Xiaomi Robot Vacuum owners often face the need to clean multiple levels in a home. The standard algorithm of the device involves building a single main map, but modern models such as Roborock or Xiaomi Vacuum Mop allow you to save up to four separate plans of premises, which makes the cleaning process in multi-storey houses or complex apartments much more efficient.
To navigate at different levels, it's important to understand that the robot doesn't physically carry the map, but creates a digital copy of it in the app's memory. The laser rangefinder (LDS) or visual navigation system scans the space anew every time you move the device, which is why properly configuring and saving the maps is a critical step before you start operating.
In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of working with multilevel mapping. You will learn how to avoid errors when transferring the base, how to properly calibrate the device in a new place and what features of the Mi Home or Roborock application will help automate this process. The robot vacuum cleaner can store up to 4 separate maps of rooms in memory.
The principle of multimapping in the Xiaomi ecosystem
The function that allows the robot to navigate on different floors is often referred to in the technical documentation as Multi-Floor Mapping or simply Save Maps. The algorithm is that the device compares the current environment with the data already stored. If there is no match with the current active map, but there is a match with another saved, the system will suggest switching.
But the technical limitations of the sensors are important, because the laser module scans the horizontal plane, so changing the lights or rearranging the large furniture can be confusing, and in these cases, the robot can start building a new map instead of using the saved one, which is why it is recommended that each floor be used to build the map manually.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to move the charging station to the second floor with the robot during cleaning.The base must remain stationary at each level, otherwise the return coordinates will be incorrect and the robot will get lost.
The process of floor recognition depends on the type of navigation. LDS-They build maps faster and more accurately because they're less dependent on floor texture and lighting than visually navigated models (cameras.
📊 What type of navigation your robot vacuum cleaner has?
LDS (laser turret)
Visual (camera)
Gyroscopic navigation
Random movement (without a map)
Preparing equipment for work at a new level
Before you start mapping the second floor, you have to get the robot and its base properly prepared. The first step is always to clean the sensors. You have to wipe the laser rangefinder on the top panel with soft dry cloth and the drop sensors on the bottom panel. The dust on the sensors can lead to scan errors.
The charging station must be installed according to strict rules. To properly operate the navigation system around the base, you need free space: 0.5 meters on the sides and 1.5 meters in the front. Do not place the base near mirrors or glass doors, as the laser beam can pass through glass or reflect, creating phantom walls on the map.
- 🔋 Fully charge the battery before starting a new map so that the process does not stop in the middle.
- 🧹 Clean the main brush and turbobrush of wound hair to avoid increased noise and engine errors.
- 📡 Make sure that the new floor catches the Wi-Fi network, although to build a map the Internet is not necessary, it is necessary for synchronization.
If you use models with Auto-Empty function, make sure the dust bag is also installed and empty.Work on a new floor may take longer and a crowded container will stop cleaning.
Step-by-step: creating a map of the second floor
The process of creating a new map requires your presence. Don't leave the robot to fend for itself the first time. Open the Mi Home or Roborock app, select the device and go to the map settings. You'll need to find the option "Maps Edit" or "Maps Management."
Press Add Map or Create a New Map, and the robot will come out of the dock and start scanning the room, and at that point it will move randomly or perimeterly, collecting data, and your task is to open all the doors to the rooms that should be included in the map, and close the ones that are not allowed to enter.
Settings → Management of cards → Add a map → Start
Once the scan is complete (the robot will return to base or stop), the app will suggest saving the result. Give the card a clear name, such as "Second Floor" or "Bedrooms," if you don't save the card right away, it can be overwritten the next time you clean it up.
⚠️ Warning: If you take the robot in your arms during the scan, the process may interrupt or the map will be distorted. If the robot is stuck, gently release it and press the Continue Cleaning button in the app.
What if the robot doesn’t see the base on the new floor?
If the robot has built a map but can't find a base to recharge, check if something is blocking the infrared receiver on the robot. Also try to move the base to another place where there is more space around it. Sometimes it helps to wipe the contacts on the base and on the robot with an alcohol napkin to improve the connection when recharging.> Set up virtual walls and exclusion zones After the second floor map is saved, you need to set the restrictions. Virtual walls and exclusion zones are tied strictly to a specific map. This means that the forbidden zone in the first floor kitchen will not operate on the second floor, if you only create a separate map there. Use Virtual Wall (red line) tools to block passages and No Zone (red square) to lock specific objects, such as animal bowls or fringe mats. Restriction type Function Where to apply Virtual Wall Linear Barrier Locking entrance to the room or beyond the fence Prohibition Zone Square area Pets, wires, carpets Area without cleaning Area Ignoring Area Places where the robot is not needed (for example, under the table) Invisible wall Magnetic tape (Physical) For older models without LDS (It's important to prioritize correctly. If the exclusion zone crosses the cleaning zone, the robot will ignore the exclusion zone only in point cleaning mode, but in Perimeter mode it can try to circumvent it. The route algorithm always tends to bypass prohibited areas, even if it lengthens the path. The Xiaomi Smart Home ecosystem allows you to create complex scenarios that make life easier. You can set up automatic switching of cleaning modes depending on the time of day or a particular floor. For example, on the second floor, where the bedrooms are located, it makes sense to set a quiet mode. To implement this functionality, go to the "Automation" section of the application. Create a new scenario: "If the time between the two of you is a time of silence, you can use the "Automation" section of the app. 23:00 and 07:00 And the robot is on the second floor map, so you set it to Quiet mode, and that requires the robot to correctly identify the floor, which is usually through a computer. 10-15 minutes after the start of movement. 🕒 Set up a cleaning schedule separately for each floor so as not to disturb the household. 🔇 Use the "Do Not Disturb" mode at night, turning off voiceover and display backlight. 🧹 Increase the suction power on the second floor if there are carpets with high pile, and you can also integrate a robot with smart door locks or cameras, and if the camera captures the presence of people in the room, the robot can get around that area. However, such a bundle works stably only with good network coverage and the correct setup of a smart home. 💡Automation allows you to forget about manual settings: the robot itself adapts to the time of day and the type of room, if you set the conditions in the scenarios correctly. Solving frequent problems and navigation errors Even with the right setup, there can be situations when the robot "lost". This is most often the case if the second floor is re-arranged or new large objects are added, in which case the robot may think it is a completely different room and suggest creating a new map instead of using the old one. If the robot is moving randomly or spinning around, try updating the map. In the map settings, select the option "Combine maps" or "Edit" to manually adjust the position of the rooms. Also, resetting the map and building it again if the interior changes are drastic. ⚠️ Warning: Black surfaces (black carpets, glossy black tile) can be perceived by the fall sensors as a cliff. The robot will think there is a chasm ahead and will not go there. Back-to-base problems are often solved by cleaning the contacts. Oxidation or dust on the charging contacts causes the robot to not see the base even in the immediate vicinity. Clean the contacts once a month. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Can I transfer the same charging station between floors? Yes, you can, but each time you move a base, the robot will need to re-locate it. This can take time and increase battery consumption. The ideal option is to have a separate base for each floor if the robot model allows you to link multiple bases (usually flagship models), or simply be prepared for the first launch in a new location to take place in the exploration mode. What if the robot does not save the second floor map? Make sure you click on the Save button immediately after the scan is completed. Also check if the device memory is full. Some older models support only one card, in which case the update may not help, and the firmware will have to use the "Dis the map" or the maps manually build the "Dis the map?" Laser rangefinder works worse on highly reflective surfaces (mirrors, glossy tiles) and black mat backgrounds. In such cases, navigation may be less accurate, and the map may take longer to build or contain errors. Do you need Internet to work on the second floor? Internet is not needed for the cleaning and navigation process itself, the robot uses local memory and sensors. However, Wi-Fi is necessary to save the map to the cloud, remotely control through the application and receive updates to navigation algorithms.