In addition to infrared sensors, a panoramic camera mounted on top of the vacuum takes photos of the area it’s cleaning. The vacuum’s software examines the photos for landmarks, and analyzes them to recall where it’s already cleaned. In our testing, we found it cleaned effectively and efficiently, without getting stuck in the usual places, and it’s pretty quiet, too.
If a collision is detected, it will reverse and go around the obstacle without causing damage. Also added are dirt detection sensors that ensure the area being cleaned are actually free of dirt and debris. As it cleans, it will update where it has been, what areas still need to be cleaned and how far along the grid it is. Moving furniture doesn’t matter, as the map is constantly being updated on every cleaning cycle.
At a cursory glance, not much has changed between the Dyson 360 Eye and the Dyson 360 Heurist; both use the same tall-but-thin case. It’s fair to say that the Heurist is far more striking, decked out in a bright finish that appears purple or blue, depending on how the light hits it. It has just a 2.7’’ thickness too so it can easily and thoroughly clean the area under all of your furniture.
You can always tuck your bed skirt up until the cleaning is done, provided there is enough light to maneuver under your bed. The collection bins are pretty easy to remove and empty, although the Dyson bin does take a bit to get unlocked. Overall the apps are far better than leaning shark cordless over to press a physical button on the machines, and the ability to use them from anywhere makes them invaluable. I know for myself, I wasn’t always home when I needed to have a quick vacuum done. In this instance, the Roomba 980 will reverse the bars and attempt to free itself.
To clean out the dustbin, you just have to press the latch located in front of the camera. From there, you simply pull it out and empty the dirt into the trash. This part is easy enough to remove, but putting it back on requires a bit of elbow grease. This isn’t a huge deal, but since Dyson recommends you wash the filters every month, it can get annoying. Also located behind the back grille is a USB port, but you likely won’t need to use it unless your robot is malfunctioning and have to manually upload a fix.
It also offers app control and scheduling, and as I discovered, Dyson’s customer support is excellent. Branding on the device suggests it will also use Dyson’s new Hyperdymium motors. This is simply Dyson’s name for its latest brushless electric motors, which have appeared in its most recent stick vacuums. It also looks like you can remove part of the internal tubing that connects the bin to the brushes. That would be a neat upgrade, as the 360 Heurist had a tendency to clog when vacuuming piles of large debris. Dyson’s last vacuum cleaner, the oddly-named 360 Heurist, skipped a US release, apparently because its design was ill-suited to the layout of American homes.
It’ll send you notifications when the 360 Eye is cleaning or if something goes wrong. You can also set a cleaning routine, toggle between Quiet and Max modes, and view how long the robot has been cleaning and its remaining battery life. The Activity tab shows you a map of the areas cleaned in each session, as well as the occasional cleaning fact. It includes instructions for how to clean and maintain the robot’s various parts, a troubleshooting manual, diagrams of the robot, and Dyson’s customer support information. While iRobot’s Roomba might be more of a household name when it comes to robot vacuums, Dyson has cornered the market on high-end uprights for some time now.