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At CES 2025, Roborock will introduce a robot vacuum cleaner with a robot arm that can pick up items left on your floor.
Robotic arms already exist on robot vacuum cleaners, but the arm is most commonly used to extend a mop pad for more precise edge cleaning.
The Saros Z70 is the first model with a robotic arm complete with a gripper – which Roborock calls the OmniGrip 1.0 – that can pick up small objects weighing up to 300 grams, such as socks, tissues, pet and baby toys and light shoes.
The robot arm extends from the top of the model and has “five-axis” motion, meaning it can extend and move in five different directions from a rotating base. When the arm is not in use, it can be folded into a compartment. You’d think this would make the machine bigger, but it’s slim and low at 3 inches, giving it the best chance of cleaning under all types of furniture.
Roborock
How does the Saros Z70 pick things up?
This is how the OmniGrip works. During the first cleaning and mapping session, the Saros Z70 detects and notes the position of all objects in its path that it can pick up, and returns to them during the next cleaning session.
But this won’t happen out of the box. The robot user must choose pickup settings in the app. These include deciding which objects the OmniGrip communicates with and where to place them. In the future, Roborock will provide accessories that can be used with the Saros Z70: a bin in which he can deposit waste, and a cat toy that allows him to play with pets.
Back in December we saw a live demo of the Saros Z70 – albeit a version three generations earlier than the one seen at CES. In practice it was sometimes hesitant, but impressive when it did work. Once we get a chance to test it ourselves, we’ll be able to provide more feedback.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
What other features does the Saros Z70 have?
The robot arm is clearly the most important feature, but the Saros Z70 has all the functionality you would expect from a flagship robot vacuum cleaner:
- StarSight navigation system, which combines D3 ToF (Time of Flight) sensors and RGB cameras with AI, for accurate mapping and obstacle recognition and avoidance
- Machine learning can identify 108 common household objects, including cables, the bane of most robot vacuums. Future software upgrades will allow users to define and label up to 50 new objects that the Saros Z70 will recognize
- 22,000 Pa suction power, which is as good, if not significantly better, than any model on the market
- Anti-tangle system, including a side brush that unfolds itself to prevent hair from wrapping around the vacuum components
- Double spin mops that can lift themselves 2.2 cm so they don’t dampen the carpet
- Built-in voice control: say “Hello, Rocky” and it will respond to simple cleaning instructions. You can also use voice commands via Amazon Alexa, Google Home and (the less well-maintained) Apple Siri Shortcuts
- VertiBeam Lateral Obstacle Avoidance: Back Over Cables: The VertiBeam technology is a second, wide vertical laser on top of the forward laser, which specifically helps it avoid cables and irregular walls
- Pet Friendly: The Saros S70 takes measures to ensure your pets don’t get scared. You can also use it to take photos of them and talk to them remotely
The Saros Z70 can be purchased with a simple charging dock or the multi-function Dock 4.0, which offers 2.5 hours of fast charging, hot water washing and automatic mop removal.
When will the Saros Z70 be available?
The Saros Z70 will go on sale in the first half of 2025. We don’t have UK or US pricing yet, but we’ll update this article as soon as we know more.
In the meantime, check out our roundup of the best robot vacuums you can buy right now.