A robot vacuum cleaner can remove dust and dirt from the floor, but you will still have to pick up stray socks and any items scattered around the house. Now RoborockA Chinese company that makes robot vacuum cleaners and other household cleaning appliances has introduced a new model that can pick up small items so you don't have to. The Roborock Saros Z70 has foldable robotic arms that the company calls “OmniGrip.” It has five axes and can lift items weighing less than 300 grams, such as socks, light sandals and small dog toys to put them away.
Apparently, the AI vacuum marks items it might pick up while cleaning the floor, then goes back to pick them up when it's done. Then, on a second pass, it clears the areas underneath the objects. OmniGrip uses its precision sensors, camera and LED lighting to sense your position and determine if an object is too heavy to lift. Before you can use it, you need to activate the hand through the Roborock app, where you can also specify which objects it can interact with and where they should be placed. While the Saros Z70 isn't exactly Rosie's robot, it has the potential to make cleaning a lot easier. And it's not just a prototype – Roborock plans to make it available for purchase this year.
In addition to the Saros 270, Roborock has also launched two more robot vacuum cleaners, a line of hand-held wet and dry vacuum cleaners, and three all-in-one washer-dryers. The company will be showcasing its home cleaning products at CES this year.