SLAM navigation makes random-bump robot vacuums feel ancient

There are two eras of robot vacuum navigation: the bump-and-pray era and the SLAM era. SLAM builds a live map of the room as the robot moves, so it knows where it’s been and where it still needs to go. That means it cleans faster, covers corners methodically, uses less battery, and doesn’t have to physically bounce off every chair leg to figure out the room layout. Random cleaning feels like a drunk roommate with a dustpan by comparison.