For years, the home robot revolution has been quiet. First there were the floors, then the windows, later the gardens… Repetitive, invisible, almost thankless tasks, which little by little have been disappearing from everyday life. Now, that automation reaches a different place: the pool.
With the launch of the Ultramarine P1, Ecovacs transfers its experience in robotics to an environment that, although associated with leisure, requires constant and often tedious maintenance. The proposal is clear: turning water cleaning into a completely autonomous process. And it is not simple: we are facing a three-dimensional space, with another gravity and much more complex hygiene conditions.
The heart of the device is in its suction capacity. The UltraPure Suction Technology system reaches 4,800 GPH (gallons per hour, about 18,000 liters per hour), which equivalent to processing the volume of a complete domestic pool in just one hour, including leaves, sand and also finer particles that tend to cloud the water.
But beyond the power, the interesting thing is how it manages what it collects. The robot integrates a double-layer filtering system that combines a larger outer mesh with an ultra-fine filter capable of retaining microscopic particles. The result is a cleaning that not only eliminates what is visible, but also what, unseen, affects the quality of the water. It is, in a way, a cleaning that anticipates dirt.
One of the challenges in this type of device is not only to vacuum, but move effectively in an irregular environment. Swimming pools are not uniform surfaces: there are walls, corners, slopes, obstacles.
To solve this, the Ultramarine P1 incorporates Four independent roller brushes maintain constant contact with surfaces. This not only improves traction, but also allows the robot to better “read” the terrain, adapting to walls and floors without losing efficiency. That combination of movement and contact reduces the need for manual intervention, one of the device’s central goals.
Another positive point of this robot is its design. Unlike what happens with robot vacuum cleaners, Pool water is not a friendly environment for technology. Chlorine, solar radiation, temperature changes and constant exposure put any material to the test.
Therefore, the robot has been designed with a multi-level durability system, which includes corrosion resistance, protection against UV rays and an IP68 certified seal that guarantees its operation underwater.
One of the big leaps in this type of device is in navigation. Unlike the first robots, which moved almost randomly, the Ultramarine P1 integrates the SmartNavi Intelligent Navigation system. Thanks to high-precision IMU sensors, the robot is able to orient itself, calculate routes and cover the pool systematically. The IMU sensors (Inertial Measurement Unit or Inertial Measurement Unit), They measure and report to the system the specific force, angular velocity, and sometimes the magnetic field of an object, combining accelerometers, gyroscopes, and often magnetometers. It is essential for navigation and very common in drones.
The IMU is what allows this robot can be guided efficiently in a three-dimensional environment. This translates into coverage of up to 99% of the floor, avoiding unnecessary repetitions and optimizing cleaning time.
Another aspect key is its wireless design. By eliminating cables, the robot gains freedom of movement and eliminates one of the main drawbacks of traditional systems: entanglements and physical limitations in the water.
Added to this is a 5,200 mAh battery that allows up to three hours of operation in Eco mode, enough to cover pools of up to 180 square meters on a single charge. Control is also transferred to the mobile phone, from where you can select cleaning modes or program its operation. And all this for 549 euros. We are talking about about 6 euros per day throughout the summer season.