In a bit of a leap frog motion Roborock’s 2026 crazy technology will see the robotic vacuum handle staircases with ease.
CES 2026 has kicked off, and robots are playing a bigger part than you might expect. LG has its CLOiD robot to help you do your laundry and take out the dishes, and while that gadget will likely cost a small fortune, other robots are set to be more useful a little closer to everyone else’s standard price points.
For instance, there’s what’s happening with robotic vacuum cleaners, as they look set to conquer stairs.
Yes, just like a toddler taking on the world with gusto, robotic vacuum cleaners are this year moving from a prototype concept that can handle staircases to one that actually makes sense, and could end up not only cleaning the individual stairs, but making their way upstairs to clean the second and third floor of your home.
That’s part of what Roborock is showing in 2026, with the Saros Rover, a robotic vacuum that uses a world first two-wheel leg system to be able to push the vacuum up and move it higher, avoiding obstacles and also allowing it to climb stairs.
It’s distinct to some of the approaches we’ve seen before, which turn the humble single-level robotic vacuum into more of a stair master, minus the flexible arm, which Roborock has in another Saros vacuum model.
Instead, the stair process goes beyond minor ledges and small steps, which is something robotic vacuums have become quite adept at. Rather, the Roborock Rover will push itself up almost like a frog’s legs spreading out, move itself to a step, and then clean that step before moving to another.
When it’s not running like a frog climbing a staircase, the Rover can even turn, stop, and make small jumps, giving it a little more complexity than the wheels of a robotic vacuum normally have.
While it sounds like a work of fiction, the Saros Rover is reportedly in development, with release something to be confirmed later on.
Before that happens, there are robotic vacuums with smaller legs that are still able to climb over some ledges.
It’s not quite the full staircase of the Saros Rover, but Roborock’s Saros 20 will include a lifting mechanism able to move up to 4.5 centimeters high, and can use AI to build faster maps and recognise more objects, with up to 201 in the latest version.
This is something that will be coming to Australia, it seems, and includes a 35,000 pascal vacuum motor, plus a 100 degree Celsius hot water cleaning system at its dock.
If a robotic vacuum and mop isn’t your fancy, Roborock will have a stick mop with vacuum tech inside joining its H60 Hub Ultra stick vacuum, coming in the F25 Ace Pro. The system can use a single millilitre of foam cleaning solution to make millions of micro-bubbles able to clean tough stains, while a slightly less powerful 25,000 Pa suction vacuum deal with particles.
Roborock also notes that this will be joined by some of Roborock’s lawnmowers, with these set to roll out soon alongside.
