Gadgets: Robotic lawn mower, pool vacuum

Automation isn't a future concept; it's here. I write this as my lawn is being mowed and my pool is being vacuumed with no humans involved.

The Eufy E15 hands-free robotic lawn mower with one-click auto mapping is a dream come true, to the extent that you indeed can sleep while mowing. And while the mower has a lot of technology inside, the part you and I have to deal with, including setup and mapping, is pretty straightforward.

Some specifics on the Eufy E15 include wireless and no Real-Time Kinematic needed for accuracy. It utilizes pure vision FSD technology, featuring high-precision cameras and intelligent algorithms, eliminating the need for wires. When you set up the mapping, it's amazing how accurately it detects obstacles, including stones, gardens and trees. It features a vision-based system for navigation, and the E15 has auto-mapping capabilities to plan the mowing path.

The Eufy companion app is the brain of the operation and has a user-friendly dashboard for most controls, including start, stop, mapping and editing the map. On the E15 itself, right on the top, is a big red stop button and the main power button is on the bottom. The mapping includes precision obstacle avoidance and smart cliff avoidance, which includes preventing the mower from falling into a pool. If, for any reason, you want it to stop instantly, just hit the big red stop button. The app also allows you to set schedules for specific days and times to mow.

On a single charge, it will mow 0.2 of an acre and then return to its home to recharge, automatically completing the job after charging. Charging takes 90 to 110 minutes. You can set the cutting height anywhere from 0.98 inches to 2.95 inches with slopes up to 18 degrees.

I ran the mower on my front lawn, which is a flat square with a few garden obstacles in the middle. Right out of the gate, it ran and cut my lawn as needed, and I was amazed at how quiet it ran (listed to have a noise level of 56dB). It came close to the edge of the fence and trees without making contact with any. On the E15 top, facing forward, is a stereo 3D camera, a Sementic AI camera, an auto fogger and an LED light.

The base station is recommended to be placed on a flat surface with a clear patch. It should be secured in place with glue or the included nails. The mower measures 23.7 by 15.5 by 12.5 inches, and the base station measures 28.6 by 18.9 by 17.8 inches. Eufy does not recommend using the E15 to cut zoysia or St. Augustine grass.

https://www.eufy.com $1,799.99

As for your pool, the Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max will keep pools up to 3,230 square feet sparkling clean, as described by Aiper as your "new poolside hero with unmatched cleaning performance."

The first thing you'll notice about the hands-free robotic pool cleaner is it cleans all areas of the pool: bottom, sides, walls, elevated platforms, slopes and even the top water surface. When it climbs the walls, it will reach up to 1.96 inches above the water's surface. The cleaning includes sand, algae, dirt, leaves, bugs, twigs, pet and human hair, and anything else in its path.

Water passes through the cordless robotic pool cleaner, which cleans with the help of 9 motors, 40 sensors, 3D scanning, and a flow rate of 8,500 gallons per hour. Dirt is captured in a replaceable MicroMesh filter, which traps ultra-fine debris down to 3 microns, leaving crystal-clear water behind. It scrubs the surface with Suction and Dual Active front and rear rollers.

If obstacles, such as pool toys, are present on the bottom or floating, the sensor obstacle avoidance technology will take charge and adjust the path. A 4-hour wireless charge in the charging dock provides the Scuba X1 Pro Max with up to 5 hours of floor cleaning, 10 hours of skimming, or 5.5 hours on Eco mode.

Smart mapping enables targeting a specific area you want to clean. Adaptive Path planning ensures that you'll have the entire pool cleaned, regardless of the scenario, according to the Aiper site. It scans and learns the cleaning paths, storing them in its memory to continually adapt and ensure that cleaning is done based on the shape of the pool. Advanced navigation, mapping, and cleaning are powered by FlexiPath 2.0 and OmniSense+ technology.

The Aiper companion app communicates with the Scuba X1 Pro Max for real-time control, status updates, battery level, and cleaning mode adjustments. The modes include ECO, floor, and surface cleaning. When the job is done, Auto Surface Parking will automatically park the Scuba X1 Pro Max for easy pickup.

Aiper's HydroComm Pro smart pool monitor and underwater communication device (sold separately for $499.99) are available for underwater communication, which includes underwater control and real-time water quality data including PH readings and the water temperature. The Aiper Caddy ($299) helps move the robotic cleaner around on land and features a charging dock-compatible design.

Aiper's Day sale offers a significant discount on many pool vacuum models The Scuba X1 Pro Max robotic pool cleaner's price is down to $1,999—a $600 savings off the original price of $2,599.

https://aiper.com/us/products/aiper-scuba-x1-pro-max-cordless-robotic-pool-cleaner $2,599.99