Roborock Saros Rover is World’s First Robotic Vacuum with Two-Wheel-Leg Architecture

Roborock debuted a fairly unique robot vacuum that can stand on just two wheels. They named it the Saros Rover, and it’s a huge move for the company, as they’re finally getting into the game of employing legs for floor cleaning, rather than the typical wheels we’ve seen on previous vacuum robots from Dreame and Eufy.

The hardware is still being worked on, and we have yet to hear from the firm regarding a release date or price, but early prototypes indicate a price range north of $2,000, which is comparable to the more expensive Saros Z70 model that came before it. At its base, it has two legs with a fairly normal configuration and powerful motors operating each one independently, which allows the device to lift up and push forward to get itself up on a step, then roll the wheel down to clean before dragging the other leg up behind.

The demos show that it can clear five straight stairs in around 30 to 40 seconds going up, or somewhat less than three minutes with a few full cleaning runs. Going down is the same, but in reverse, with added caution to avoid slipping on slopes. Attendees have reported witnessing the robot teeter on the edge during live runs, but it always recovers without tipping over, even when smacked with tennis balls designed to simulate bumps from pets or youngsters.


The sensors are what make it all work together; motion detectors can produce 3D maps of the space in real time and input that information into the software, which can make predictions and modify the leg extension on the fly. When it hits a flat floor, it rolls along on its wheels for efficiency, but when it comes across a threshold, ramp, little slope, or even a curved staircase, it switches to leg mode. Roborock claims it can handle a variety of difficult surfaces, including carpeted bullnose edges, spirals, and multi-level room dividers, making those annoying no-go zones in split-level homes a thing of the past.