Neato's iPhone & Apple Watch-connected D7 robot vacuum goes big with multiple floor plan mapping, quick boost charging

Neato on Tuesday rolled out a big update for big homes with its Botvac D7 Connected robotic vacuum, adding the ability to map and clean multiple floor plans for homes with more than one level, as well as smart automatic recharging capabilities.

The Botvac D7 Connected, which boasts connectivity with the iPhone and Apple Watch, can now be updated to gain new enhancements for users with larger homes.

In particular, the D7 can now calculate exactly how much power it needs to finish vacuuming, and recharge accordingly. This is helpful for times when the Neato Botvac needs to recharge mid-cycle.

And with multiple floor plan mapping, the Botvac D7 Connected can map and clean multiple floor plans for multi-floor homes. This also includes support for virtual "No-Go" lines with multiple floor plans.

AppleInsider reviewed the Neato Botvac Connected back in 2016, and found it to be one of the best robot vacuum cleaners available on the market. In addition to offering controls via iPhone and Apple Watch, it also supports complex scheduling functions, cleans very well, and is easy to empty and clean.

"This software upgrade marks a significant step forward at Neato in our commitment to personalized cleaning," Neato Chief Executive Matt Petersen said in a press release. "With Multiple Floor Mapping and Neato Quick Boost, we saw an opportunity to respond to a consumer need quickly, whilst making the robot smarter with these significant software updates. At Neato, we know that some of our consumers have large homes to clean, and more than one floor. They need to be able to have the freedom to create a more personal cleaning experience, and to have a product which has the charge and ability to clean the whole home automatically."

The Neato D7 Connected retails for $799, but is currently available for $698 with free shipping from Amazon.

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6 Comments

ascii 5930 comments · 19 Years

About 6 years ago

I've never owned a robot vacuum. Do they create their own maps from experience or do you take a photo of your house blueprints with your phone?

nhughes 768 comments · 15 Years

ascii said:

I've never owned a robot vacuum. Do they create their own maps from experience or do you take a photo of your house blueprints with your phone?

I have a Botvac D5 (a step down from the D7 mentioned in this article). The Neato vacuums use a laser to scan your room each time, so they can avoid obstacles and don't get confused when furniture is moved. It works pretty well. I know that some cheaper robot vacuums (like some of the low-end Roomba models) will "feel" their way around the room by gently running into objects and walls, and then drawing a map and remembering obstacles as it makes its way around the room. I believe most, if not all of them re-map the room each time, so it doesn't go crazy and run over your cat or freak out when a chair is out of place.

nhughes said:

ascii said:

I've never owned a robot vacuum. Do they create their own maps from experience or do you take a photo of your house blueprints with your phone?

I have a Botvac D5 (a step down from the D7 mentioned in this article). The Neato vacuums use a laser to scan your room each time, so they can avoid obstacles and don't get confused when furniture is moved. It works pretty well. I know that some cheaper robot vacuums (like some of the low-end Roomba models) will "feel" their way around the room by gently running into objects and walls, and then drawing a map and remembering obstacles as it makes its way around the room. I believe most, if not all of them re-map the room each time, so it doesn't go crazy and run over your cat or freak out when a chair is out of place.

Thanks. The scanner sounds like a good idea if you have antique furniture that you don't want bumped in to.

Malagster 1 comment · 6 Years

The Neato creates its own map from experience, and scans / explores your house while vacuuming. I believe the Neato has a scanner so it can "see" part of your room (but it still bumps into walls). Every time my Neato completes cleaning it texts me a map of my house. This is better than my old-model Roomba, which tries to go around the house like a blind mouse in a maze. The Neato tries to remember where its charging station is and usually makes it back to recharge. I schedule my Neato to run twice a week (when I'm out of the house--its noisy so I prefer not to be here) and empty it about every 2-3 runs. It takes a few hours for it to work through my house.

A few things to keep in mind with the Neato:

1) I scan my house for "stuff on the floor" which the Neato will eat. In particular I usually just close the door to my teenage Son's room. Phone charging cables hanging down onto the floor are also a no-no.

2) The Neato ships with a "flat magnet boundary strip" which it will not cross. The most likely place to use that would be at the top of the stairs. I live in a 1-story so don't have to use the boundary.

I'm happy with my Neato. I bought it with a Best Buy extended warranty. It's mechanical and I'm betting its going to break within a few years.

[Deleted User] 0 comments · 11 Years

nhughes said:

ascii said:

I've never owned a robot vacuum. Do they create their own maps from experience or do you take a photo of your house blueprints with your phone?

I have a Botvac D5 (a step down from the D7 mentioned in this article). The Neato vacuums use a laser to scan your room each time, so they can avoid obstacles and don't get confused when furniture is moved. It works pretty well. I know that some cheaper robot vacuums (like some of the low-end Roomba models) will "feel" their way around the room by gently running into objects and walls, and then drawing a map and remembering obstacles as it makes its way around the room. I believe most, if not all of them re-map the room each time, so it doesn't go crazy and run over your cat or freak out when a chair is out of place.

I believe only the most expensive models "map" the rooms, many/most of these vacuums work on object avoidance or patterns (working outwards in a spiral for example), some models you need to physically place magnetic strip boundaries similar to robo-mowers. It's really not worth bothering with the cheaper/low-end options, and in any case you still have to do skirtings/ceilings the old fashioned way until robot maids are invented. :lol: