Random Traps Against Furniture Legs and Walls -- Fixable
[edit]The new 9350 Turbo model adds counter weights in the front to likely correct the problem below.
A 9051 updated the 9050 in 2016, with no spec change; maybe it was for adding the counter weights, unknown.
[edit]2017 R9250 model found effective by pet owner; Samsung forum http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... 22&t=20033
What is not mentioned in most reviews of Samsung's Powerbot line is a tendency to randomly get shutdown, trapped against furniture legs and backing into walls. Various customers have commented at vendor sites having this problem. After months of use this problem has been traced to a way the side gets lifted from friction against furniture behind the front bumper, an effect of the suspension. A similar effect lifts the rear backing into walls. When the side is lifted the wheel extends tripping a sensor for lifting the robot off the floor, shutting down. It turns out a simple addition of tape and cardboard can keep the wheels up and prevent these stoppages, allowing all the advances made by Samsung to be enjoyed: larger wheels, wider brush, washable filter etc. Instructions in the Samsung forum http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... 91#p138691
[edit] The main reason I use the Powerbot is the large wheels operating on carpet where none of the other brands (aside from the new Dyson untested) can work. Also that it proved to clean the carpet in exacting tests measuring left over picked up by a regular vacuum, actual dirt instead of sprinkled stuff used for quick tests only of the surface. I originally thought the Max mode higher suction power option was needed but that proved to add little over the standard Normal mode.
[edit] The 2017 new 7000 series Powerbots with lower profile to fit under furniture also appears to correct the missing side bumper problem and maybe the "wheelie" problem with more forward weight distribution as well as smaller wheels. I suspect the 9000 problem owes a lot to the larger wheels having effects not noticed in design until a lot of customer reviews leading to counter weight addition. The smaller 7000 wheels still have the superior tread on the Powerbot wheels but I do not have one to test.