Neato XV-12 falling stairs

[dontlikecleaning]

I have a Neato XV-12. It worked flawlessly for months and one day, it jumped from the 1st floor straight to the basement by the highest section of the stairway. As you can imagine, the poor boy was done.

The webshop I got if from sent me a replacement and on the 2nd run, it did the exact same thing! This time, I even put a magnetic strip in the way!

I destroyed 2 Neato in a only a few weeks. Nothing has changed in the floor layout, there's no direct sunlight on this particular floor area, nothing in the way...just an opening in the floor but Neato should be able to avoid this, right?

I haven't seen any post of someone with the same issue. I am wondering, am I the only one? Can I be so out of luck?

Thanks!

[vic7767]

All of Neatos sensors are in the front bumper area. If there is side or rear entry into the cliff area it will not be detected by the Neato and a fall could result.

[dontlikecleaning]

Thanks Vic7767

How can I predict from what side Neato will enter the area? For the magnetic stripe detection, is it the same issue?

I observed the Neato at work and I newer saw it going backward for more than a very short distance and it's only to avoid something.

[chris-s]

Could you make a video of the Neato working in this area ?
Uploaded on Youtube or Dailymotion ?

[dontlikecleaning]

I wish... if the 2nd Neato still alive, I will place a webcam and hope for a good shot while it cleans. I will protect the basement stairs this time, they got a pretty bad hit with the weight of the falling Neato!

[vic7767]

It is also very important where the mag strip is placed. It should be arranged about 3 inches back from the actual drop.

[neato]

Sorry your Neato took a flying leap

Without more information on the environment the Neato was working in it is not possible to understand why it did not detect the stair drop properly.

One thing that must not be done is to place the magnetic strip right at the edge of a drop. The magnetic strip must be placed well back from the edge. The reason is the Neato treats the magnetic strip as a soft boundary that it can maneuver over but not clean past. So putting it at the edge overrides the drop detection allowing the Neato to drive past the edge.

[JEfromCanada]

I was going to comment that the magnetic strip must be placed AT LEAST 2" from the area that needs to be protected (according to published documentation). Vic has already mentioned that.

But, I wasn't aware that the presence of a magnetic strip would override or cause to be ignored the signals from the drop sensor. Perhaps that's an issue that should be addressed in the firmware. Surely, within the code, signals from the drop detection sensor should NEVER be ignored under any circumstance (except, perhaps, in a diagnostic mode similar to that found on the Roomba)

[FreddyTex]

Circumstances mostly are due to the "light fall", darkness of the staircase and a little dust on the sensors.
We see similar "accidents" on all brands.
But no worries, you get a new one because an end customer (consumer) is not aware of this kind of behaviour.
You can never replicate the issue. 99 times all goes well and then it happens...

But as also mentioned, the software should be written for the Neato that the cliff sensors always work.
However, the chance is less than 0,0009 based on our statistics.

[dontlikecleaning]

"However, the chance is less than 0,0009 based on our statistics."

You might want to do the maths again with these data: 3 jumps in 5 runs with 2 different units.

Apparently, my particular stair setup is incompatible with Neato but Roomba did well for 3 years. Neato does a much better clean-up job for us but its suicidal tendency is disturbing.

I don't how the thing is coded but if, for example, if it can go back a few inches in any direction near a cliff or simply run with no signal from a sensor...it's an accident waiting to happen. Otherwise, they just can’t claim it avoids stairs. It usually does but it just can't be used as a general statement.

[neato]

When the Neato sees a magnetic strip, or a drop, or a bump, it decides what manuevers are safe. Some maneuvers won't see a drop sensor signal until it is too late, if at all. For example, it is safe for the Neato to maneuver backwards by a magnetic strip out on the floor, but it is not safe for it to maneuver backwards by the edge of a drop. If a magnetic strip is placed close to the edge of a drop the Neato sees the strip first and cannot know it is not safe to maneuver backwards.

[ChiggenWingz]

Its probably worth posting up some pictures of the trouble spot. I imagine the engineers will want to get an idea of the layout of the spot so they can try and program the Neato to check for the chance of falling in example.

If possible, draw on the photos, showing the usual route Neato takes when approaching the area.

If you have a smart phone, grab a video and put it on a YouTube video that is only visible by direct link only (prevents people from stumbling across it giving them the impression all Neatos fall down stairs)

[chris-s]

dontlikecleaning > could you please make a picture of your stairs, where the Neato fall ?