For too long, robot floor cleaners have proved more trouble than they’re worth. What might have first seemed like an ingenious way to eliminate vacuuming from our lives has simply added another, possibly even more annoying, set of problems. The time spent freeing your device when it gets trapped in a corner for the fourth time that week, or fighting to be heard over the racket it makes while cleaning can feel like they far outweigh any benefits—but all that’s about to change.
The innovative two-in-one Narwal T10 promises to revolutionize forever the way people clean their floors. It’s the first device to act as both a vacuum and a self-cleaning mop, thanks to simple-switching, interchangeable modules, and a whole array of smart features such as 3D perception and intelligent navigation. It’s also, unbelievably, self-cleaning. Automatically detecting the levels of dirt on the mopping pads as it works, the Narwal periodically returns to its docking station to be cleaned and re-released to continue its task.
Pet hair and crumbs are no match for the powerful suction, and the replaceable filter captures even the smallest of particles and allergens. Rather than a traditional roller brush, it utilizes twin three-legged side brushes to prevent hair from tangling and jamming the device. Best of all, it does all this with noise levels of as low as 55DB for vacuuming (about a quarter as loud as a regular vacuum cleaner), and around 45DB for mopping (roughly the same volume as a quiet library or the sound of a bird call). Never again will you log in for an important meeting or sit down to enjoy a boxset after a long day, only to be interrupted by the din of a robot cleaner making its way around your home.
The mopping function is just as efficient. Triangular mop pads—rotating 3 times per second—cover 30 percent more surface area than the round pads typically found on similar devices, which results in a more efficient clean, even in the tightest of spaces. Here, the innovative self-cleaning function comes into play: once a certain level of dirt is detected on the mop pad, the robot returns to its base where it will be washed clean and auto-dried to avoid spreading germs, and maintain performance. The twin water-tanks—one for dirty and one for clean water—ensure that dealing with the aftermath of dirty floors is as simple as replacing the container. For those keeping an eye on their water wastage, the Narwal T10 is an eco-efficient alternative to a traditional mop and bucket. It only uses 16oz of water—that’s the same amount as a grande americano—to polish the floor of a medium-sized room to a spotless shine.
It also benefits from an impressive 2.5-hour battery life, though there’s no need to keep an eye on it, as it automatically returns to the dock for a partial charge if the battery levels aren’t enough to finish the current task—meaning coming home to a half-mopped floor is a thing of the past. It can also be activated remotely by app, so that you can set it on its way while you’re out and about.
However, arguably the most impressive feature of the Narwal T10 is its intelligent navigation. The simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology allows you to design a map for the device to follow, working in a zig-zag cleaning pattern to ensure a thorough finish and avoid cross-contamination. Twenty-six LiDAR sensors help the device create a map of its surroundings to avoid obstacles in its path, even those that move, and you can define no-go zones (for instance, to avoid mopping a rug). Plus, the anti-collision and cliff-sensing functions mean you’ll never have to worry about your robot cleaner crashing into a table leg or falling down the stairs.
And though appearances aren’t everything, it doesn’t hurt that the Narwal T10 looks exceptional. The robot itself is a smart, sleek thing, small enough to slide under the lowest of couches and coffee tables, and the minimalist docking station where it returns for cleaning is stylish enough to blend unobtrusively into any interior.
With a winning combination of form and function, it’s no wonder that the Narwal T10 has already been lauded in the Edison Awards, the Red Dot Design Awards 2020, and has even been heralded as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 best inventions of 2020.
Check out Narwal T10 at shop.narwal.com.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
