intelligent robotic vacuum

Product Description

You can't use circles to clean a square corner. That's why Neato introduced the D-shape to the industry more than 15 years ago. That D-shape allows for a brush right at the edge of the vacuum, instead of in between wheels like those round robots. This D-shape also fits an extra-large dirt bin that holds more during a cleaning session. The result? Corner-to-corner and edge-to-edge cleaning in a short amount of time. The Neato D8 has 30%+ longer runtime than the D4. That's 100 minutes of cleaning on a single charge. If your robot needs more time to finish a long cleaning run, it will auto-recharge and resume from exactly where it left off to finish the job. You don't have to babysit your robot while it's cleaning—with Neato, you can just let it run. The powerful performance you have come to expect from Neato continues with the D8. Combined with a High-Performance filter that traps up to 99% of allergens and dust particles, this is one vacuum you'll want to use every day. Switch from energy-saving Eco Mode for general vacuuming to high-performance Turbo Mode for a more powerful clean. The Neato D8 uses LaserSmart powered by LIDAR, the same technology found in self-driving vehicles, to map and navigate your home with precision, even in the dark like under furniture. Using lasers to understand where it is in your home, Neato methodically cleans from room to room in straight lines for a quicker clean, leaving your carpets with that satisfying just-vacuumed look. Worried about stairs? There's no need to be with Neato. Drop sensors automatically detect stairs to avoid falling down them and continues to learn your floorplan as you use it. Get cleaning in minutes with Neato’s hassle-free, Bluetooth-enabled setup. Using the MyNeato app, create No-Go Zones to define areas your robot should avoid like your pet's eating area and schedule Routines to clean when you want. It's an experience that makes Neato the clear choice for clean.

What is a smart home?

Tablet controls are a popular option for smart homes.

What is a smart house?

You’ve probably heard the term ‘smart house’ being thrown around a lot recently. You’ve probably also heard terms like ‘smart home’, ‘connected home’, ‘connected house’, ‘intelligent house’ and even ‘domotics’ (short for domestic robotics). All of these names describe exactly the same thing, but like most people who’ve heard those terms, you’d probably start to mumble a bit and change the topic if you were asked to explain exactly what they mean…

A smart house is a house that uses the latest electronic technologies and computerisation to control or automate any number of different aspects of the house. To build a smart house requires some basic thoughts on design and technology.

Why would I want a smart house?

There are four very practical reasons that people invest in smart house technologies. In no particular order, these are:

Convenience – smart homes can help to simplify complex tasks, or to automate them completely.

Security – using sensors and communications technologies, homes can be carefully and constantly monitored from anywhere.

Comfort – climate and lighting systems can be automatically adjusted according to the time of day, the outside temperature or your individual mood.

Efficiency – Smart homes can control when things turn on and off, and keep track of exactly where and how much energy is used in your home.

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What makes a ‘good’ smart home?

Every smart home is different in terms of what it does and how it goes about it, but generally speaking the measure of a ‘good’ smart home is the extent to which it improves your home, and how unobtrusively it achieves this.

There’s no point in having technology for technology’s sake – if managing your smart home’s systems requires more time, cost and effort than would be required to do things manually, you may as well have hired a butler.

If your climate control systems are automated, for example, they should constantly adapt to keep the house feeling comfortable exactly where you need it. Ideally, this should be done unobtrusively, and in a way that ensures the maximum efficiency. You should also be able to easily and quickly override automated settings without having to wrestle with complicated controls, or trek to the other end of the house to do so.

Smart homes – how do they work?

Most smart homes use smart wiring or a purpose-built home network to allow different parts of the house to communicate with a central control system. Timers, switches and sensors are used to determine when and how different automated systems should work, and different ‘scenes’, macros and events can be established to cascade different controls for different scenarios.

For example, when you come home from work, a sensor may detect that you’ve arrived home and switch on certain lights, deactivate various security measures, and warm up the living room. When you’re going to bed, it may activate security sensors, draw all the curtains and turn off lights and appliances.

Installation and cost

No matter what sort of system you're planning on installing, it's always good to talk to a custom installer first. Not only will they be able to advise you on what kind of system will best suit your needs, but they can also help to ensure that it's installed in the most efficient and cost effective way.

Like most things that make life easier, turning your house into a connected home comes at a price. Simple systems can be installed reasonably cheaply, but of course the more you’re able to afford, the more elaborate, secure and functional your system will be. Your budget is the only real limit to what you can do to make your house a smart home.

Top 5 features of a smart home system

Q: I’ve been thinking about upgrading my house to a smart home. What smart features should I be looking for as I shop around?

A: Smart homes are becoming more and more popular — and with good reason. Home automation is the ultimate union of technology, convenience and security. The list of things smart homes can do is expanding daily, and so are the possibilities, which means that planning a smart home can be a dizzying experience.

Let’s keep it simple by focusing on five of the most important components of a smart home.

Advanced home network

You’ve probably heard of the “Internet of Things” by now. It refers to the wirelessly controlled network of devices that is becoming a bigger part of our lives and is central to the smart home. To maintain a highly functional Internet of Things, the automated home needs something a bit more robust than a wireless router tucked out of sight to maintain an unbroken blanket of Wi-Fi. It needs enterprise-class networking equipment, as well as several wireless access points placed strategically throughout the home.

An advanced home network acts as your smart home’s central nervous system, integrating the different components of your automated system so they work together. This is the most critical aspect of a well-functioning smart home.

Remote access

When most people talk about smart homes, what they really mean is remote access to one’s home systems. Remote access lets you operate your home’s systems without cloning yourself.

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Depending on the customizations you choose, remote access can let you check in on your home through video surveillance, turn on the entertainment system for that in-law who can’t figure out the remote, and even unlock the door to let the dog-walker in — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Remote access can give you remarkable peace of mind, and it’s incredibly convenient to have complete control while away.

Advanced security

While traditional home-security systems alert authorities in the event of a fire, break-in or other disaster, the advanced security of the automated home goes much further. For starters, many smart home surveillance systems can send intelligent notifications that differentiate between welcome guests and strangers. The best part is an advanced home-security system, as part of your home automation installation, is fully customizable to your specific security needs.

Lighting control, automated window treatments

Together, lighting control and automated window treatments allow you to control every aspect of your home lighting and diminish unsightly wall clutter such as excessive switches. Lighting control systems are typically network-based, so a whole building can be controlled from one spot.

Through crafty programming, lighting systems can be set to fully automated schedules that will turn off, dim or brighten whenever you want. Some systems can even detect whether you are away from home and turn off the lights to maximize energy savings.

Automated window treatments function similarly, controlling ambient outdoor lighting remotely. When the two are used in concert, the sky’s the limit on lighting configurations.

Distributed audio

Who doesn’t love to be in a home filled with music? Distributed audio makes that dream a reality, connecting multiple (or all, for the ambitious) rooms to your home network, putting the power to DJ your home right at your fingertips — and yes, it can integrate seamlessly with the other components of your smart home. With lighting and music under your full control, you can turn your living space into a complete club experience without flipping a switch.

Lee Travis is the owner of Wipliance, a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of the MBAKS’s more than 2,700 members, write to