Dyson 360 Vis Nav | Latest Leap into the Robot Vacuum Scene

Brace yourselves, tech and cleaning enthusiasts, because Dyson aims to triumphantly return to the robot vacuum arena after a seven-year hiatus! Today, they unveiled their new home cleaning marvel, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav.

This is not Dyson’s first foray into the world of robot vacuums. Sir James Dyson, the company’s founder, introduced his first prototype of a robot vacuum as far back as 2001. The concept was revisited with a more compact and ostensibly smarter model, the Dyson 360 Eye, in 2014. However, despite the innovative design and functionality, it didn’t quite manage to capture the US market’s heart as Dyson had hoped. Deemed ‘ill-suited to US homes,’ the 360 Eye was pulled from shelves, and its successor, the 360 Heurist, still needs to make its way to the American market.

Fast forward to today, and Dyson is back; they have learned from previous mistakes and, with renewed energy, have unveiled the Dyson 360 Vis Nav. However, before we start, let’s check out the critical information.

When will the Dyson 360 Vis Nav launch?

Dyson 360 Vis Nav will be available in Australia from the Dyson Store from May 25. We expect US and UK releases to follow later in the year.

How much will the Dyson 360 Vis Nav cost?

For the Launch, it will be priced at AU$2399, roughly $1599 US or £1285. US and EU market prices have not been confirmed yet.

Now, more on the vacuum.

Introducing the Dyson 360 Vis Nav

Striving to push the boundaries of cleaning technology, Dyson’s new 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum aims to tackle two of the most persistent challenges that have dogged its predecessors: powerful suction and efficient edge cleaning.

The Vis Nav is shorter and slimmer than its predecessors, designed with a greater understanding of American homes’ varied and complex layouts. Designed with a sleek D-shaped body, the 360 Vis Nav’s flat front edge is vital to its cleaning prowess. Not content with getting close to walls and corners, this high-tech vacuum takes a step further. It features a clever proximity sensor that comes into play when the machine approaches a wall. Upon detection, it deploys an ‘extending side actuator’ or, in simpler terms, a small suction arm. 

This ingenious feature has been designed to take on one of the most notorious challenges in the world of robot vacuums: cleaning right up to the edge.

Under the hood, the 360 Vis Nav is powered by the newly redesigned Hyperdymium motor that can reach a whopping 110,000rpm, delivering an impressive suction power of 65 air watts.

While it’s tricky to draw direct comparisons due to variations in suction measurement units across the market, Dyson confidently states this power is between 6 and 65 times that of other robot vacuums.

The camera is just for navigation

Armed with a staggering array of 26 sensors, the 360 Vis Nav is designed to navigate and adapt to the quirks of your home, from detecting dust and avoiding obstacles to recognizing walls for edge cleaning. One of these sensors even builds a dust heatmap of your home, revealing the spots that most need a thorough cleaning.

The vacuum’s name, ‘360 Vis Nav’, is a nod to its advanced 360-degree camera, equipped with time-of-flight sensors.

These sensors calculate the distance between the vacuum and the obstacles around it – walls or your favorite couch. And for those of you concerned about privacy, rest easy. Despite the vacuum’s comprehensive visual capabilities, no footage is sent to the cloud or accessible to anyone other than the robot. Looking at you there, Roomba!

However, it’s worth noting that while the 360 Vis Nav is equipped with sophisticated tech, it won’t learn from repetitive mistakes. For example, it won’t remember if it keeps getting stuck in the same spot and take evasive action. Instead, you’ll need to manually set boundaries using the accompanying app to help the robot create a map of your home.

In addition to its impressive cleaning abilities, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav has another trick up its sleeve – air purification. Equipped with a HEPA filter, capable of capturing a remarkable 99.99% of microscopic particles as small as 0.1 microns, this robot vacuum not only cleans your floors but also helps purify the air in your home. It’s all part of Dyson’s commitment to creating a healthier home environment.

Image credit: Dyson

The Dyson 360 Vis Nav in action

Recognizing that not all cleaning tasks are the same, the 360 Vis Nav has four different suction modes. The Auto mode adjusts its suction power dynamically based on your home’s surfaces and dust levels. Quick mode is ideal for small areas that need a swift clean.

For those late-night cleaning sessions or when the baby is napping, the Quiet mode ensures the vacuum keeps noise levels down.

Lastly, when you need all the power this device can muster, there’s the Boost mode.

Navigating through these suction modes is a breeze, thanks to a handy touchscreen on the device. 

If you prefer, you can also use the updated MyDyson app for more comprehensive control. This app enables you to view a map of your home, receive detailed dust reports, and set up no-go zones to keep the vacuum away from delicate items or pet beds.

Dyson advertises the b for up to 50 minutes in Auto mode. However, if you’re using the Boost mode for heavy-duty cleaning, you can expect the battery (according to hands-on tests)to last around 10 – 13 minutes. In honesty, that is pretty poor.

However, you won’t have to worry about recharging – when the battery gets low, the 360 Vis Nav will return to its dock and charge itself. It takes between 90 – 100 mins to recharge. 

Notable limitations

Aside from the battery life, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav has potential drawbacks, depending on your needs. One of the most noticeable missing features is that the vacuum is not self-emptying. While many robot vacuums on the market today offer this feature, enabling the device to empty its dust bin into a base station, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav requires more hands-on maintenance. While it’s designed to be a relatively straightforward process – you can extract and empty the bin with just one hand – it’s still a task you’ll need to remember to do to keep your vacuum performing at its best.

The second limitation to consider is the need for mopping functionality. As we’ve seen, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav is a formidable force for vacuuming. However, it won’t help you mop up spills or deep clean your tiled or hardwood floors. This might be a consideration if you’re in the market for a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop.

While these missing features might pause some potential users, it’s worth remembering that Dyson has focused its innovative design and technology into making the 360 Vis Nav excel at its primary job – vacuuming. So the tradeoff here is a device that targets a few specific tasks and does them exceptionally well rather than attempting to be a jack-of-all-trades.

Conclusion

So, is the Dyson 360 Vis Nav the answer to our robot vacuum challenges so far? It seems that way on paper. Albeit they need to improve that battery life. It’s clear that Dyson has left no stone unturned in their pursuit of a robot vacuum that delivers on all fronts, and the 360 Vis Nav appears to be their most promising attempt yet.

About the author

Main Image Credit: Dyson

Leave a Comment