Public standard · Version 1.0 · July 15, 2026
Editorial, testing, and evidence standards
RobotSniper separates product facts, external evidence, owner reports, and editorial conclusions. A score never proves hands-on testing by itself.
Evidence labels
Lab tested
A standardized RobotSniper protocol with retained raw measurements and documented tools.
Home tested
Long-term use documented with tester, dates, environment, firmware, acquisition method, and limitations.
Externally verified
Supported by a named independent test source linked at the claim level.
Manufacturer reported
A specification or claim taken from the manufacturer and not independently tested by RobotSniper.
Owner reported
A recurring pattern in cited owner reports; not treated as a controlled test.
Provisional
Incomplete provenance, a formula conflict, or a record awaiting editorial verification.
Records without a complete source package default to Provisional. “Verified” requires a source URL, verification date, and reviewer. The same gate can be applied at field level so one sourced specification does not implicitly verify every claim on a product page.
View current catalog verification coverage →Hands-on testing claims
We publish a hands-on claim only when the evidence package identifies the tester, acquisition method, dates, environment, firmware/app versions, protocol, measurement tools, raw results, media, and limitations.
When that package is absent, copy must say manufacturer reported, externally verified, owner reported, editorial synthesis, or provisional. Embedded third-party videos are labeled independent analysis and do not become RobotSniper testing.
RAI and category performance
RAI v1 is the rounded equal-weight mean of Navigation Intelligence, Obstacle Avoidance, Automation Level, and Maintenance Independence. Cleaning, mopping, pet-hair pickup, value, and other category-specific measures never silently change the RAI formula.
A category-performance record must name its dimensions and evidence level. If it is not rated, it cannot carry a numeric score; a verified hardware specification never becomes an implied cleaning-performance result.
Source and acquisition policy
Manufacturer pages are preferred for hardware specifications. Retailers support price and availability claims. Independent tests support performance claims. One source type is not silently substituted for another.
Product acquisition—purchased, loaned, supplied, or otherwise—must be disclosed with any hands-on evidence package. Supplied products do not receive favorable treatment.
Affiliate, sponsorship, and AI policy
Affiliate eligibility does not change RAI. Sponsored placement must be labeled and cannot buy a score or recommendation. AI-assisted drafting, if used, remains subject to human source review; AI output is never evidence.
Read the affiliate disclosure →Corrections and updates
Material factual corrections and scoring changes are logged with a date, affected page, old claim, correction, and source. Submit a correction through the contact page.