Most modern Roomba models are designed to be used in multi-story houses and can handle moving between floors without getting confused. Roombas use various sensors and mapping technologies to navigate and clean efficiently. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind when using a Roomba on multiple floors:
Carrying the Roomba: Roombas are portable and easy to move between floors. You can manually carry the Roomba upstairs to clean that area and then bring it back downstairs to continue cleaning on the first floor.
Floor Layout and Obstacles: If the floor layout on both floors is significantly different or if there are obstacles that can change between the two floors, the Roomba may take some time to readjust to the new environment. It might initially bump into objects or walls as it relearns the layout.
Memory and Mapping: Roomba models equipped with advanced mapping technology, such as camera-based navigation or vSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), can better remember the layout of your house. They can continue cleaning where they left off even if you move them to a different floor. However, older models without advanced mapping capabilities may not be as efficient when moving between floors.
Different Floor Types: Some Roombas are optimized for specific floor types, like carpet or hardwood. If your two floors have drastically different types of flooring, you may want to check if your Roomba model is suitable for cleaning both surfaces effectively.
Virtual Walls and Barriers: If you have areas on one floor that you want to restrict the Roomba from accessing, consider using virtual walls or physical barriers to keep the Roomba contained on the desired floor.
Docking Station Placement: Ensure that the Roomba's docking station is placed on the floor where you want the Roomba to start and end its cleaning sessions. It should be accessible to the Roomba on both floors.
Before moving the Roomba to a different floor, it's a good idea to let it finish its cleaning cycle on the current floor and return to the docking station. Once it's back on the docking station, you can carry it to the next floor and press the "Clean" button or schedule a new cleaning session. This way, the Roomba will have a fresh reference point and be ready to clean the new area effectively.