Vacuum robot trends at CES 2025: gripper arms, serving tray, mop jukebox

Contents

There are plenty of slot machines called one-armed bandits in Las Vegas. Vacuum cleaning machines with gripping arms have not been seen there before. At this year's CES, cleaning robots from Roborock and Dreame are among the stars of the technology show in the desert city thanks to the tricks performed by their reaching cleaning arms.

SwitchBot's mobile load area, which a vacuum robot uses to transport objects around the home, is also causing a stir. Manufacturer Dreame and its sub-brand Mova showed base stations that attach mops with different rough or gentle cleaning fibers to the bots depending on the floor covering.

TP-Link equips the base station of a robot vacuum cleaner with a wastewater treatment plant so that the fresh water tank needs to be refilled less frequently. For the same reason, another function removes moisture from the air. Ecovacs and Eufy combine vacuum robots with detachable or attachable accessories for hand-held floor cleaning in an original way.

Roborock Saros Z70: Gripper arm puts socks in the basket

A pre-production model of Roborock's new flagship Saros Z70 vacuum robot unfolded a foldable gripper arm in Las Vegas to pick up socks and drag them into a basket. This tidying mania is intended to free the floor from small items so that it can clean underneath without hindrance.

During product demos in front of selected media representatives and at the trade fair stand, sock-packing already worked precisely. However, this was a programmed routine in a defined area of application. As soon as the software is ready, the Saros Z70 will use cameras and laser sensors to independently remove obstacles weighing up to 300 grams throughout the home. In addition to socks, it transports handkerchiefs, towels and sandals to a collection point ex works, according to Roborock. Up to 50 other objects and storage locations can be programmed via a smartphone app.

Like the Qrevo Curv, the Saros Z70 can also overcome thresholds of up to four centimetres in height thanks to a wheel lift. Roborock is aiming for a market launch in the first half of the year. The manufacturer remains silent on the sales price. It is likely to be between 2000 and 2500 euros.

Dreame shows concept study of gripper arm and top model X50

Dreame's version of a vacuum robot gripper arm was a concept study. It could do no more than fold out of a demo robot housing and grab air with the gripper. With a load weight of 400 grams, Dreame wants to be able to lift more than Roborock. This would be enough to lift street shoes, for example. In addition, the gripper should be able to independently slip on brush and sponge attachments from a toolbox and, with an arm length of 40 centimetres, remove dirt in hard-to-reach niches.

Dreame also presented the concept study of a mop changing system as part of a base station. Depending on the floor covering to be cleaned, the station removes the magnetically attached mop duo, lifts it into an elevated garage using a crane system and, conversely, installs one of three other mop duos with stronger or softer tufts.

Dreame's sub-brand Mova demonstrated a similar concept study at the side stand as part of the upcoming V80 Ultra appliance. This also offers a double tank for two detergents, which drip onto the fabric alternately depending on the choice of mop. Neither Dreame's nor Mova's mop carousel have been launched or priced.

Dreame had flown the X50 Ultra vacuum and mopping robot to Las Vegas as a finished product. The brand's new top model offers production-ready versions of two acrobatic tricks presented at IFA 2024. With an extendable chassis, the X50 can overcome thresholds up to six centimetres high. The robot automatically retracts the laser tower on the housing cover when it needs to clean under low furniture. The X50 should soon be available for just over 1500 euros.