Danoz Direct Robo Maxx

Danoz Direct Robo Maxx - I was pleased to see Robo Maxx in operation. It was very efficient at brushing out hair and matted fibres from carpets. Also, the robotic operation was useful in clearing out some of the dust and debris. Most importantly, it took the chore out of vacuuming the centre parts of the carpets, rugs and hard kitchen floor.

However, it did not brush or vacuum edges of the room near the skirting boards and got stuck in corners when the back of the appliance was facing the skirting board.

Occasionally, when it got stuck on a rug or a mat corner, the back wheels marked the buff and lighter coloured carpets with black colour rubber marks. These spots (2 inches in diameter) were difficult to clean. The soft rubber wheel-covers need to be replaced by tougher clear-rubber or other visco-elastic material.

The dust and debris collection box is too small and needed emptying too many times.

The recharged batteries lasted only 1 hour to 1 hour 45 minutes in the appliance obtained from Innovation (£99.00 plus P&P of £3.95). Often, Robo Maxx (Brand name) failed to pick up small particulate dry food such as small crumbs of bread, probably due to low suction power.

The supplied appliance was noisy on occasions when reversing. As it changes direction by bumping into doors and objects it keeps making small banging noises. The item is also supplied by others at less than £70 with free P&P. Ideal for new carpets, homes without pets but does not replace vaccum cleaners around steps and edges of a room as yet; the suppliers point this out about Robo Maxx. Item is 60% a sweeper and 40% vacuum cleaner. It needs to come down in price, have better suction power, to reach out to the room edges and needs a bigger waste container; this may be so for other robots on market.