Tech Reviews & Gadgets

First look: This new robot vacuum can pick up socks and underwear while cleaning

With the launch Sunday of Roborock’s Saros Z70, the first mass-market mechanical vacuum cleaner, your next household helper may be able to pick up the debris scattered around your room instead of simply cleaning around them. Last month, I was invited to get a sneak peek of the Saros Z70 in New York ahead of its launch at CES this week. The 10 or so home tech reporters in attendance marveled as a robotic arm picked up crumpled socks from the stage and neatly stacked them aside—even if the demo didn’t go exactly as planned (more on that later).

Roborock’s Saros Z70, unveiled Sunday ahead of CES in Las Vegas, features the first five-axis robotic arm, called the OmniGrip, which extends out of the robot when it encounters an object. It can lift anything weighing less than 10.5 ounces and store it in a single pile or designated basket so it can continue cleaning without obstruction.

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Robot vacuum cleaner with raised arms holding socks

Roborock’s new vacuum cleaner features a robotic arm that removes any debris in its path.

Tara Brown/CNET

A glitchy start gives way to an impressive display

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When Roborock’s Saros Z70 prototype initially refused to emerge from the room when it debuted on stage at the Soho House Members’ Club in downtown Manhattan (who among us hasn’t had stage fright?), we’re convinced this mechanical glitch has been fixed for the retail version. After a few false starts, the arm is released from the cabin as the slender, round vacuum approaches a crumpled sock, its arm twisting outward and downward to grab it, like Just like those hellish claw machine games in the arcade.

Once it starts working, the robotic arm picks up several socks. It occasionally drops a pickup, but doesn’t give up until it has it in its hands, then dutifully delivers each pickup to a single area on the stage designated by a brand representative via a mobile app. Representatives told us that the current version is better at identifying black socks than white socks.

Robot vacuum arm holds socks

After a few false starts, the Robotrock vacuum started picking up socks scattered across the stage.

David Wolski/CNET

While the demo was mostly controlled, the final version of the vacuum will seek out and remove debris on its own during regular cleaning cycles. During the initial scan, the Saros Z70 should perform its normal tasks, but also detect and mark objects it can lift. In theory, it would go back to items like socks, paper towels, and towelettes during the second cleaning cycle.

Saros Z70 is able to detect up to 108 different obstacles. According to official news from Roborock, although the list of objects that OmniGrip can actually lift is much smaller, future software upgrades will support more objects. Those who buy the first-generation model can look forward to far-end improvements to the OmniGrip without spending any more money.

From talking refrigerators to iPhones, our experts are here to help the world become less complex.

It won’t accidentally catch your kids or cats

For those concerned about grabbing a tuft of an innocent cat or toddler’s hair with their arm, Roborock says the arm’s grip isn’t strong enough to cause any harm. Just in case, the vacuum cleaner is equipped with a child lock and a safety stop button that can be turned off instantly in any situation.

There are also pet-friendly features that allow users to check in on their animals, capture snapshots and schedule on-demand cruises. When approaching pets, the vacuum moves to the side to avoid scaring them.

New advanced object recognition

Robot vacuum cleaner arm extended

This robotic arm relies on Roborock’s new generation StarSight navigation and object recognition.

stone rock

While the gripper arm gets most of the glory, all of its performance wouldn’t be possible without precision sensors, cameras, and LED lights affixed to the robot’s slim frame, all powered by Roborock’s next generation StarSight navigation and object recognition system control.

“Rather than using traditional LDS (LIDAR) tower modules for navigation, the system integrates a next-generation dual-light 3D time-of-flight sensor and RGB camera powered by AI to determine its position, surrounding environment, and its grip whether the object is overweight,” Roborock said in a statement.

Putting aside the arms, this is a top-notch sweeping robot

In addition to the flashy new accessories, the Roborock Saros Z70 also has the robovac basics. It has 22,000 Pa of suction power and comes with a dual anti-tangle system that unfolds on its own to prevent hair from getting tangled around the vacuum. The machine’s dual-swivel mop lifts up to 2.2 centimeters (just under an inch), which increases air circulation and speeds drying, and prevents the vacuum from dragging dirt across clean surfaces. All of this is packed into one of the thinnest robot vacuums on the market, measuring just 7.98 centimeters (3.14 inches) tall.

According to a brand spokesperson, the Saros Z70 will be available later this year. Pricing has not yet been announced.



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