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Buy the working system, not just the robot.

A robot is only half the purchase. We show you the whole system — the robot, what else it needs, what it really costs over three years, and what it won't do — for robots you can actually buy today.

Build my system Browse by job

32 product records, every price sourced (seller's page or a named third party) and dated October 10, 2026
No sponsored rankings. No affiliate approvals yet — every button goes straight to the seller
Senior safety products labeled by exactly who answers when something goes wrong

A working system, itemized

Apple Watch SE 3$249
An iPhone (the wearer's or a family member's for setup)varies
FallCall Detect (Apple Watch app)Free
Monitoring, 36 months$647.64

3-year cost$897

It won't: Detect every fall, or help if the watch is on the charger.

See the full system and alternatives

Prices checked October 10, 2026

What job do you need done?

Four areas, each organized around the job — not the gadget.

Home & Chores

Vacuums and mops matched to your floors, pets and budget.

Clean my floors
Is a robot vacuum worth it?

Senior Care

Help a parent live alone safely — including when they refuse to wear a pendant.

Living alone safely
Who answers an alert?

Safety & Security

Check on a home while you're away, with privacy tradeoffs stated plainly.

Home check-in robots
The FCC robot rule

Yard & Pool

Mowers matched to slope and trees; pool robots matched to your pool.

Mow my lawn
Clean my pool

What a working system answers that a product list doesn't

"What else do I need?"

A wire-free mower may need a reference station and outdoor power. An Apple Watch detects falls but needs an iPhone — and a monitoring app if you want a trained operator instead of a 911 call. A pool robot needs someone who can lift it. We list every required piece, with prices where they're published.

"What does it really cost?"

Every product shows a 3-year cost: price, subscriptions, required add-ons, and an upkeep estimate we label as ours. A $0 medical alert pendant at $39.95 a month is a $1,438 decision.

"What won't it do?"

Every recommendation lists its limits up front: robots that don't skim the surface, mowers that can't trim edges, cameras that can't call for help. If nothing fits, the System Builder says so instead of pushing the closest product.

"Will it keep working?"

Robots die when companies do. Our Robot Graveyard tracks 11 cautionary cases, from Moxie to Alexa Together, and our announced-vs-available tracker keeps preorders and prototypes out of buying advice.

The rules we don't bend

Family alerts are not emergency response

Every senior-safety product says exactly who responds: you (by pressing or speaking), your family, or a trained operator. A text to your phone is never presented as "getting help."

Preorders aren't products

Humanoids, prototypes and waitlists live on a tracker with no buy buttons. We recommend only what ordinary US buyers can order today.

No invented testing

We haven't run hands-on tests yet, and we never claim we have. We cite independent testers by name and date, and we tell you where the evidence is thin.

Read the full methodology

Start with a guide

My parent won't wear a medical alert. What now?A decision guide by refusal reason, with who-answers labels on every option. Which robot vacuum fits my floors?Eight checked models from $249.99 to $999.99, with independent criticism for each. Which robot mower works on my yard?Matched by size, slope and trees — wire, RTK, LiDAR or vision. Do I want a cordless or corded pool robot?Three checked systems, the 25-lb lifting question, and the clarifier cost nobody mentions. Is a robot vacuum worth it for me?A calculator that prices your time against the 3-year cost. Can I still buy a robot vacuum or mower in the US?The FCC's July 2026 rule in plain language.

Recently changed

Prices, recalls and broken promises, dated. Corrections are part of the job.

October 10, 2026Launch
Robot Uncovered opens with 32 checked product records
Every price on the site was read from the seller's own page (or a dated independent source where noted) on October 10, 2026. Records with conflicting or missing data are labeled, not hidden.
Related page
October 10, 2026Price
Snug Dispatch now $12.50/mo
Snug's site shows $12.50/mo or $149.99/yr for its dispatcher plan. Our earlier research had $9.99/mo; we use the current figure.
Related page
October 10, 2026Correction
Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 'price conflict' resolved
The $2,399 and $2,799 figures are two different variants (1500 and 3000), not a conflict. Only the 3000 and 5000 include an RTK reference station.
Related page
October 10, 2026Discontinued
Beatbot AquaSense 2 Pro no longer available
Beatbot's page marks it sold out and 'no longer available', pointing to the AquaSense 2 Ultra. We removed it from recommendations.
Related page

Full updates log

Last checked October 10, 2026. See what changed.