How robotic pool cleaners find their way
How pool robots find their way
Pool robots don’t see your pool the way you do. These pages explain how they pick a path, why they zigzag, and why some spots stay dirty. They also cover steps, benches and odd pool shapes.
For home owners who have a robotic pool cleaner, or are thinking about one, and want to understand what it’s doing.
All the guides
How Pool Robots Find Their WayA robotic pool cleaner starts with no map. Here's how it turns at walls, covers the floor and decides where to go next.
Random and Planned Cleaning Patterns ComparedWhy a pool robot zigzags in one pool and runs neat lines in another, and what each pattern suits.
Gyroscopes and Sensors in Pool Robots ExplainedWhat a gyroscope, an accelerometer and bump sensors do inside a pool robot, in plain words, and what each one can't do.
How Pool Shape Changes Robot CoverageKidney, round, L-shaped or rectangular. How the shape of a pool affects the path a robotic cleaner takes.
Why a Pool Robot Misses SpotsWhy the same corners can stay dirty after a robot's cycle, and what to check before blaming the route.
Steps, Ledges and Benches: How Robots Handle ThemCan a pool robot get up, over or around steps and benches? What makers say, and what to check for your own model.
Finding Navigation Settings in Your ManualWhere to look in your pool robot's manual or app for cycle, mode and timer settings, and why the names differ by model.