The Worlds FIRST Robot Vacuum WAS AMAZING - The Electrolux Trilobite

We tested the world's first robot vacuum and the results were extremely interesting. The power, for example, was almost double the amount of the most powerful robot vacuum of today.
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00:00 The Electrolux Trilobite
00:50 Power!
01:30 Carpet Deep Clean Test
01:42 Debris Pickup
01:59 Navigation
02:18 Build Quality
02:30 Recharging
02:46 Price!
03:11 Battery Life
03:44 Enter iRobot
04:09 Edge Brush
04:19 Coverage
04:29 Conclusion
On the rare occasion that Vacuum Wars does a sponsored video or receives a product from a manufacturer to review, we will be clear about that in the video. otherwise, if nothing was mentioned, then this was an unsponsored review.
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[@bavarianbrit1]

I was the CAD engineer tasked for the surface development using Catia V4 on this contract project at Electrolux Stockholm in 1999. The sonar used mobile phone microphones (standard stuff), very innovative at the time. I was told it was to cost £3000 when on the market.

[@VacuumWars]

Wow! Thanks!!

[@gavincurtis]

Still have mine and it works great. Had to resort to 3D printing/fabricating the consumable parts to keep it going. Also rebuilt the battery packs. Just made of standard Sub-C cells so no big deal there. The vacuum motor on this thing seems to be on par with the top of the line Samsung unit that has the most powerful vacuum motor.

[@eli-we3mr]

This is actually really interesting

[@grayman7809]

wtf is a callmecarson fan doing in a vacuum review video? what am i doing here too?

[@guigovr]

It is crazy to think that a robot from 19 years ago( being a project from 24 years ago) had more suction power than today’s best robots....

[@evcrown6958]

this shows that marketing mostly sells products, people like to be lied and not think

[@sisamusudroka3000]

@@evcrown6958 not all, just the stupid ones

[@DimT670]

@@evcrown6958 the video literally explains why that is. Smaller vacuums have many advantages but at the time, and still now, you can't both have a long life small vacuum and very strong suction power. The suction power of this vacuum was literally the death of it, as it made it bigger clunkier and more expensive than the roomba.

[@enda0man]

Suction isn’t everything though

[@sisamusudroka3000]

@@enda0man that's what she said

[@vonnikon]

The ultrasound sensors of the Trilobite are waay better than the optical ones used today. For one simple reason: They are immune to being covered by dust. I never ever had to clean those sensors. And yes, I do miss that dustbin. Trilobite was my first vacuum.

[@cmelft2463]

Why am i addicted to vacuum videos.......

[@vespineyt]

Same

[@user-ik2ps1fu5e]

You are becoming a home wife.

[@anthonynoga]

Don’t worry man, happens to the best of us. I am a vacuum video addict as well

[@vtv4373]

Thank you Electrolux. I can't believe 19 years we already had a robot vacuum. Wow!

[@ds99]

Growing up my mom had a reddish coloured Electrolux vacuum that she bought in the 1950’s. The thing was still working when she passed away in 2010. They were built to last back then. Meanwhile I’m on my 5th robot vacuum in 15 years. I don’t find any of them last long. The worst one was the Neato D7 robot which broke down after 14 months. The motherboard that controlled the Lidar laser went. The cost to fix was so ridiculous that I went out and bought a different brand and threw the D7 into the recycling bin.

[@FalconWindblader]

Anything you could easily lift with both hands ain't gonna last more than 10 years of constant use these days. parts being increasingly complex & difficult, & more importantly, new stuff rolling out almost every year or 2. not many would go buy the new stuff if the old ones ain't gonna give & break after all.

[@ds99]

Falcon Windblade I can lift my Dyson vacuum with my hands and it’s used every week on my carpets. It’s 13 years old. My electric mixer gets used 2 or 3 times per week and it’s 8 years old. Believe me, I’d love to get 10 years from a robot vacuum. I spent $799 + 13% sales tax on the Neato D7 and it broke on month 13. That’s nowhere near 10 years. Not sure you actually read my first comment because your reply didn’t make much sense.

[@FalconWindblader]

@@ds99 Chill. i'm just stating a general observation, & widely considered fact, not specific to your situation. there're definitely outliers (unusually long-lived or short-lived), but i was saying that that's how things work for most part these days.

[@DaviCandy66]

I've had the irobot Roomba E5 for a bit, and there has been nothing wrong with it since its purchase.

[@darinsmith9468]

This is actually what I would expect for a traditional vacuum manufacturer designing a robot vac. Basically, a scaled down, battery-powered traditional upright vac, with drive wheels and a navigation approach. By starting from the traditional vacuum approach, you are led into a destination that is going to result in something big, heavy, and power-hungry (thus the need for big batteries). It is interesting how close they wound up to the design pattern that has proven successful. The inability to get under furniture coupled with the high price tag (both driven by the design) make for a market failure. Doesn't surprise me that the traditional vacuum company aces the crevice test, though.

[@nicko5945]

Oh dang chris, I had that one in my watch list on ebay and was gonna buy it. You got a good deal and I’m glad it went to you. I am collecting all the Electrolux vacuums with that same red orange color and the trilobite is my last one to get.

[@robovaccollector]

The Trilobite 2.0 was in used condition with bad battery on bazos.cz, which is simillar like ebay for about 25$. So i bought it Seller says just need new battery but it is still dropping error 7. Bumper is clean, sensors are clean, everything is okay and if i try to turn it on, it will just show error 7. Please, do you know what could it be?

[@nicko5945]

RoboVacCollector you need to use a multimeter to check the micro switches for the bumper. Either they are not working at all or it’s reading them constantly in the depressed position.

[@robovaccollector]

@@nicko5945 ok, i'll do that, thank you very much. And another question, somewhere i was reading, how to get the bumper off, there are 2 small holes, where i need to push with some thin thing and then it release the lock of bumper. But someone wrote there, when you're putting the bumper back, you can damage the mother board. Is it true? I really don't want to break it more. I know a lot of robotic vacuums, about Roombas from A-Z, about Ecovacs Deepoo robots too, and about other brands i know lot of things too, but electrolux is for me new, so i just know error 7 is some bumper issue and the vacuum motor is brushless ac motor like in drones. Thanks.

[@nicko5945]

RoboVacCollector shouldn’t need to worry about damage and long as you go slow and don’t force anything. All the sensors are bundled into a single white connector that you will also need to make sure you unplug from the motherboard before you pull it off.

[@robovaccollector]

@@nicko5945 Ok, about that connector i know, simillar are on a lots of robot vacuums, thank you very much! Have a nice day.

[@JL-iu7fk]

I've always been a fan of ELECTROLUX! I have one around before I was born (70's) that's still going strong!

[@verde3584]

Why don't you make a video on the pure i9 ? It's also made by electrolux and uses a front facing camera.

[@andreipastushuk3234]

How thanks! Awesome content!

[@aaronharstine881]

it would be cool to see a comparison to Electrolux's new vacuum the i9

[@InternetUser-xo2uw]

Too true

[@victorramsey2319]

True facts

[@horizon42q]

Very cool history. Thanks

[@StuartOtterson]

Today was watching a couple of your vids to help make a purchasing decision. I admit, I did stoff at the idea of subscribing to the channel, since it seems once a purchasing decision is made, there's no need to watch anymore. But the fact that you went out of your way to purchase the first robot vacuum, to do a review and put it within the context of its history and analysis what was great and why it failed; I respect that. I like the review formula anyway so I'll subscribe.

[@Txepetxcc]

And the navigation was very good too!

[@mleolv426]

Great video 👍

[@GarthrielMurdoch]

Would you guys do the newer Electrolux Pure I9 robotic vacuum?

[@nmvac82]

The old Electrolux isn’t the same company from today. Now is called Aerus. In North America, the Electrolux name was long used by vacuum cleaner manufacturer Aerus LLC, originally established to sell Swedish Electrolux products. In 2000, Aerus transferred trademark rights back to the Electrolux Group, and ceased using the Electrolux name in 2004.

[@willo7979]

Wow! Didn’t realise electrolux reuse the name in recent release of their vacuum robot, thought they are playing catch-up, thanks for the sharing! 👍

[@aeonjoey3d]

Wowwwww this was awesome.

[@cionheart]

My LG HomBot 2.0 VR6170LVM from 2011 is still in surprisingly good shape and it's already a model with room mapping. I'm almost surprised how good it was for its time, while the industry made some progress in the last 9 years, I'm still waiting for the next big step which will be AI and proper wet cleaning.

[@PowerSax911]

@Vacuum Wars Just being curious, but have you considered going back to your older videos to redo some of your reviews? I noticed the Kirby Avalir video didn't test emissions or carpet cleaning. Thank you!

[@fadzlyjb]

Owh my childhood. I really hope Electrolux comeback again

[@archygrey9093]

They still make robot vacuums

[@tanyasobsessions2131]

thanks so much for taking the time to do this one! i've been wondering forever how it stacked up against irobots 2002 and all that. i finally have my answer! thanks so much! i didn't even know there was a 2nd gen of it. maybe one day you could find the 1st gen and compare it to the second gen and the irobot 2002 version. that'd be interesting.

[@robovaccollector]

First (Trilobite) and second (Trilobite 2.0) are totally same, just the color is different, and 2.0 has 200 small upgrades, says Electrolux, for example the stair detection sensor, that black dots on bumper. But it has same brushroll, brushroll motor, and suction motor (ac brushless).

[@tanyasobsessions2131]

@@robovaccollector thanks for the input, really appreciate it. :)

[@tanyasobsessions2131]

@@robovaccollector you wouldn't happen to know if the 1st gen of it had the charger with it, would you? i know that the irobot roomba didn't come out with that until 2004 with the irobot discovery model and ever since then kept it for obvious reasons of course. the other thing that irobot did that the trilobite didn't/couldn't do that irobot did that i feel put them where they are today was the invention of the virtual walls which really put them ahead of the game in many ways. it's interesting to me that they didn't stay in the robot vacuum game and just abandoned it. makes me wonder if they regret it now given what's happened with the market and all that. just my thoughts/opinions.

[@robovaccollector]

@@tanyasobsessions2131 well, both, 1st and even the 2nd generation of trilobite had docking station, and both had magnetic strip, which works like virtuall wall, but iRobot was the first, who make electric virtuall wall

[@TimJoseph08031990]

Wow an almost 20 year old robotic vacuum from Electrolux is far better than today's expensive robotic vacuums!

[@AndrewJones816]

Please do more electrolux

[@zsoltike]

That would be great, the Pure i9 looks really promising!

[@AndrewJones816]

@@zsoltike Right? I didn't even know they had a line of robot vacuums. I searched how much this one would cost on ebay, and found that they had newer models, then tried to find people reviewing it... and nobody reviews like this guy out there it seems. after 3-5 "reviews" i had to tell him to do it, that way it gets done right. lol

[@zsoltike]

@@AndrewJones816 If I am right the Pure i9 is only available in Europe. In the UK and Germany is under the AEG brand

[@KalleKilponen]

Sounds like a great idea! I’m especially curious on how the Electrolux Pure i9.2 fares against other current robovacs.

[@KraljHD]

I have one. It's good if you use it without the smart features. The auto dock doesn't work great, the app has a lot of glitches and the corner brush gets tangled a lot since the brushes are very close to each other, so you have to replace more often. The battery life also isn't very good, but it depleted a lot since I use it almosy every day. For the plus points....it has a lot of power, it has a camera based navigation, but not sure if it's vslam (what it's good at is avoiding small things on the floor like dog toys), a large dust bin and good filter and a nice triangular shape to also help with corners (but the main brush gets some serious hair tangles). All in all, the vac is good, but not for the price, if you can get it for 350 then yeah, but not more. It was a lot more expensive in my country and the only other robo vacuums back then were it and the older roombas.

[@AVguitarchannel]

I love this channel even not having a robot vacuum yet

[@paiwanhan]

Electrolux is still making some brilliant robot vacuums. Is there any chance that you can review them?

[@jasonsoto5273]

I like the organic look of it~!

[@mb3775]

This was impressive for its time

[@KirbyEnthusiast]

Very interesting video , gave me some awesome ideas for my Up & coming Kirby Dedicated channel .

[@ToyDiggerDE]

That Thing rocks. I want one. ^^

[@JamTex1965]

You should check out the new Proscenic M7 Pro robot vacuum. It has a self empty option although the self empty bin is sold separately from the vacuum. I would like to see how you grade it compared to the best robot vacuums.

[@bonestockgarage122]

I remember this being the robot to get back in the early 2000's, on all the robot vac forums. Just cost too much.

[@TP-zz6ud]

damn it this is amazing

[@thefrub]

I started getting recommended these videos after watching the William Osman and Peter Sripol roomba videos, and they are really interesting

[@BabyK18316]

I was literally about to comment “oh man wish they still sold this robot vac now it’s awesome!” But glad I watched the whole thing and heard your valid Con claims. That’s a shame it’s almost $2k definitely a deal breaker and yes way too huge.

[@zbridgjpxupzm]

Can you please test more brands like Bosch, Philips, Miele ?

[@Damitsall]

I think its pretty clear it's price tag was justified. It beats robot vacuums today, 20 years later, that cost well over 1000 bucks.

[@richardsmith1161]

Can you do videos testing which does best picking up carpet powders like Arm & Hammer? I use them once a week. Would like to know which robot does Best.

[@Nobody-Nowhere]

This is cool

[@serious-rc933]

Electrolux PUREi9 test?

[@that_one_sax5054]

I love the meme that you put.

[@jonasnystrom2707]

Are you going to try Prosenic m7 pro with the self emtying bin? The other reviews i've seen is not as thorough as yours and I would like to hear your opinion.

[@hmspain52]

It's always interesting when a robot company (think iRobot) make a vacuum vs a vacuum company (think Electrolux) make a robot :-).

[@naxzed_it]

*_-Apple iVacuum-_* Oh no *_-Samsung GALAXY SVac-_* Ohhh *_N O O O O !_*

[@kwetalbreinbaas1300]

Tomy Dustbot was the first robot vacuumcleaner actually, although it worked only for table tops.... Anyway, the Electrolux will make a nice addition to my robot collection!

[@nonenone9611]

No it was a robot swiffer called the dust puppy

[@kwetalbreinbaas1300]

@@nonenone9611 Nice, but still 13 years newer than Dustbot.

[@FalconWindblader]

I guess the definition would need to be botvacs that truly served as tools instead of toys in that case. kinda surprised to see vacuum cleaners existed in such a small package way back.

[@chewbubs3533]

Can you please test the iLife A9? Thank you!

[@emmahsmith-thompson8902]

Can you pleaaasaase do a video on the Electrolux/AEG Pure F9’s!!!!

[@user-un3xg9mi7y]

what about noise? how good it's filters are? Does it use bldc suction motor?

[@phylaxxx]

You should review more Electrolux stuff.

[@MegaClashcityrocker]

Sadly the world of reviewing revolves around free stuff and brown envelopes, and not what the best products are..

[@voidofspaceandtime4684]

glad you're covering this. first self-emptying robovac next?

[@Txepetxcc]

If you see Neato robots , they have the same brush and rubber wheels and also the general built !

[@SriGuruNanakMission]

Could you please also do Haier TAB vacuum review

[@MattTester]

18V batteries... interesting. I wonder how much they weight compared to a modern power tool 18V pack (with twice/three times the capacity). There's definitely scope to modify one of these for use now if you don't mind the other cons.

[@jacky445]

You should do a test of Electrolux pure i9 robot vacuum.

[@ashtonbenson2463]

Please do a review on the quantum X vacuum

[@AverageReviewsYT]

Airflow cleans where the brushes quit. It's worth the price in that aspect. I'd buy it over the new ones they have. Kinda wish suction was a measured value in the tests. Because that's important too. Just not as big of a deal as airflow

[@paralegalerika_s6389]

I work at a law firm, I am sitting next to one of these right now. It's huge, but so cool.

[@VacuumWars]

nice!

[@babyzarina2552]

Vacuum cleaner old fashion with dustbag is still the best

[@MichalHalczuk]

Hey. As for powerful robot vacuums - have you seen Samsung Powerbot VR9300? It's 250W robot with 100AW of suction as stated on their website. Not really cheap, but still cheaper than things like Roomba S9 and with power level far beyond anything else I've ever seen. If I was ever to buy robot vacuum (which is not happening for quite a while) I'd wish to go for something with similar power.

[@somethingsfishy2695]

This is like old games that beat nowadays games...

[@adamsvintageappliances6346]

you need airflow for cleaning power and good carpet agitation

[@Byhrum]

I wish you reviewed the ILIFE W400 or other mopping robots.

[@braddeicide]

I used to own one of the first microwaves and was a BEAST! I don't know is rating, I think it's before they learnt how to restrain them because it boiled water super fast. It did concern me the way it wouldn't stop if you pulled open the door without hitting stop...

[@superspit]

Wow! Which 1950's model was it?

[@aaronbuffalo7769]

mmmmmmmmmm 8000 rads of microwaved lasagne goodness

[@braddeicide]

@@superspit don't know I didn't take it with me when I moved interstate, it was bloody heavy even for two men. My grandmother ran a corner store before I was born, it was from that store. She retired 40 years ago and who knows how old it was even then.

[@CobraCommanderX]

bed vacuums? I sent you an email about one i found on amazon, and it looks like theres a few to compete against eachother!

[@inewyork5592]

dyson dc06 was also released in 2001

[@sethflorentz1219]

cool!

[@demoscottgaminglounge6315]

Petition to have all robot vacuums companies send thank you cards to Electrolux for there trilliabite robot vaccume paving the way for there robot vaccumes to operate and work and become reality in today’s world! 😂

[@cwill2127]

Really want a cordless stick for my apartment. Have a super shitty vacuum now, basically just suction and is the cheapest product I’ve ever felt in my life. Watched your best of 2019 video along with basically every other video and have narrowed it down. Mainly looking at dyson v8 animal, v10 Motorhead (possibly animal, seen a lot of deals), tineco A10 master or A11 hero, and finally the dyson v7. Have all hard wood floors with some rugs and carpets. Carpets are thick and high pile which is why the v10 animal with the torque drive head is appealing. Will probably need good agitation, and from what I’ve read the normal direct drive cleaner head doesn’t provide the best. Not sure with the tineco, but the removable batter is a HUGE plus. Also longevity, and haven’t heard the best about dyson.

[@composahwithabohohwah]

Where is Electrolux Pure F9/Bork V800!?

[@lenshibo]

out of curiosity, do you think this thing is worth buying today? like for its used price, is it a good option?

[@Ata5ll]

So why dont I see those new electroluxes in your reviews ^^

[@atomstarfireproductions8695]

How well did it do with hair?

[@Zcahm]

Review the makita robot

[@Ronis88]

Could you test Samsung VR20 series suction power? I got 9350 and it sounds quite powerfull.

[@aithemed]

Electrolux need to bring back and release the 2020 to fight iRobot monopoly, more competition better for us!

[@Tipko]

They do sell a robotic vacuum still today

[@markharding7140]

whats the music at the end of the video?

[@cunty]

if we’re doing vintage robots check out the nintendo chitorie! it’s a remote control robot vacuum from nintendo!

[@FreshCityVentures]

*ChiriTori

[@voidofspaceandtime4684]

honestly probably the first robot vacuum (to make it to production)

[@FalconWindblader]

@@voidofspaceandtime4684 Not sure if it fits the definition of contemporary botvacs, given how it's basically a toy & incapable of going about on its own after all. but nonetheless, glad to know something like that existed.

[@voidofspaceandtime4684]

@@FalconWindblader A lot of modern vacs that are in the same price range the nintendo one are basically on the same level - and there's even a few incredibly cheap ones that practically are. For 70s standards, the chiritori was pretty advanced.

[@budimanr4362]

wow

[@user-ke8vk8bo4j]

I still own one of these. Don't use it cause the batteries don't hold power even after buying new batteries and doesn't connect with my charge base easily. Wish I could fix it cause the power, ease of use, and ultrasonic object detection were awesome and still awesome, apparently.

[@Vacuum_Circle]

Roomba Approved 👍

[@sorenfox]

Anyone have any idea how much these usually go for nowadays?

[@galaxyon6030]

We're I can get this product

[@momofthegregors]

Do a old Kirby review vs new one.

[@skumfidus08]

What is the song at the end

[@Loumia644]

今中古でコレクションとして購入を検討中ですが、何処のサイトで売ってるか、教えてください

[@1000BT]

Try to get a Black and Decker air swivel

[@andreasstromberg]

Have one, in the box, think it's time for renovation whit upgrade

[@hikakin_mania440]

0:30 エレクトロラックスの方が 22年前から 自動充電ついてるのか

[@robovaccollector]

I have the silver Trilobite 2.0 But it is still dropping error 7 Whyyyyy Do anyone know what could be dirty or where could be problem? Because the bumper is clean, all sensors are ok. AND IT IS STILL DROPPING ERROR 7 WHYYYY But really great video Chris, i wasn't expecting, you will do a video on Trilobite! Great job!

[@albertosapiens1]

Check the microswitches with a multimeter as other viewer pointed up here kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGrYYZlsn7urrZI&lc=UgzFJvC5tYE5DE7fiWR4AaABAg.951SZASKNOS951XOiLalkW

[@alexrichard2447]

Mine is still better than any other model I've ever been able to try on hard floors; and while it's not the best for short or medium carpets it's still truly impressive on long/shaggy ones. Battery life is not that much of a problem since it can return to base and resume (sure, far less efficiently than modern smart navigation ones but still...) And unless you get a bad electronics failure I don't see one stopping anytime soon. Also I had between 60 and 70 min of use when batteries were new...

[@MrSwanley]

Hmm. I've always assumed that this kind of device wasn't really practical before the rise of the LiPo battery. I still think I was kinda right. The Electrolux literally seems to have been before its time.

[@NickFje]

Taking inflation into consideration this robot vaccum would have cost roughly 2900$. This was truly a luxury at the time it was released.

[@user-jt5vm3mi1w]

Neato best

[@kingpuppet5881]

my roomba is cowering away in fear lol

[@jamesdowell5268]

The price is even more outrageous than you think - adjusted for inflation, $1,800 dollars in 1996 would be slightly over $3,000 today!

[@vampiregoat69]

I had a Roomba but when the battery went bad it was 80-$90 to replace

[@Rita00007]

I really wish they would come up with reliable mopping robot.