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Vacuum robots: Do they really work as well as it looks on TV?

Do vacuum robots actually work as well as they appear to in their ads? The Rossen Reports team tries the Dyson 360 Eye and the Roomba 980.
/ Source: TODAY

Vacuum robots claim to be more powerful than ever — but do they actually work as well as they appear to in their ads?

Tuesday on TODAY, the Rossen Reports team continued the special series "Does It Work?" by trying out two of the most popular brands of robotic vacuum cleaner: the Dyson 360 Eye and the Roomba 980.

The Rossen team scattered a cup of dirt, 100 Cheerios, and a bag of pet hair around a living room for each robot to clean up. The mess was distributed across both hardwood floor and carpeting, as well is in corners (both robots are round) and under a couch.

Both robots left the room cleaner, but one "faulted" and stopped multiple times while the other did not.

The maker of the Roomba tells NBC News that the 980 is their "most advanced and effective robot vacuum to date."

Of the 360 Eye, Dyson tells NBC News: "At this stage, it has not been engineered to clean specific sections of the room, including designated spillage." Dyson calls it a "maintenance cleaner" and advises people to "tuck away carpet fringes" and "generally clear the floor area," adding that Dyson engineers are continuing to improve the device.

The Dyson 360 Eye costs nearly $1,000; the Roomba 980 runs nearly $900.

To suggest a topic for an upcoming investigation, visit the Rossen Reports Facebook page.