Review of the robot vacuum cleaner Panda i5: a hybrid device with a camcorder and Wi-Fi

If you believe the advertisement, the Panda i5 robot vacuum cleaner is just a godsend for those who do not like to waste time on regular many hours of cleaning.

Manufacturers claim that this miniature unit will not only cope with various debris in a quality manner, but will also plan the route and develop a safe movement algorithm to clean quickly and as little as possible for the owners.

Let's see if this is really so. We prepared a detailed review of the Panda i5, outlined the operating parameters of the device, listed the capabilities and innovative technologies that are implemented on board the unit, and also indicated its strengths and weaknesses.

Key Features of Panda i5

The Panda i5 robotic unit is a new generation model from the Japanese manufacturer Panda Robotics. Despite the fact that they assemble devices in China, the products of this brand are distinguished by the use of high-quality components and the use of innovative technologies.

Therefore, even among premium models, the Panda i5 stands out not only for its original design, but also for its unique technical equipment.

Appearance and equipment

The device itself has a modern laconic design and surprisingly compact dimensions. The mass of the robot is 2.3 kg, the height is only 60 mm, and the diameter is 25 cm.

The case is made of high-quality plastic and is offered in two colors - Golden Gold and black-red Red.

The manufacturer offers to purchase a vacuum cleaner with all the necessary accessories for dry and wet cleaning. The only thing you have to buy yourself is a memory card of the right size, if you plan to save camera recordings

The scope of supply, in addition to the vacuum cleaner itself, includes:

1. Station for recharging.
2. The washing panel with a water tank.
3. 2 side brushes with six "rays".
4. Spare filter.
5. Remote control.
6. Power Supply.
7. 2 microfiber cleaning wipes.
8. Instruction and warranty card.

The unit is designed for cleaning the floor, and it can work not only on hard surfaces, but even clean long pile carpets.

And thanks to the built-in water tank and a two-layer wide napkin - it is possible to effectively perform combined dry and wet cleaning on tiles, linoleum, laminate, parquet, without leaving wet traces and streaks.

Technical and functional nuances

Despite its very modest size, the Panda i5 robot has a powerful engine with a low sound level, a lithium-polymer battery with an impressive capacity of 7000 mAh and a large dust collector of 500 ml.

This allows the vacuum cleaner to cope with the cleaning of an area of ​​200-240 m² and act without recharging for at least 140 minutes.

The main technical characteristics of the Panda i5 allow it to compete successfully with other premium robotic vacuum cleaners

Thanks to the ultra-thin body and small diameter, the robot easily penetrates into inaccessible places, including the space under the furniture.

It removes dust deposits, pet hair, various small debris - pieces of paper, sand, earth, husks from seeds.

And with the help of a well-thought-out routing algorithm, when the battery is discharged or after the task is completed, it goes to the charging station.

The running gear of the robot vacuum cleaner allows it to easily overcome thresholds and other “barriers” with a height of up to 25 mm

It can work in the following modes:

1. Auto - cleaning along the established route allows you to clean all the available floor surface as much as possible.
2. Spot - cleaning of small heavily contaminated areas, in which the vacuum cleaner includes the maximum suction power.
3. Around the perimeter - A passage along walls and around furniture, with an emphasis on cleanliness in corners and skirting boards.
4. Express - Fast 20-minute cleaning in automatic mode.
5. Delayed start - with the ability to set the exact time and any day to start work.

The principle of dry cleaning at Panda i5 is no different from other vacuum-cleaning robots - it draws dust and debris along its entire path, changing the power depending on the level of pollution and helping itself with rotating brushes.

By the way, unlike many analog models, Panda's brushes rotate at a good pace and do not scatter rubbish over the entire surface of the floor.

The built-in echolocation system and 4 groups of sensors help the robot recognize obstacles, work out a safe route and avoid collisions with people and objects

Air entering the vacuum cleaner goes through several stages of cleaning:

• preliminary - using a fine wire mesh on which large debris remains;
• HEPA membrane - eliminates various allergenic particles (dust mites, fungal spores) and other small inclusions;
• fine cleaning - through activated carbon, which filters out even microparticles of dust and other debris up to 0.03 microns in size.

The wet cleaning function was interestingly solved: a flat module with a water tank and a cleaning cloth from two-layer microfiber is attached to the lower part of the case.

As a result, the robot first draws in debris, then moistens the surface of the floor and wipes it dry.

The wet cleaning module is easily fixed on the bottom of the case, but does not affect its passability, since it does not change the height of the case

You can control the robot through the remote control or program the cleaning mode using the program installed on your smartphone / tablet.

The device moves randomly, starting to move in a straight line, and when it encounters an obstacle, it changes direction in an arbitrary order.

But if necessary, you can specify another algorithm for movement: in a spiral, along walls or allow it to combine modes automatically.

Appearance, equipment of the Panda i5 robot:

Additional features of the unit

The device not only copes with its direct duties as a cleaner, but is also equipped with a mass of high-tech devices. Consider the most interesting features of the robot vacuum cleaner Panda i5.

A video camera with a panoramic view, night vision function and an integrated card slot with a capacity of up to 32 GB is installed on the front bumper of the unit.

Thanks to this, the device can also be used as a watchman to get information about what is happening in the apartment at any time. When there is no need for shooting, the camera eye can be closed with a shutter.

Panda i5 - the first robot vacuum cleaner equipped with an active panoramic video camera with the ability to connect via smartphone, which allows you to shoot in real time and save materials on a flash card

For work in the dark, backlighting is used with infrared lamps mounted on four sides of the case.

The principle of operation of the module practically does not differ from the function of a car DVR.

Through it, you can not only monitor the progress of cleaning, but also set the direction yourself or adjust the route of the device’s progress through the home Wi-Fi network.

The fall protection system helps the appliance monitor changes in the height of the floor surface and prevents it from falling from steps or a high podium

Other nice bonuses:

1. Smart navigation - using the same camera and obstacle detection sensors, the robot independently draws a map of the house and remembers the places where it has already been cleaned up and where there is still to go.
2. Innovative echolocation system reduces the likelihood of collisions between the vacuum cleaner and objects up to 96%. And for robots that use only infrared sensors, this figure does not exceed 80%.
3. Wi-Fi Remote Control - You can access the control unit through a home router or mobile application.
4. Camera It can work continuously, even while charging the battery.
5. Microfiber cloth on the washing module has a special pile structure, which effectively collects moisture, pet hair, hair, dust.

Of course, there were some additional, but not very useful functions. For example, you can make a video call to the device and talk on the vacuum cleaner, like on Skype.

How to configure the connection of the robot to Wi-Fi and a smartphone is clearly demonstrated in the video:

Advantages and disadvantages of the Panda i5

So, we summarize briefly all the positive aspects of a robot cleaner.

Pluses of the unit:

1. A power of 1.2 kPa allows you to remove the smallest dirt particles even from fleecy carpets, not to mention smooth surfaces.
2. The new high-tech processor is responsible for the accuracy of the route and terrain, the fast switching of modes, the operation of the system to prevent falls and collisions.
3. Ultra-thin body and light weight provides excellent maneuverability and maneuverability.
4. Possibility of combining dry and wet cleaning.
5. Side brushes are equipped with protection against winding threads, hair and other debris, and their increased diameter allows you to increase the efficiency of cleaning hard-to-reach areas and corners by 30% compared to previous Panda models.
6. The width of the cleaning cloth is 28 cm, which is almost twice the size of standard polishers for analog devices.
7. The increased volume of the water tank containing 280 ml.
8. Function of automatic removal of excess moisture.
9. Auto charge.
10. The minimum noise level from the working device.
11. 2 year warranty.

Of course, according to the statements of manufacturers and sellers of equipment, there are no minuses at all. But if you study the reviews of customers who have already tested the operation of the vacuum cleaner in practice, there are several drawbacks.

The Panda i5 echolocation system is a unique development for collision avoidance, in which the principle of orientation in space of bats and dolphins was taken

So, the robot does not go through high thresholds, defining them as an obstacle, so if there is a podium or other height differences on the floor, the device will have to be moved from room to room.

Some users have noticed problems with the wet cleaning function - sometimes too much water enters from the openings of the container, and the robot literally swims in a puddle until the rag absorbs all the moisture.

The principle of operation and control of the vacuum cleaner are presented in the video:

True, manufacturers respond to this claim that the matter is not in the vacuum cleaner itself, but in an improperly fixed tank.

The problem with returning to the charging base is easily eliminated if you correctly determine the place for the station - it should not be hidden behind a sofa or other massive items of furniture

The routing system also raises questions - not everyone likes the chaotic movements of the vacuum cleaner, many would prefer to set the exact path for cleaning themselves.

There are claims to the developers of the application that allows you to control the device from a smartphone or tablet - sometimes the image from the camera or soft buttons disappears and a reboot is required.

But in general, buyers are satisfied with their assistant and his work, and minor flaws do not scare them away.

It should be noted that this manufacturer has other equally worthy robots vacuum cleaners, the rating of the best of them is presented in this article.

Comparison with competing models

Let us compare the Panda i5 model with automatic cleaners that are able to compete with it, which are close in consumer demand and also have vast technical capabilities.

Competitor # 1 - iClebo Arte Ironman edition

The model successfully copes with a wet and dry cleaning option. She needs 1 hour 50 minutes to charge, and to get a new portion of energy when the previous one is exhausted, she returns on her own. The device can operate on battery for 2 hours. The impressive volume of the dust bag, equal to 0.6 liters, is pleasing.

The case is equipped with a display with basic control tools. The choice of operating mode and programming of the card is done using the remote control. Infrared sensors are mounted to detect obstacles. Noises at 55 dB.

For wet floors, the iClebo Arte Ironman edition is complemented with microfiber cloths. Among the extremely useful functions is a timer that allows you to choose a convenient period for work. It is possible to calculate the cleaning time and program the activation of the unit according to the days of the week.

Competitor # 2 - iClebo Omega

This robotic vacuum cleaner is also subject to both dry and wet type of cleaning. The device is charged for 3 hours, from the battery prepared for operation, it works for 1 hour and 20 minutes. When the received energy ends, the automatic cleaner himself rushes to the parking base. If the process of bringing the room was interrupted, after charging the robot returns to the point from which it went to charge.

To detect obstacles, the iClebo Omega is equipped with optical sensors. A soft bumper protects the technical stuffing from the consequences of accidental collisions. To separate the harvested area, a magnetic tape is included in the package. If necessary, to enhance the effect of absorption, you can use the turbo mode.

It is electronically controlled, a touch screen is mounted in the housing. Programming the work scheme and building a map of the processed room is done using the remote control. For convenience, the display is illuminated by LEDs. This model makes a noise of 68 dB.

We also recommend that you review the overview of this model of vacuum cleaner. More details - go to the link.

Competitor # 3 - Robo-sos LR-450

An automatic cleaner is able to carry out dry and wet floor cleaning. The minus of the model is rightfully recognized as a long charge lasting 6 hours. From the battery, the robot works for 2 hours without interruption. When the charge is depleted, the model will independently stand on the base to resume the energy supply.It makes a noise of only 45 dB during operation.

Robo-sos LR-450 is equipped with optical sensors that detect obstacles in the way of the vacuum cleaner. The processing area is limited by a virtual wall. The body is equipped with a soft bumper that minimizes the consequences of possible collisions. On the lid there is a display illuminated by LEDs. Also, a remote control is used in the management and selection of modes.

The operation of the vacuum cleaner can be adjusted by the day of the week. There is a system for choosing the most suitable suction force, taking into account the degree of contamination and the type of coating. The volume of the dust bag is 0.8 l. You can program the operation of the device by the days of the week.

Conclusions and the best deals on the market

Of course a vacuum cleaner Panda i5 will not solve the problem of complex cleaning, but if you have small children, a spacious house with an impressive area or a furry pet, such a device will be an excellent help for maintaining the cleanliness of the floors..

And for those who can not decide on a purchase, many equipment sellers offer not only detailed expert advice, but also a home test drive of robotic vacuum cleaners.

Do you have something to supplement the material with or questions about choosing a robot vacuum cleaner for the home? Please leave your comments, ask questions, share your experience - the block for communication is located under the article.