> At a Glance
> – CES 2026 sees Narwal unveil the Flow 2 robot vacuum with upgraded AI-powered object avoidance
> – Dual 1080p cameras and cloud AI promise millimeter-level obstacle recognition and unlimited object library
> – Reusable dust bag, 140 °F mopping, and specialized Pet/Baby/Valuables modes aim to cut ownership costs and boost safety
> – Why it matters: If the AI delivers, it could solve the long-standing industry headache of robot vacuums eating socks, scaring pets, or pushing valuables under sofas
Robot vacuums have promised hassle-free cleaning for years, yet most still bump, drag, or swallow household items. At CES 2026, Narwal is betting its new flagship Flow 2 can finally fix that with self-learning cameras and cloud vision.
Smarter Eyes on the Floor
The Flow 2 carries Narwal’s NarMind Pro Autonomous System: two 1080p RGB cameras covering 136° and an onboard VLM OmmniVision AI model. The company claims unlimited object recognition instead of the usual 20-30 item checklist.
When something unfamiliar appears, the robot snaps a photo, pings the cloud, and downloads the label in seconds. Narwal says this hybrid approach allows millimeter-level avoidance strategies and four contextual modes:
- Pet Care: quiet approach, automatic pet-zone cleaning, video calling
- Baby Care: hushes near cribs, logs lost toys, maps no-crawl areas
- AI Floor Tag: flags jewelry, keys, or cash with top-tier avoidance priority and phone alerts
- General: adapts suction and pathing to wet, dry, heavy, or light debris
Greener, Cheaper Upkeep
Beyond navigation, the vacuum tackles a hidden cost: consumables. A washable debris filter and reusable 1.6-quart dust bag sit inside an auto-empty dock that the firm says can go 60 days before manual emptying.
Cleaning muscle includes 30,000 Pa of suction and a FlowWash system that rewets the pad with 140 °F water while applying 12 newtons of downward pressure. The robot decides on its own when to return for a mop rinse or spot-remop.
Expanding Beyond the Floor
Narwal also teased three additional appliances:
| Model | Type | Stand-out spec | Dock extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| V50 | 3.1-lb cordless vac | 2 batteries included | Auto-empty, accessory storage |
| Unnamed | Ultra-slim stick | 140 AW suction, 50-min runtime | Auto-empty dock |
| U50 | Handheld mattress cleaner | 137 °F + UVC + 16,000 Pa | Sealed 2-week dust bag |
Demo units were non-functional prototypes, so performance claims remain to be verified.
Key Takeaways
- Flow 2 upgrades center on dual-camera AI navigation and unlimited obstacle library
- Reusable bag and filter target long-term cost savings
- Pet, baby, and valuables modes add household-specific safety
- Narwal is branching into cordless and mattress vacuums with compact docks
- Independent testing is needed to confirm obstacle-avoidance gains
CES demos of the Flow 2’s promised object-recognition skills are slated for later this week, and News Of Los Angeles will put the machine through its obstacle-lab gauntlet once review units arrive.
