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> Roborock appeared with LIDAR LIDAR is indeed a game changer, but Roborock was far from the first manufacturer to use it in botvacs. The first Roborock with

> Roborock appeared with LIDAR LIDAR is indeed a game changer, but Roborock was far from the first manufacturer to use it in botvacs. The first Roborock with LIDAR was released in 2019 and I remember getting a Neato botvac with LIDAR in the early 2010s.

mft_ 3y ago
Sure; apologies for not providing a comprehensive history of the space - I was just speaking from my (limited) experience.
JoshTriplett 3y ago
Has anyone innovated in the direction of privacy? "This is not a connected device, it does not talk to the cloud, there are no privacy considerations because we don't receive any of your data and never will".
- cqqxo4zV46cp 3y ago
  Probably not, because that is a niche interest. We both know that. I’m not salty about it. But come on, get off the soapbox.
  - _dark_matter_ 3y ago
    That's not true at all. Consumer reports often has privacy as a quality category in device judging. Clearly many people care about privacy _in addition_ to other concerns.
- KerrAvon 3y ago
  Yes, assuming this isn't vaporware. They're supposed to start shipping in March. https://maticrobots.com https://maticrobots.com Edited to add this quote from the website: Matic's intelligence is localized on the device, and it never sends any of your data to the cloud for processing. That means no user information is ever sold, shared, or even collected in the first place.
  - paledot 3y ago
    I bought into the Eufy ecosystem on the same premise, but it's still internet connected, so all you really get is a pinky swear that they're not copying your data for their own purposes. Just because it's on-device doesn't mean it's not also elsewhere. Anoth quote from the website: > The HEPA bag is designed to hold about a week’s worth of debris with daily vacuuming and mopping. Replacement frequency will vary based on your usage. The "membership" (ie. prepaid refills) is advertised at $180. The best-case scenario is you're trading the always-online smart appliance debacle for the overpriced ink cartridge debacle. Pick your poison.
- hnhnhnhnhn 3y ago
  https://valetudo.cloud https://valetudo.cloud is a project which allows you to use many vacuums without connecting to the cloud.
- wizardwes 3y ago
  Not directly. Valetudo exists though, it's a custom firmware you can flash to a lot of different models that is privacy focused.
- ska 3y ago
  It doesn't even have to be a privacy angle, but complexity. There is nothing I would actually want a robot vacuum to do that requires a network connection, and few things that would even benefit from it (e.g. makes firmware updates easier, which you mostly shouldn't have to/want to do anyway).
  - troupo 3y ago
    I like starting it up automatically when I leave the house. For that you need automation and network connectivity
    - paledot 3y ago
      But not necessarily internet connectivity.
      - troupo 3y ago
        That's true.
- glenneroo 3y ago
  I picked up a Roborock E4 a few years back, both because it was relatively cheap and a couple thorough reviews indicated it was one of the better devices out there. I initially spent a couple hours trying (and failing) to connect it to the Android app, only to discover (out of frustration) that pressing the start button on the unit would clean just fine! I was absolutely relieved that it wouldn't be uploading anything anywhere, the only "downside" was that I couldn't indicate which areas/rooms to ignore, although I'm not sure that would have mattered much since I constantly move things around. I have no idea if any other models run without smartphone/tablet setup but if so, that would potentially eliminate any privacy issues ;) Maybe it's time to create a public spreadsheet with a list of models that run without a smartphone, and potentially any downsides to doing so...
- throwaway2037 3y ago
  I bet 99% people of who buy privacy invading products do not care. Yes, I know that HN loves to go on and on about privacy invasion. Yes, many educated people will tell you that they don't like companies monetising their personal info and habits, but if you watch their actions, they do not care.
  - schnitzelstoat 3y ago
    I don't care. I have a Roborock. I genuinely don't care if the Red Army knows how dirty my apartment is.
    - AniseAbyss 3y ago
      [dead]
hmottestad 3y ago
I've had the LiDAR on three Neato Botvacs fail over the past 7 years. In Norway robot vacuums have to last for 5 years, so I essentially got a new robot every couple of years for free. Probably the reason they went out of business.

mft_ 3y ago

Sure; apologies for not providing a comprehensive history of the space - I was just speaking from my (limited) experience.

JoshTriplett 3y ago

Has anyone innovated in the direction of privacy? "This is not a connected device, it does not talk to the cloud, there are no privacy considerations because we don't receive any of your data and never will".

cqqxo4zV46cp 3y ago
Probably not, because that is a niche interest. We both know that. I’m not salty about it. But come on, get off the soapbox.
- _dark_matter_ 3y ago
  That's not true at all. Consumer reports often has privacy as a quality category in device judging. Clearly many people care about privacy _in addition_ to other concerns.
KerrAvon 3y ago
Yes, assuming this isn't vaporware. They're supposed to start shipping in March. https://maticrobots.com https://maticrobots.com Edited to add this quote from the website: Matic's intelligence is localized on the device, and it never sends any of your data to the cloud for processing. That means no user information is ever sold, shared, or even collected in the first place.
- paledot 3y ago
  I bought into the Eufy ecosystem on the same premise, but it's still internet connected, so all you really get is a pinky swear that they're not copying your data for their own purposes. Just because it's on-device doesn't mean it's not also elsewhere. Anoth quote from the website: > The HEPA bag is designed to hold about a week’s worth of debris with daily vacuuming and mopping. Replacement frequency will vary based on your usage. The "membership" (ie. prepaid refills) is advertised at $180. The best-case scenario is you're trading the always-online smart appliance debacle for the overpriced ink cartridge debacle. Pick your poison.
hnhnhnhnhn 3y ago
https://valetudo.cloud https://valetudo.cloud is a project which allows you to use many vacuums without connecting to the cloud.
wizardwes 3y ago
Not directly. Valetudo exists though, it's a custom firmware you can flash to a lot of different models that is privacy focused.
ska 3y ago
It doesn't even have to be a privacy angle, but complexity. There is nothing I would actually want a robot vacuum to do that requires a network connection, and few things that would even benefit from it (e.g. makes firmware updates easier, which you mostly shouldn't have to/want to do anyway).
- troupo 3y ago
  I like starting it up automatically when I leave the house. For that you need automation and network connectivity
  - paledot 3y ago
    But not necessarily internet connectivity.
    - troupo 3y ago
      That's true.
glenneroo 3y ago
I picked up a Roborock E4 a few years back, both because it was relatively cheap and a couple thorough reviews indicated it was one of the better devices out there. I initially spent a couple hours trying (and failing) to connect it to the Android app, only to discover (out of frustration) that pressing the start button on the unit would clean just fine! I was absolutely relieved that it wouldn't be uploading anything anywhere, the only "downside" was that I couldn't indicate which areas/rooms to ignore, although I'm not sure that would have mattered much since I constantly move things around. I have no idea if any other models run without smartphone/tablet setup but if so, that would potentially eliminate any privacy issues ;) Maybe it's time to create a public spreadsheet with a list of models that run without a smartphone, and potentially any downsides to doing so...
throwaway2037 3y ago
I bet 99% people of who buy privacy invading products do not care. Yes, I know that HN loves to go on and on about privacy invasion. Yes, many educated people will tell you that they don't like companies monetising their personal info and habits, but if you watch their actions, they do not care.
- schnitzelstoat 3y ago
  I don't care. I have a Roborock. I genuinely don't care if the Red Army knows how dirty my apartment is.
  - AniseAbyss 3y ago
    [dead]

hmottestad 3y ago

I've had the LiDAR on three Neato Botvacs fail over the past 7 years. In Norway robot vacuums have to last for 5 years, so I essentially got a new robot every couple of years for free. Probably the reason they went out of business.