A stair-climbing robotic vacuum is not a brand new concept. We noticed an early try at it with the Dreame X50 Ultra, which was in a position to overcome thresholds of round two inches. Recently, at IFA 2025, we noticed the Eufy Marswalker and Dreame CyberX, which use a system of treads and an extra shell to assist the robotic stand up stairs. However, neither can clear the steps itself. The Roborock Saros Rover is completely different; it is a robotic with legs, and I imply actual legs, not treads or a elevate system. Yes, this robotic vacuum comes with real rooster legs (or possibly frog legs) with wheels on the underside. It’s a weird-looking system, little doubt, however the result’s laborious to argue with. Here at CES, I watched Roborock run the Saros Rover by means of a spread of demos to showcase its stair-climbing talents, steadiness and talent to jump over obstacles and even dance. Here’s what I believed. The Rover’s legs remind me of rooster or frog legs with the way in which they fold and unfold. Ajay Kumar/CNETHow the Saros Rover works The Saros Rover makes use of its legs to wedge its physique up on the subsequent step, then attracts them up after it. Ajay Kumar/CNETAs talked about, the Saros Rover operates in a different way from the opposite stair-climbing robots we have seen demoed earlier than. Instead of utilizing a shell with tread attachments, the Rover deploys a pair of legs and wheels to lever itself up over stairs and different obstacles. Its climbing is vaguely harking back to a stork or different long-legged fowl, with the 2 legs appearing as a help to push its giant, flat physique up on the subsequent step. Then the legs fold themselves up behind its again, after which it deploys them once more for the subsequent step. The Saros Rover can deal with all method of stairs, together with conventional, curved and carpeted. Ajay Kumar/CNETIt took the Saros Rover roughly 30 to 40 seconds to climb about 5 giant steps, so it is actually not very quick in comparison with a human, however the Saros can and can clear every step because it strikes up. It does that by utilizing one leg for steadiness on the step under, then rolls itself up and down the subsequent step to make sure it is clear earlier than transferring on. This is notably one thing that Eufy informed us that its Marswalker is not in a position to do, and the identical is true of Dreame’s prototype mannequin as effectively. The Rover takes a while to climb steps, but it surely’s impressively responsive when utilizing its wheels. Ajay Kumar/CNETRoborock says that the Rover ought to be capable of sort out each conventional and curved staircases, in addition to completely different flooring sorts, included carpeted staircases with bullnose fronts. It’ll additionally assist sort out different obstacles that could be current in your house, corresponding to multi-level room thresholds. The Saros Rover legs are connected to its physique and it would not depend on any exterior attachments to recover from stairs. Ajay Kumar/CNETA hopping and dancing robotic The Saros Rover dancing and hopping whereas surrounded by Z70s. Ajay Kumar/CNETWhat impressed me probably the most in regards to the Saros Rover is its skill to steadiness and maneuver itself. Gone are the times of a hesitant robotic vacuum that slowly and tentatively edges round obstacles, as if uncertain of its environment. The Saros Rover is ready to not simply climb stairs, it could stand up on its wheel-legs for added maneuverability, giving it elevated attain, elevate and top that Roborock compares to human mobility. The Saros Rover did not have any issues with ramps or inclines. Ajay Kumar/CNETOnce it reached the highest of the steps that Roborock has arrange for the demos, I watched it go down a reasonably steep ramp with spectacular management over its velocity. It was even in a position to cease partway down the incline and reverse, which is one thing I’ve by no means seen one other robotic vacuum do earlier than. It’s in a position to make sudden stops and turns, and even hop, which Roborock demonstrated for me with a cute little dance involving the Rover, surrounded by Saros Z70 fashions waving their arms in sync to the beat, very like a bunch of followers. The Saros Rover also can reverse with out a lot effort and go up steep inclines. Ajay Kumar/CNETIt’s all very spectacular to have a look at and there was just one occasion the place I noticed the Saros Rover lose its steadiness and stumble slightly, but it surely appeared in a position to proper itself pretty successfully earlier than one of many Roborock sales space workers swooped it up. In all equity, these are early prototype fashions, so some hiccups are to be anticipated, however what was placing is simply how few hiccups there really had been. The software program is the place the magic occurs The Saros Rover drawing its legs up behind it after it reaches the highest. Ajay Kumar/CNETWhatever software program Roborock makes use of to handle navigation and goal avoidance is spectacular. Roborock informed me that it makes use of an AI algorithm, working along side complicated movement sensors and 3D spatial info, to allow the wheel legs to react to their environment. Object avoidance has been an enormous problem for robotic vacuums and even the very best ones we have advisable at CNET have had points avoiding sure obstacles like pet waste. The downside is totally on the software program finish relatively than the {hardware} finish, so if the Saros Rover is ready to deal with stairs, thresholds, inclines and different boundaries, that places it heads and shoulders above most different robotic vacuums available on the market, at the least till we see the capabilities of Narwal’s upcoming Flow 2. The Rover was in a position to management its velocity coming down the ramp, it by no means crashed into the wooden on the finish of the demo space. Ajay Kumar/CNETWhile Roborock did not display this for me in individual, in addition they confirmed me a video from an earlier briefing of the Saros Rover dodging tennis balls thrown at it by Roborock engineers (signal me up for that job). I requested what the tennis balls are supposed to signify in a real-world use case and Roborock defined that it is meant to showcase that the Saros Rover is ready to determine and react to fast-moving objects in its surroundings that may get in its method, corresponding to pets and youngsters. As somebody with three cats who enjoys zooming, I’m wanting ahead to seeing the way it works with them and placing the Rover to the check at CNET Labs.Price and availability unknown The Saros Rover also can use its top and maneuverability to get round obstacles. Ajay Kumar/CNETRoborock additionally assured me that it is a product that may come to market, although they at the moment have no pricing or availability to share. With the arm-equipped Roborock Saros Z70 beginning at $2,599 when it was first launched, I anticipate the Saros Rover to price at the least as a lot, if no more. Of course, the Saros Z70 did drop in worth over time and nowadays could be gotten for round $2,000 when you discover it on sale, so my hope is that we’ll see the identical with the Saros Rover.
More