A robot is run separate from the pool equipment. It does not require either a booster pump or the pool pump to be running to function. You just plug the controller into an AC outlet and attach the robot's cord to the controller and turn it on. It usually will run for 2 hours and use very little electricity. The Dolphin robots have been received quite well on this forum. They make several different models as well as rebranded ones as well that are virtually the same unit, just with different colors.
I bought an S200 last summer and have really enjoyed it. I used to have a Polaris 280 with a booster pump that was over 20 years old and on its last legs. It was so noisy, it would drive me crazy when it ran for 2 hours a day. Once I converted to a variable speed pool pump, I realized that my little booster pump was costing me more electricity per day running for only 2 hours than my VSP was running 24/7 at low rpms. I made the decision to discontinue using the booster pump and the Polaris and looked into a robot. I sold both the booster pump and Polaris on craigslist and ordered my S200 from Marina Pool and Spa.
Happy with my decision so far, and now I don't have that annoying noise from the old booster pump anymore.
