Product Introduction
- Definition: Sweep is an iOS application that utilizes augmented reality (AR) and LiDAR scanning to create a real-time floor coverage map and calculate the cleaned area in square meters. It is a utility app in the home cleaning and productivity technology category.
- Core Value Proposition: Sweep exists to eliminate the guesswork from vacuuming by providing visual feedback and quantitative data on cleaning performance. Its primary value is delivering vacuuming efficiency, cleaning verification, and AR-powered home maintenance insights without requiring any connected hardware.
Main Features
- AR-Powered Path Tracking: Sweep uses the iPhone's camera and LiDAR sensor (on Pro models) to visually recognize and track the user's vacuum head in real-time. As the user vacuums, the app paints a persistent green trail directly onto the floor surface in the camera view, marking every strip covered. This on-device AR tracking requires no markers or pre-scanning.
- Automated Area Calculation & Mapping: Upon finishing a session, the app processes the spatial data from the AR trail to generate a top-down 2D map of the cleaned area. It automatically calculates the total cleaned area in m², providing a precise, quantifiable metric of the work done.
- One-Time Vacuum Head Setup & On-Device Privacy: Users perform a one-time calibration by aiming their phone at the vacuum head and capturing its appearance. This data is stored locally. The app emphasizes complete privacy: all processing (computer vision, mapping) occurs on-device, no video or room geometry is saved or uploaded, and no account is required.
Problems Solved
- Pain Point: It solves the common problem of inefficient vacuuming patterns and missed spots, where users overlap areas or leave sections uncleaned due to a lack of visual memory or guidance during the task.
- Target Audience: The primary user personas are homeowners and renters seeking to optimize cleaning routines, individuals with large floor areas (e.g., open-plan spaces) who need coverage assurance, and tech-early adopters interested in practical AR applications for daily tasks.
- Use Cases: Essential for thoroughly cleaning large, uniform spaces like living rooms and basements; verifying complete coverage after a cleaning session; and for users who want data-driven insights into their household chores.
Unique Advantages
- Differentiation: Unlike smart vacuums with built-in mapping (which cost hundreds of dollars), Sweep is a software-only solution that works with any existing stick vacuum, democratizing access to cleaning analytics. It differs from manual methods by providing objective, visual data instead of relying on memory.
- Key Innovation: The core innovation is its purpose-built, on-device AR tracking algorithm optimized for a single, specific object (a vacuum head) in a home environment. This allows for robust, real-time tracking without complex setup or cloud dependency, a focused application of AR/computer vision technology.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Which iPhones are compatible with the Sweep app? Sweep requires an iPhone with a LiDAR scanner for accurate floor mapping. This includes the iPhone 12 Pro, 13 Pro, 14 Pro, 15 Pro, and their Pro Max variants, as well as the iPad Pro models from 2020 and later.
- Does the Sweep app record video or save footage of my home? No. Sweep is designed with privacy-first principles. All computer vision and AR processing happens locally on your device. No video footage, camera frames, or depth data is ever saved to your camera roll or uploaded to any server.
- What kind of vacuum cleaner do I need to use with Sweep? Sweep works best with stick vacuums that have a wide, distinct floor head. Vacuums with a headlight are easiest for the app to track initially, but most standard vacuum heads can be set up successfully during the one-time calibration process.
- What is included in the free version versus Sweep Pro? The free version includes the core functionality: real-time AR trail, the final coverage map, and the area calculation for your current session. Sweep Pro is a one-time purchase that unlocks session history, permanent save of all maps, and detailed statistics like total area cleaned over time.
- How does Sweep calculate the square meterage of the area I cleaned? Sweep uses the spatial data from the iPhone's LiDAR sensor and camera to understand the real-world dimensions of the AR trail it paints. By calculating the surface area covered by this digital trail, it provides an accurate estimate of the cleaned area in square meters.
