In my opinion, “Auto” states are one of the best innovations in the vacuum cleaner market. How accurately such a state will work will probably vary depending on the model (and how expensive it is); But to a large extent, Auto mode will see the vacuum rise or decrease the current according to the surface handled, saving you from having to manually switch between different settings when cleaning.
A number of the best wireless vacuum on the market has a kind of automation mode, but the one on the V16 stamp – the newly announced Dyson flagship vakuum – is especially smart.
Dyson first introduced an auto mode on its V11 vakuum, and it has been steadily steadily advanced with each new release. I asked a Dyson Engineer exactly how the latest version works.
“We are now checking the brush for speed as well as sucking,” explains Steph Parker, who helped design the V16. “It is intelligent to understand whether you are on a hard floor or blanket and both change accordingly. Historically, we only have kinds of increased suction, but not so intelligent and certainly not to extreme of brush bar as well.” The result is the most effective clean using the least amount of battery life – a central measure of any wireless vacuum.
On carpeted floors, the spinning brush roll is important because it agitates the carpet fibers to release the dirt trapped inside. On a hard floor, however, dust sits on the surface, which means you do not need the roll to swirl away.
“On hard floors you don’t need your brush bar that spins so much,” Steph continues. “By slowing spin, you save energy. And it’s also less aggressive on hard floors.”
The latter point is relevant because Dyson’s previous two flagship models (Gen5Detect and V15 Detect) included a separate, completely soft floor head, especially for delicate hard floors; With the V16, a floor head makes it all.
The new “All floor cones sense” floor head includes strips of a soft material for hard floors and bristles for the rug. The busts are cut a little short so they come into contact with carpet fibers, but not on hard floors.
The roller adjustment is only part of the equation. Like the two models before it has V16 sensors in its floor head, enabling it to determine the size and volume of particles sucked up. The vacuum then uses this information to raise or lower the suction power appropriately to clear dirt. It will also report back in real time on its screen.
What do other brands do?
Dyson is not the only brand that is to amplify its automation effort. Today’s best shark wakuum has all kinds of detection features. Models such as Detect Pro Wireless and PowerDetect wireless can adjust the cleaning effect based on floor type and dirt levels, but can also feel when close to the edge of a room – where dust can assemble – and increase suction on the relevant side of the floor head in response.
Samsung is another brand that explores more advanced automation features. Like V16, Samsung Bespoke Jet AI Ultra can also adjust the brush speed and suction based on floor type. However, Samsung goes one forward and claims that its vacuum can drill down to determine specific floor types, from dense blanket to mats using AI. It then adjusts suction power and brush speed to deliver cleaning power similar to using “mid” mode while storing battery power without getting to the point that the vacuum is too difficult to push around in a room.
