To the world, I am an early adopter. However, the thing to know is that, even within early adoption, there are different levels. For example, when Tesla released the Model S in 2012, I instantly KNEW I wanted one. I ended up buying one 3 years later. Sometimes I'm on the bleeding edge of technology, but when I'm not so sure about its viability or sustainability, I will sometimes wait a beat. When Roombas made a splash in the early 2000s I was skeptical... mostly about limitations due to battery technology (runtime, suction), but also intelligence (processing power, sensor suite, firmware progamming). Friends and coworkers would buy robot vacuums, but then stick them in a closet after a while. Fast forward to late 2019, and I think I might finally have my vacuum!The Roborock S6 Robot Vacuum is really the first product of its type that I thought would work for my use case. My house was built in the early 80s, so it has some architectural quirks that newer homes don't have. The house has two stories, but that's not really that unusual - what's a bit different is that various sections of the house are sunken or raised by a half a foot. It's visually interesting, but a robot vacuum isn't going to parkour its way around the place. The largest contiguous areas at the same elevation are about 1400sqft, 900sqft, 1700sqft, and 1200sqft. It's a big house. The "cliff" sensor in the S6 is super important, with the dropoffs. I figured I'd get an S6, see how it worked in one area of the house. If it worked out, I might get 2 or 3 more.The S6 arrives in a series of Russian nesting boxes. When you get to the actual retail box, the packaging is slick and professional. The components are individually bagged. The vacuum arrives already assembled (there is no battery pack or filter to install), and the docking station, power cable, documentation, mop components, tray, and extra filter are also included. Preparing the S6 consists of putting the power cable in the base (you can choose which side to route the power cable out (nice touch). I was a little surprised that there was no way to secure the base to the floor or baseboard... the base has anti-skid rubber pads, but some people may want to opt for a more permanent and cleaner (ha) solution.Next, I put the robot on the charger (it arrived charged to about 60%). I downloaded and installed the Roborock app from the Google Play store on my Pixel 3 XL (Android 10). When you launch the app you are directed to create a Roborock account. Roborock does not support external auth'ing (Apple, Google, FB, etc.), so you will have another password to keep track of. After you validate your email, by entering an emailed verification code, you are in the app an ready to add your robot(s). The app shows all nearby, unregistered Roborock devices. Select the vacuum from the list (even thought there's likely to only be one thing on it), and you will be prompted to select your WiFi network's SSID. Enter the auth information and whether you want to save the credentials to your account (presumably for the easier setup of future devices), and it will push the configuration to the vacuum. A minute or so later your vacuum will be communicating with your app via STUN/STUNT/TURN, instead of through the vacuum's ad-hoc WiFi network (as you'd expect, the vacuum's SSID goes away once the device is on your network).Just a side note here: with all of your IoT devices, like wifi sprinkler controllers, smart TVs, smart speakers (Sonos, Alexa, Google), vacuums, home automation stuff, cameras, etc., it's a good idea to set up a VLAN'd SSID that has NO access to your PCs, laptops, and NAS devices. It's just a good idea, and it doesn't really take much work.The hardware side of the vacuum is pretty straightforward. There's a small waste bin on board, with no sensor to tell the vacuum when it's full (kind of a deficiency, in my view). There are infrared, laser, and tactile sensors to sense obstacles. There's a small, pleated air filter to keep from ejecting just-vacuumed debris back into the air. There are provisions for mopping, in terms of on-board water, a metering mechanism, and mop attachments. The key component of the vacuum, though, is the battery. It's really responsible for most of the performance (and performance limitations) of the device? Runtime? Battery capacity. Suction power? Battery capacity. Speed? Battery capacity. Even noise, which is pitched as a positive, is low (in-part) because there isn't more power budget to devote to the vacuum motor. Finally, if you're wondering why it doesn't use a HEPA filter, it's also due to power. More restrictive filters reduce suction (at the same power level, with the same motor). The unit seems well made, with decent workmanship, but my personal experience with its longevity is nonexistent, since the unit is new to me (I'll post updates if I encounter problems).The software side of the vacuum is where things get interesting. You see, the product page of the S6 lists all kinds of awesome features, but they can only be used if you enable "Map Saved Mode" in the app. That mode is marked beta. If you're a technologist, you can look at the S6 (and its feature set) as being a product of something called agile software development. You come to market with the minimum deliverable product, and then you use your stakeholder input (customers and potential customers, in this case), to drive continual development of the product's features. If you're NOT a technologist, or you're a cynic, you may just look at it as having been sold an unfinished product. It's worth noting, though, that your phone, your laptop, and possibly even your car subscribe to the agile development methodology. Roborock probably assumes that anyone that's willing to get a robot vacuum is probably down for continual development.The operation of the vacuum from the app is pretty cool. On the first run, you can see the ray-projection LIDAR as the area is mapped out. You can also see the route trace as the vacuum does its thing. Neat. The cliff sensor worked well without me having to set a no-go area. I also didn't have to set any invisible walls to keep the vacuum from getting stuck or hung up. All that, and the vacuum didn't mark any walls or furniture. The S6 did move a light metal waterbowl around a little. The vacuum is quiet enough that it didn't freak out my 3 small dogs. The problem I did run into was dog-related, though. My first run with the S6 was on a 1400 sqft area, about 2 weeks since the last vacuum (I was expecting the S6 to come earlier). The issue was that the roller and the waste cup were full after about 700 sqft. That's not really that big a deal, but the problem was that the vacuum had NO IDEA that it was full. Only after returning to the base did the unit say that the filter was clogged. No kidding. That seems like something to address in a future iteration of the product. Since the subsequent cleanings were much lower volume, it wasn't an issue that was repeated. Obviously, YMMV... I have no idea how dirty you are :p I was a little worried about vacuum handling the transition on and off the doormats and rugs in the area, but it handles them like a champ. After the 1400 sqft area is done the battery still has about 40% capacity.I did OAuth the skill to my Alexa installation. It works, but I'm more curious how it will work when I have multiple devices on the same account.I haven't used the various robot vacuums, since their inception. Hearing horror stories about them definitely scared me away for years. For me, the Roborock S6 gets it right (enough), to the point where I think now is the right time for consumers to get in. Despite the best software features being labeled "beta", the product acts and feels mature. I Expect to buy one or two more S5s or S6s. Highly recommended.