Pressure Cleaners

They attach to the pressure side of your swimming pool's circulation system (this is the side that sends water back to the pool after it has been filtered).  The pressure from the water works to power the cleaner.  Water is split three directions, toward the sweeper tail, the thrust jet, and the venturi.  The sweeper tail stirs up small debris, which is then caught by the pool's main filter through the skimmer.  The thrust jet has ports and gears that direct the cleaner to roam the pool randomly.  The venturi is a fancy name for the port where the filter bag gets attached.  This is where larger debris (i.e. leaves, twigs) is trapped.

Pressure cleaners are generally a step up from suction cleaners, and they don't put as much of a strain on the pool's filtration system.  This is because water can still flow through the filter bag, even when it's full.  When the debris is caught in a pump filter basket (the kind suction cleaners use), the pool's pump has to work harder to keep water circulating.  The pump may wear out sooner and need to be replaced.  Although pressure cleaners are more expensive than suction cleaners, they can be cheaper in the long run for this reason.

Source: Pool & Spa Living 2006 Buyer's Guide

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