In the past CES showcases, there have been more robot vacuums that graced the stage and several booths to showcase more powerful machines, AI-powered experiences, and more, but for CES 2025, a mechanical arm is now the top innovation. While these are still in the form factor of a robot vacuum which looks like oversized hockey pucks that can go around homes to clean, they now have a dedicated arm on top.
Three companies have shown off the prototypes of their respective robot vacuums with mechanical arms, and while they are still limited in functionality, these are already building a promise for the future of smart homes.
CES 2025: Robot Vacuums with Mechanical Arms Are Now a Thing
Robot vacuums are known for sweeping up dirt or particles, as well as mopping up the mess in liquid form, but have been avoiding larger trash like plastic or paper cups, as well as other materials found on the floor. However, that is changing now and companies have introduced it via the latest CES 2025 showcase (via Engadget) as there are not one or two, but three robovac developers who added a mechanical arm to their machines.
First off, it was Roborock who made headlines because of its new robovac which featured a mechanical arm on top that is capable of picking up other forms of trash that the bot cannot suction underneath. The Roborock Saros S70 features a foldable five-axis mechanical arm that can pick up objects to move them aside to clean more efficiently, but can only pick up up to 300 grams.
That being said, Dreame also unveiled a Robovac that can climb stairs using its mechanical arm but is not the last from the company with the new limb. There is also another one that shows a larger claw-like arm that is reportedly capable of picking up larger and heavier objects.
Read Also: CES 2025: Nvidia Surprises Fans With Robot; New RTX 50 Series Gives 'More Realistic' Touch to Games
Robot Vacuums with Arms Are Still Concepts, Prototypes
There is also a company called SwitchBot which showed off a new robovac concept that features two unusual mechanical arms, a torso, and a display with its eyes, touting a multi-tasking experience but was only shown on video. That being said, these machines are still prototypes, and not yet commercially available as of this writing.
Robot Vacuums Are Developing Significantly
'RoboVacs' have been one of the top technologies that offer an upgrade for smart homes, not only because they help keep the floor clean, but also because they can navigate a space without drawing lines or adding tracks. Some of the top known robovacs are from iRobot's famed Roomba lineup, and they were among the first to popularize the technology and add a mop feature that not only sucks dirt.
What made robot vacuums more popular is their capability to bring automation, and users no longer need to press the machine or control it via its dedicated app to begin the cleaning process. The past years saw an influx of AI-powered robovacs which greatly improved the experience, ensuring that one's home or place is spotless, without the need to tend to the floors manually.
However, CES 2025, became an entirely new game for Robovacs as various companies introduced significant developments in the technology which is looking to improve more of the automated cleaning experience for users. The next frontier for robot vacuums is mechanical arms, and despite them still rolling around the house, they can pick up, sweep, or mop more than dirt.
