After using the Tapo robot vacuum for some time, you might notice the map becomes inaccurate out of nowhere, for example, showing shifted zones, overlapping areas, or distorted layouts, which reduces the cleaning efficiency. This article explains the causes of these mapping inaccuracies and provides practical solutions to restore optimal performance.

 

Why does the robot vacuum develop overlapping/slanted/distorted maps?

This situation usually caused by the following factors.

1. Environmental interference. The vacuum gets trapped circling chair legs or slips on wet surfaces, causing “ghost maps” (phantom overlapping layouts).

▶Common triggers: U-shaped chairs, wet floors/carpets.

 

2. Human intervention conflicts. Physically relocating the robot vacuum or obstacles mid-cleaning creates errors in mapping.

▶Common triggers: moving furniture mid-cleaning, carrying the robot vacuum between floors or rooms with similar layouts during cleaning.

How to avoid getting shifted or incorrect updates on the map?

To minimize the occurrence of this issue, here are suggestions.
1. Make sure the charging dock is correctly placed against the wall, with no obstacles within 0.5m (1.6ft) on the sides and 1.5m (4.9ft) in front.

 

2. Keep the LiDAR sensor clean and avoid any obstructions.

• For RV20 and RV20 Max series, use a soft cloth to wipe the sensor area gently. If there are stubborn stains, first wipe with a damp cloth to remove the residue, then dry with a clean cloth.
• For RV30 and RV30 Max series, check if there is any hair or paper debris stuck in the LiDAR sensor and clean it. Do not put any cover on it.

 

Tapo RV20 & RV20 Max Series	Tapo RV30 & RV30 Max Series

 

3. Avoid running robot vacuum on damp carpets.

4. Do not move large objects unless necessary, such as sofas, tablets, cabinets, storage boxes, etc.

5. Avoid manually dragging the robot vacuum during cleaning.

6. If the robot vacuum struggles to cross thresholds or chair legs, consider removing the mop or adding spacers to improve its obstacle-crossing ability.

7. If the robot frequently gets stuck in narrow areas or under sofas, consider adding No-Go zones. 

*Feature 3 > How to optimize and edit Map of Tapo Robot Vacuum

8. If there are similarly laid-out rooms or long corridors, consider placing some objects to enhance the robot's recognition ability.

 

 

What should I do if the map has already shifted or overlapped？

• For RV20, RV20 Max, RV30 Max Series: Create a new map and lock it.  

Step 3: Lock Map > How to create a complete Map of Tapo Robot Vacuum.

 

• For RV30 Series: Create a new map, back up the map, and restore it if the problem reoccurs. 

Step 4: Map Backup & Restore > How to create a complete Map of Tapo Robot Vacuum.

 

★ Alternatively, start a whole-home cleaning - 'Clean Everywhere', back up or lock the correct map once the cleaning is completed.

 

How to add a new map?

Enter the Vacuums tab in the Tapo app > Smart Cleaning > click the floating Map icon > Map Management > Add a map. 

 

 

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