At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Roborock has once again pushed the boundaries of home robotics with a concept that feels plucked from science fiction. The company unveiled the Saros Rover, a prototype robot vacuum equipped with two articulating, wheeled legs. This bold design promises to solve one of the last great challenges for automated floor cleaning: navigating and cleaning multi-story homes, including the stairs themselves. While still in development, the Rover represents a significant leap in mobility and hints at a future where a single robot can maintain an entire home.
The Saros Rover's Revolutionary Mobility
The core innovation of the Saros Rover lies in its unique "wheel-leg" architecture. Each leg is hinged and capped with a wheel, operating independently under the control of sophisticated software that maintains balance, much like a Segway. This design allows the Rover to perform maneuvers impossible for traditional disc-shaped vacuums. During demonstrations, it was shown climbing stairs by sequentially placing its legs on each step, pivoting to clean the tread, and then proceeding upward. It can also handle slopes, navigate high thresholds with small jumps, and swivel in place. Roborock claims the system is designed to work on various staircase types, including straight, curved, spiral, and carpeted stairs with bullnose edges.
Cleaning Performance and Onboard Intelligence
While the primary focus is on mobility, the Rover is designed to be a capable cleaner. It integrates Roborock's advanced navigation and object recognition systems, likely a version of the StarSight Autonomous System seen in other models, to map homes in 3D and avoid obstacles. During its stair-climbing process, the Rover can extend one leg to vacuum a step thoroughly before retracting it to move to the next one, ensuring it cleans as it ascends or descends. It's important to note that the current prototype is a vacuum-only model; Roborock has stated that integrating a mopping system compatible with this new mobility platform is a challenge still being worked on.
Context and Cautious Development
The Saros Rover follows a year after Roborock's CES 2025 debut of the Saros Z70, a vacuum with a robotic arm, which received mixed reviews. This context explains the company's measured approach with the Rover. Executives have been clear that it is a "real product in development" but with no confirmed specifications, price, or launch date. The goal is to perfect the technology before bringing it to market. This development signals a rapid evolution in the robot vacuum sector, moving from simple floor cleaners to more multi-functional, mobile home robots, potentially paving a path toward more generalized home assistants.
The Rest of Roborock's 2026 Lineup
Alongside the futuristic Rover, Roborock announced more immediately available products. The Saros 20 and Saros 20 Sonic are new high-end models featuring an upgraded AdaptiLift Chassis 3.0 for overcoming room transitions up to 3.3 inches. The 20 Sonic stands out with its low 3.1-inch profile and a powerful VibraRise 5.0 mopping system that vibrates 4,000 times per minute. For the mid-range, the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow offers 20,000 Pa suction and a self-cleaning mop for an introductory price of USD 849. Finally, the F25 ACE Pro is a new handheld wet/dry vacuum with 25,000 Pa suction and a focus on deep scrubbing, launching at USD 549.
Roborock CES 2026 Product Announcements:
- Saros Rover (Prototype): Legged robot vacuum capable of climbing and cleaning stairs. No price or release date announced.
- Saros 20 & 20 Sonic: High-end robot vacuum/mops with AdaptiLift Chassis 3.0 (clears 3.3" obstacles). The 20 Sonic features a low profile (3.1") and VibraRise 5.0 mopping (4,000 vibrations/min). Price and availability TBA for 2026.
- Qrevo Curv 2 Flow: Mid-range model with 20,000 Pa suction and self-cleaning SpiraFlow mop. Launches January 19, 2026 at USD 849 (intro price), then USD 999.
- F25 ACE Pro: Handheld wet/dry vacuum with 25,000 Pa suction and 30N scrubbing pressure. Launches January 19, 2026 at USD 549 (intro price), then USD 699.
A Glimpse into a More Accessible Future
The Roborock Saros Rover, despite its prototype status, captures the imagination. It directly addresses a long-standing limitation of robot vacuums and redefines what "whole-home cleaning" could mean. While questions about real-world reliability, cost, and final feature set remain, its unveiling marks a pivotal moment. It demonstrates that the industry is aggressively exploring advanced mobility, bringing us closer to a future where robots seamlessly navigate the full, complex geometry of our living spaces.