> At a Glance
> – Roborock’s Saros Rover uses fold-out legs to climb and vacuum stairs
> – The CES 2026 demo showed it scaling five large steps in 30-40 seconds
> – It can stop, reverse, and hop while avoiding pets or fast-moving objects
> – Why it matters: A vacuum that truly cleans multi-level homes without human help
Roborock’s latest robot vacuum trades treads for fold-out legs that let it climb stairs, vacuum each step, and even dance on command.
How the Legged Vacuum Works
Instead of shell-mounted treads, the Saros Rover extends two jointed legs with wheels at the tips. The legs wedge the flat body onto the next step, fold underneath, then repeat-much like a stork.
- Climbs traditional, curved, or carpeted stairs
- Cleans each step before moving on
- Handles thresholds and ramps without attachments
On-Floor Agility
The robot balanced on one leg while rolling its brush across the next step. During the demo it paused mid-ramp, reversed, then descended without scraping the wood below.
Roborock engineers showed a lab clip where the Rover dodged tennis balls, a stand-in for cats or toddlers. Real-time AI fuses motion sensors and 3-D spatial data to decide where-and when-to step.
| Task | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5-step climb | 30-40 s | Cleans each tread en route |
| Ramp descent | ~10 s | Can stop and back up mid-slope |
| Obstacle hop | <1 s | Avoids thrown tennis balls |
Price and Launch Outlook
Roborock confirms the Rover will reach buyers, but price and date remain unannounced. The arm-equipped Saros Z70 debuted at $2,599, hinting at a similar-or higher-premium for the legged variant.
Key Takeaways
- First vacuum to both climb and clean stairs autonomously
- Leg-and-wheel design outmaneuvers tread-based rivals
- Market launch expected well above typical robot-vac pricing
If final models match the CES demo’s reliability, multi-story homes may finally get true one-touch floor care.
