A robo-vac that can move obstacles and go up and down small steps? That’s what 2025 has in store for us, it seems.
How do you one up the first robotic vacuum cleaner to get a robotic arm to move objects out of the way? By giving it robotic legs that can also move the robotic vacuum over small steps and obstacles.
If you thought the idea of a robot vacuum with an arm that can move small things from its path was impressive enough, something Roborock announced to kick off CES, you might be curious to see what competitor Dreame has in store this year.
The new vacuums follow the same circular robo-vac design pretty much every robotic vacuum uses, but hides different features designed to retract into their bodies.
First is a robotic arm, which can pick up objects weighing up to 400 grams, with some AI recognition allowing the multi-joint arm to pick up toys, shoes, and other small objects so it can keep on vacuuming the house without being stuck behind small objects. The fact that the arm handles 100 grams more than the Roborock model is interesting.
There’s no specific model for this unit, though, but what’s being thrown into this year’s X50 Ultra is interesting, too: retractable legs.
Officially called “ProLeap” legs, they’re little robotic extrusions that can push the vacuum off the floor, allowing it to push up off the ground from gaps higher than 4cm, with a max of 4.2cm for steps and height.
That won’t account for most actual staircases in a home, but may help a robo-vac get up and down small steps inside a home, such as those separating a kitchen from a hallway, or even the difference in height for window sills if they’re close to the ground.
Navigating will rely on a 360 degree camera scanning system with a Time-of-Flight sensor, and there’s a dock for the X50 Ultra to clean itself while recharging.
Good news for Australians, too, because the Dreame X50 Ultra isn’t just a CES announcement without a date: Dreame says its step-friendly robo-vac will be coming to Australia in March this year.
It won’t be the only Dreame gadget to see launch. The company will also have a totally cordless robotic pool cleaner in the Z1 Pro, a new wet and dry vacuum in the H15 Pro, and some haircare products with the Airstyle Pro and Glory Mix hair dryers later in the year.
