SwitchBot has been well-known for many years for its small robot capable of flipping a switch for us. The manufacturer has since launched numerous other smart home devices, such as a robot capable of opening and closing curtains, and a smart lock. This year, it decided to launch robot vacuum cleaners, which we first saw at the IFA in Berlin in September. Its top-of-the-line model, the SwitchBot S10, featuring an automatic water refill and drainage system, directly connected to the home's water system, is currently being crowdfunded on Kickstarter.
A station designed to manage water automatically
This is undoubtedly the most original feature of this robot: the SwitchBot S10 includes a self-contained water station with two hoses. One is connected to fresh, clean water, the other to your wastewater system. After connecting it to your water pipes, you can automatically supply and drain water to the robot, just like a washing machine!
Need to mop the floor but the SwitchBot S10 doesn't have enough water? All it needs to do is quickly head to the water station to refill. It doesn't need you! And that's exactly what so-called autonomous car washes were criticized for: while the robot empties its dust bin, it recharges and empties itself with water. But at some point, a human still needs to intervene to empty the dirty water bin and refill it with fresh water. This is where the SwitchBot S10 revolutionizes the field, by being connected directly to the water network.
What happens once the cleaning is complete? The SwitchBot S10 automatically collects all this dirty water and distributes it through the drainage system integrated into its treatment plant, thus avoiding unpleasant odors due to stagnant water.
No more dirty and smelly water tanks and stations, and no more cleaning them.
And installation remains very easy, even easier than installing your washing machine, taking less than 5 minutes. This video explains how it works very well:
The included water station can share the water supply of your dishwasher or washing machine thanks to the three-way accessories we provide. Even if you don't have a dishwasher or washing machine at home, you can still use the included special water hoses to connect to your home's plumbing system (such as a bathtub or kitchen sink, for example). This is even possible by connecting it to the toilet!
Finally, if one of the above methods really isn't possible, the manufacturer also provides an optional water tank solution: no need to connect to your plumbing system; you'll have to change the water yourself, as is the case with competitors. This SwitchBOt S10 is therefore very versatile!
Note: Buyers via Kickstarter will automatically receive this water tank.
This water station is very compact: it measures only 10 cm by 40 cm, making it much more compact than other solutions.
Furthermore, the water station is powered by the robot and therefore does not require a power cable! It can therefore be placed anywhere with a water supply.
SwitchBot S10: Perfect cleaning
The SwitchBot S10 offers professional-level cleaning performance and is equipped with a tangle-free rubber brush and powerful suction for vacuuming, as well as a self-cleaning roller for mopping.
The S10 features a built-in self-cleaning roller and separate clean and dirty water tanks.
During the cleaning process, by spraying the roller with clean water and removing waste water in real time, the mop can be cleaned and mopped 300 times per minute. The S10 constantly washes your floor with clean water and a clean mop, allowing it to clean better.
Furthermore, because the roller cleans itself in real time, dirt doesn't stick, and the floor is cleaner after washing. Comparison with other systems:
Once cleaning is complete, the S10 returns to its water station for a thorough self-cleaning. During this time, the water outlet speed increases tenfold and the roller speed increases by 30%, ensuring the mop always remains in optimal condition.
The SwitchBot S10 features a powerful 6500Pa suction force, combined with a fully rubberized brush that prevents hair from tangling, ensuring even more efficient cleaning. From hardwood floors to tiles, including rugs and carpets, hair, dust, and dirt can be completely swept away.
The bottom of the S10 is equipped with an ultrasonic sensor. When it detects a carpet during the cleaning process, it lifts the roller 7 mm to bring it back inside. The S10 then stops spraying water and continues rotating the roller to dry wet spots. This prevents soiling the carpet during the cleaning process.
The manufacturer also installed a drying system at the bottom of its automatic emptying station to automatically dry the S10 mop after cleaning.
Equipped with a 4-liter dust bag, the automatic emptying station automatically empties dust and dirt after each cleaning. The bag only needs to be replaced every 70 days for stress-free cleaning.
The station's suction system has also been redesigned. Unlike traditional S-type air channels, the S10 not only features a larger air channel, but the dust container and air channel itself are also aligned, allowing hair and dust to be sucked straight into the dust bag, preventing hair from getting stuck and allowing for better dust collection. This may seem like a small detail, but it can significantly reduce the maintenance required for this type of system. Of course, this robot has numerous sensors to help it navigate and avoid obstacles, including a LiDAR system and a dose of AI, all the rage these days in this type of device.
The app will allow you to manage areas to clean or avoid, program the robot's operation, and program the different floors of the home if necessary. And the SwitchBot will of course be compatible with various voice assistants.
In short, this robot vacuum/mop is extremely comprehensive! But that's not all…
The first automatic humidifier
It's surprising, and it's definitely not the first thing you'd think of. But thanks to the automatic filling and emptying system, the S10 can also supply clean water to the SwitchBot humidifier, all automatically. In fact, the robot will shuttle between its water station and the humidifier to refill it with water all by itself. No need to intervene!
A Kickstarter Campaign That's Already Breaking Records
The SwitchBot S10 robot is being launched via a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. It's already close to a million dollars raised after just 3 days!
It's worth noting that instead of the official price of $1,200, the first buyers were able to get it for just $799. At this price, it's unbeatable, for one of the most complete robots on the market (if not THE most complete). It's still possible to get your hands on it starting at $899. If you want it, don't wait too long! Delivery is scheduled for March 2024. The company will undoubtedly be on time, since I was able to see several working examples of this robot at IFA. The product is already developed and functional; all that's left is to launch the production line.
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