BEST GIFT EVER: HOW I LET ROBOTS CLEAN MY POOL WHILE I ENJOYED A BEER

While other dads were unwrapping socks, ties or yet another barbecue tool set this Father’s Day, I was sitting back with a cold beer watching two robots do all the hard work for me.

Forget lawnmowers or power drills; the future of backyard relaxation has arrived in the form of robotic pool cleaners.

I spent the afternoon with the Aiper Surfer S1 robotic pool skimmer gliding across the water’s surface and the Aiper Scuba S1 tackling the walls, floor, and waterline.

It wasn’t just a gadget demo; it was a revelation. These aren’t toys. They’re well-engineered pieces of kit that make pool ownership about ten times easier, just in time for summer.

And if you don't believe me, here’s a photo of my pool before I got serious with proper chemicals to balance the water and before Aiper took over cleaning the top and bottom.

Let’s just say pool maintenance was never exactly at the top of my priority list, and the water showed it. The other two photos at the top are of my pool yesterday. Yes, it looked that good!

The Surface Workhorse: Aiper Surfer S1

The Surfer S1 is exactly what it sounds like: a solar-powered, cordless robotic skimmer that cruises around like a mini surfboard, scooping up leaves, bugs, and any other surface debris.

I’ve tried the traditional net-on-a-stick routine, and it usually ends with an aching shoulder and half the debris still floating around. This thing doesn’t miss a beat.

What impressed me most was its smart obstacle avoidance. It glided past pool toys, steered itself away from edges and just kept on going.

The debris basket is surprisingly generous, meaning you’re not constantly stopping to empty it. A quick charge and it’s good to go again, and yes there’s even app control if you’re the type who likes to micromanage your gadgets from the deck chair.

The fact it runs off solar power also gives it an eco-conscious edge. You’re not wasting electricity, and you’re not tethered to a cord that always seems to end up in the water.

It’s built tough, too. Watching it skim across the pool like a determined little drone was oddly mesmerising.

The Deep Cleaner: Aiper Scuba S1

While the Surfer took care of the surface, the Scuba S1 got down to business below. This is Aiper’s most advanced in-ground pool cleaner, and it shows. Cordless, compact, and smart, it mapped out the pool with precision before setting to work.

The real game-changer here is its wall-climbing power. Most cleaners I’ve seen stick to the bottom, leaving you to scrub the sides.

Not this one. It scaled the walls, scrubbed the waterline, and then headed back down like it was on a mission. The whole pool, floor, walls, and waterline, was spotless in under three hours.

The Scuba S1 also has intelligent route planning, meaning it doesn’t just bounce around randomly. It knows where it’s been and where it still needs to go. For anyone sick of uneven cleaning or wasted battery life, that alone is worth the investment.

Setting Up for Summer

Spring’s here, which means pool prep is officially on the household to-do list.

Normally, that involves hours of skimming, scrubbing, and chasing after algae. Aiper clearly knows the pain points because they’ve built machines that not only tackle the grunt work but do it faster and better than most humans could manage.

In fact, the company’s spring cleaning tips, from staying on top of algae prevention to setting up a low-maintenance routine, all boil down to one central idea: consistency.

And with machines like the Surfer S1 and Scuba S1, consistency is built in. They don’t get bored, they don’t forget and they don’t knock off early.

The Verdict on Robots

Pool ownership comes with a long list of chores, and most of us would rather be in the water than leaning over it with a net.

The Aiper Surfer S1 and Scuba S1 take two of the biggest jobs off your hands, giving you back time you didn’t even realise you’d lost.

They’re not just clever gadgets; they’re proper investments in peace of mind. The pool stays clean, the water stays inviting, and you can focus on enjoying summer the way it’s meant to be enjoyed, floating, swimming, or, in my case, sitting poolside with another beer.

So yes, while other dads were trying to fake excitement over socks, I watched in fascination as my pool cleaned itself. Best Father’s Day gift ever!