Roborock Rover: First Robot Vacuum to Climb Stairs

The robot vacuum industry has taken a significant step forward with Roborock's latest release. At CES 2026, the company introduced the Saros Rover, a device engineered to solve the problem of cleaning stairs. For nearly a decade, the inability of robot vacuums to handle vertical spaces has been a primary limitation of the technology.

The Saros Rover addresses this by utilizing a system of articulating legs mounted on wheels. This design allows the unit to climb a full staircase, enabling it to clean multiple floors and the individual steps of a staircase. The innovation marks a shift from two-dimensional floor mapping to three-dimensional navigation for household cleaning.

Roborock officially launched the Saros Rover during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2026. The device is designed to perform a task that has historically required manual labor: cleaning stairs. The core of this innovation lies in its unique locomotion system.

The vacuum does not rely on standard wheels alone. Instead, it employs a set of articulating legs that allow it to traverse vertical obstacles. The design enables the device to climb a full staircase, moving from one level of a home to another while simultaneously cleaning the steps it traverses.

According to reports from the event, the Saros Rover represents the first of its kind. While robot vacuums have become adept at navigating flat surfaces and avoiding obstacles, the ability to ascend and descend stairs has remained elusive until now.

The mechanical engineering behind the Saros Rover is distinct from previous robot vacuum iterations. Observers at the CES 2026 show floor noted that the device's legs move in a froglike manner. This movement is described as fluid and highly flexible, allowing for dynamic adjustments during navigation.

The system offers a high degree of control over individual components:

• Each leg can be raised and lowered independently.
• The unit is capable of performing small jumps to overcome specific obstacles.
• The vacuum can change direction quickly while maintaining stability.

This level of articulation allows the Saros Rover to move much more smoothly than wheeled counterparts when dealing with uneven terrain. The ability to manipulate each leg separately provides the traction and balance necessary to navigate the sharp angles of a staircase without slipping.

The introduction of the Saros Rover answers a specific question that has persisted in the home automation sector. Industry observers note that for almost a decade, the primary inquiry regarding robot vacuums has been, "When will it clean my stairs?"

The launch at CES 2026 provides a definitive answer to this long-standing consumer request. By enabling the device to handle vertical spaces, Roborock has expanded the potential scope of automated home cleaning.

The implications of this technology extend beyond simple convenience. If a robot vacuum can navigate stairs, it can theoretically access every level of a multi-story home without human intervention, charging, and resuming tasks on different floors. This capability transforms the device from a floor cleaner into a whole-home cleaning system.

Live demonstrations of the Saros Rover at the CES 2026 show floor provided a glimpse into its operational capabilities. The device was observed climbing a full staircase, a feat that highlights the robustness of its leg mechanism.

The froglike motion allows the vacuum to maintain contact with the step surface throughout the climb. This ensures that the cleaning mechanism remains effective even while the unit is in a vertical orientation. The ability to perform small jumps suggests that the device can also handle other household obstacles, such as high thresholds or door jams, that might stop a standard robot vacuum.

While the demonstration was limited to the show floor environment, the fluidity of the movement suggests that the technology is ready for real-world application. The speed and agility of the Saros Rover indicate that it can navigate complex home layouts without significant delays.

The launch of the Roborock Saros Rover at CES 2026 marks a pivotal moment in domestic robotics. By solving the challenge of stair climbing, the device addresses the most requested feature in the history of the robot vacuum market.

With its unique articulating legs and froglike movement, the Saros Rover offers a solution that is both functional and mechanically sophisticated. As the technology matures, it is likely to set a new standard for what consumers expect from automated cleaning devices, effectively eliminating the barrier of stairs in home maintenance.