iRobot Roomba Plus 576 Combo

The robot notices when it drives onto a carpet. Most then raise their suction, and a mopping robot lifts its mop or leaves it at the dock.

How the mop is built: flat pads, two spinning discs or a roller. Discs press harder on dried-on dirt, a roller rinses itself while it works.

The pad slides out along a wall or a kickboard, so the last few centimetres are mopped as well.

The robot returns to the dock during a run to rinse the mop, instead of pushing dirty water around.

The dock empties the robot’s dust bin, usually after every run. You only empty the dock’s bag or bin. On this model: derived from the station type.

The dock collects dust in a bin instead of a disposable bag. No bags to buy, but you empty it yourself.

The dock washes the mop for you, so you do not rinse it by hand. On this model: derived from the station type.

The dock dries the mop afterwards, so it does not sit there wet and start to smell. On this model: derived from the station type.

Drying is done with warm air instead of cold. It is faster and it helps against smell.

How the robot sees loose things on the floor, such as cables, socks or a pet accident. A camera with depth sensing sees more than a bumper that reacts on contact.

The highest threshold the robot takes, as the maker states it. Measure your own: the step into a bathroom or onto a balcony is often higher.

An extending leg or wheel that carries the robot over a high threshold. Without one it usually stops at about 2 cm.

Whether the robot has a camera, and what for: to recognise obstacles, or also to show you a live picture of your home in the app.

Whether the robot works with Home Assistant, the home automation software you run yourself. Official means the integration comes with Home Assistant itself, community that volunteers maintain it.