car windshield wipers, which can scrape off various residues on the chassis. Secondly, it has extended the length of the diversion groove to allow water to flow better to the mop part, ensuring direct contact between clean water and the mop to prevent dirty cleaning. Thirdly, it has incorporated a UV ultraviolet lamp with strong sterilization capabilities. Just 30 minutes of operation is equivalent to seven hours of sunlight exposure, achieving a 99% sterilization rate.
Next, the X40 Pro Ultra is optimized to address any potential bacterial growth areas. For instance, it is equipped with a deodorizing particle module in the sewage tank, a silver ion sterilization module in the clean water tank, and antibacterial materials in the dust bag and dust box. Additionally, when cleaning the mop, hot water up to 75°C is used to not only effectively remove oil stains but also further disinfect the mop.
Under the comprehensive approach of "covering all bases," the Zhumai X40 Pro Ultra has seamlessly obtained the mother and baby-level sterilization certification. Therefore, users with young children at home need not worry about the bacteria it harbors causing various diseases.
Apart from its user-friendly design, it's also user-friendly in operation.
Voice interaction has always been one of the standout features of Zhumai's sweeping and mopping robots. In contrast to many competitors that still require the use of an app to control their robots, the Zhumai X40 Pro Ultra has effectively covered 90% of usage scenarios with voice commands. Functions like "cleaning," "charging," and "self-cleaning" can all be achieved with a simple phrase.
To further enhance the understanding capabilities of the Zhumai X40 Pro Ultra, Zhumai has equipped it with the industry's first truly vertical large model - the DreamGPT large language model. It can assist new users in achieving a better cleaning experience based on Zhumai's accumulated algorithms, operational logic, and user habits over the years.
During use, Xiaolei was also surprised to find that his Apple Watch could control the Zhumai X40 Pro Ultra, perhaps another manifestation of the interconnectedness of all things.
Although the interaction with the X40 Pro Ultra can mainly be done through voice commands, let me explain its app control. Upon entering the product page, you will find a very simple and easy-to-understand interface. Options like custom cleaning, area selection cleaning, whole-house cleaning, and cleaning frequency are all neatly arranged at the bottom of the screen. Even if you have never used a robot vacuum and mop before, you can quickly get the hang of it.
In addition, we can choose between intelligent hosting or custom cleaning. With the multi-spectral intelligent sensing dirt system, integrating AI visual technology, it can automatically identify dirty areas and their degree. After intelligent hosting, the machine will automatically make cleaning judgments. Heavily soiled areas will be cleaned multiple times. You can choose between sweeping before mopping or integrated sweeping and mopping. With custom cleaning, you can define cleaning modes, set suction power, adjust the wetness of the mop, cleaning route preferences, and more.
It's quite interesting that if you set the cleaning mode to "sweep before mop" in the APP, the Roborock X40 Pro Ultra will first leave the mop cloth at the base station, and only after completing the cleaning task will it return to the base station to take the mop cloth away. This effectively eliminates the possibility of secondary contamination from the mop cloth.
The X40 Pro Ultra has some fun features, such as two-way video calling. You can use it as a surveillance camera, and its voice conversation function is practical. Unlike regular robot vacuums that can only perform basic tasks, the X40 Pro Ultra can understand commands. It can be summoned to specific rooms and areas for cleaning, almost like it has a brain of its own, eliminating the need for user intervention.
If we were to rate it, previous robot vacuums in the market would only score passably with Xiao Lei. While they do free up users' hands to some extent, there is still a gap from true liberation. However, the X40 Pro Ultra would get a 90 from Xiao Lei. It significantly reduces the need for manual intervention in various aspects, with enhanced precision in positioning, obstacle avoidance, and intelligent scheduling, allowing consumers to truly be hands-off.
Not to mention its top-notch low-profile design, excellent cleaning coverage, and superior disinfection capabilities, it's hard to imagine that all these features come from just one robot vacuum and mop. This is definitely the most powerful and comprehensive robot vacuum and mop on the market today.
If you haven't used a robot vacuum and mop before, or have had unpleasant experiences like Xiaolei with some products, why not give the X40 Pro Ultra a try? I believe its presence will surely change your perception of the entire robot vacuum and mop market.
