With the launch of Roborock’s Saros Z70 on Sunday, the first ever mass market robot vacuum cleaners With mechanics, your next home helper may be able to pick up pieces of debris scattered around the room instead of just cleaning around them. I was invited to a preview of the Saros Z70 in New York last month, ahead of this week’s launch at THESE. The dozen or so home technology journalists in attendance oohed and aahed as the robot arm snatched the crumpled socks from the stage and stacked them neatly to the side – although the demo didn’t go exactly as planned (more on this). later).
Roborock’s Saros Z70, revealed Sunday before CES in Las Vegasfeatures a first-of-its-kind five-axis robotic arm, called OmniGrip, which emerges from the robot when it encounters objects. It lifts all items weighing less than 10.5 ounces and places them in a single pile or designated basket so you can continue cleaning without obstructions.
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Roborock’s new vacuum cleaner features a mechanical arm to clean up any debris in its path.
A problematic start gave way to an impressive display
During its stage debut at the Soho House members’ club in downtown Manhattan, Roborock’s Saros Z70 prototype initially refused to come out of its room (who among us hasn’t suffered from stage fright? ), a mechanical problem we assure has been corrected. the commercial version. After a few false starts, the arm was released from its onboard cabin, at which point the thin circular vacuum approached a crumpled sock, sending its arm twisting downward to capture it, much like those slot machine games. infernal claws found in the arcades.
Once launched, the robot arm picked up several socks. He dropped the occasional pickup, but didn’t give up until he had them in his clutches, then dutifully carried each one to a single area of the stage designated by a representative of the brand via the mobile application. The rep told us that the current version recognizes black socks better than white ones.
After a few false starts, the Robotrock vacuum cleaner began picking up socks scattered across the stage.
While the demo was largely controlled, the final version of the vacuum will seek out and remove debris itself during regular cleaning cycles. During a first sweep, the Saros Z70 should perform normal tasks but also detect and mark objects it can lift. In theory, it will then return to items such as socks, tissues and small towels to put away during a second cleaning.
The Saros Z70 is capable of detecting up to 108 different obstacles. Although the list of objects that OmniGrip can actually lift is much smaller, more items will be supported in future software upgrades, according to the official Roborock release. Those who purchase the first generation model can expect remote enhancements to the OmniGrip without having to shell out more money.
It won’t catch your child or cat by accident
And for those worried about the arm grabbing an innocent cat or a tuft of hair from a toddler, Roborock says the arm’s grip isn’t strong enough to do any harm. Just in case, the vacuum cleaner includes a child lock and a safety stop button, allowing for immediate shutdown in any scenario.
There are also pet-friendly features that allow users to monitor their pets, take snapshots, and plan cruises on demand. The vacuum cleaner moves away when animals approach to avoid frightening them.
New advanced object recognition
The mechanical arm leverages Roborock’s next-generation StarSight navigation and object recognition.
Although the gripping arm gets most of its glory, none of its performance would be possible without precision sensors, a camera and an LED light attached to the robot’s thin frame, all controlled by the navigation and tracking system. Roborock’s next-generation StarSight object recognition. .
“Instead of using a traditional LDS (LIDAR) tower module for navigation, the system integrates next-generation dual-light 3D time-of-flight sensors and AI-powered RGB cameras to determine its position, environment and whether the object it grabs is overweight,” Roborock said in a statement.
Arms aside, it’s a high-end robot vacuum cleaner
In addition to its flashy new appendage, the Roborock Saros Z70 has the basics of Robovac. It has a suction power of 22,000 Pa, combined with a double anti-tangle system, which deploys to prevent hair from getting tangled around the vacuum cleaner. The machine’s dual-wring mops can lift up to 2.2 centimeters (just under an inch), allowing for increased airflow and faster drying and preventing the vacuum from dragging dirt over areas. clean surfaces. All this is in one of the thinnest robot vacuums on the market, measuring just 7.98 cm (3.14 inches) tall.
The Saros Z70 will be available later this year, according to a spokesperson for the brand. The price has not yet been announced.
