If your cleaner keeps looping the same patch of floor or spins in place, one side of its drive system is not keeping up with the other.
One Side Isn't Driving
Robotic cleaners steer by varying the speed of their two tracks or wheels. When one side jams — often from hair, string, or debris wound around the axle — the robot pivots endlessly toward the stuck side. Flip the unit over, remove the tracks, and clear anything wrapped around the drive shafts. Worn or stretched tracks that slip should be replaced; find them on our parts page.
Debris in the Impeller or Brushes
Debris lodged in the brush assembly or impeller can create drag on one side and throw off the robot's path. Empty and rinse the filter, then spin the brushes and impeller by hand to confirm they turn freely.
Navigation or Board Issues
If the drive train is clean and the tracks are good but the robot still circles, the navigation logic may be failing. Basic random-path robots naturally repeat areas, but a smart cleaner that suddenly circles could have a failing control board. Premium models with gyroscopic mapping, such as the Dolphin Sigma, follow efficient, non-repeating paths by design — a big reason we favor them in our best robotic pool cleaners guide.
