At CES 2025, Roborock announced its Saros series of robotic vacuums, marking a significant step in automation with the introduction of the Saros Z70. This model is the first mass-produced robotic vacuum equipped with a five-axis mechanical arm, which the company has branded as OmniGrip™ technology. The Saros Z70 – along with the other models in the series, the Saros 10 and Saros 10R – represents a new direction for robotic cleaning devices.
OmniGrip™: A Robotic Arm with Precision
The Saros Z70’s OmniGrip™ arm is the defining feature of this release. This foldable, five-axis arm is designed to manipulate objects weighing less than 300 grams (a little less than 10 ounces). Equipped with precision sensors, a camera, and an LED light, it identifies, grips, and relocates objects with high accuracy. For instance, it can move items like socks or small toys that would otherwise block the vacuum’s cleaning path.
How OmniGrip™ Works
At the core of OmniGrip™ is a system combining pressure sensors and computer vision. The robotic arm uses an RGB camera to visually identify objects and assess their size, shape, and position. Pressure sensors ensure the grip strength is appropriate, avoiding damage to objects. The LED light aids the arm’s operation by providing consistent illumination, which is meant to help the Saros Z70 recognize objects even in dimly lit environments.
This integration of sensors and computer vision allows the arm to calculate the appropriate motions needed to lift an object while maintaining stability. The use of a foldable design enables the vacuum to maintain a low profile, which is critical for navigating tight spaces.
In addition to moving objects out of its way, Roborock is describing its new robotic arm system as a “helper.” Socks and other small household objects are supposedly moved toward the place they belong, like the closet. The Saros Z70 detects objects it can move during its first cleaning session, removes them, and then returns to clean areas that were previously blocked. All of these features are programmed through the app, which requires network connectivity, and some features will roll out with over-the-air updates to the app.
Eventually, you are supposed to be able to ask the Saros Z70 where it last saw a missing toy, and it will tell you – a feature we are eager to test.
Tech Talk: Using a Robot Arm in a Consumer Product
Robotic arms have been widely used in industries like manufacturing, medicine, and automated kitchens. But robotic arms in consumer goods – intended for use in an unpredictable, domestic setting – have had few applications outside of the world of hobbyists and educators.
Integrating a robotic arm like OmniGrip™ into a consumer product like the Saros Z70 is ambitious and complex. The addition of moving mechanical parts increases the risk of wear and tear over time, raising questions about the durability and reliability of the arm. Additionally, the software required to manage the arm’s precision movements and object recognition must be highly advanced to avoid errors, such as mishandling fragile items or misidentifying objects. These challenges highlight the balance Roborock must strike between innovation and practicality, as even small issues could impact the arm’s performance and the overall user experience.
Despite these potential hurdles, the inclusion of a robotic arm in a vacuum cleaner signals a major step forward in automation, offering capabilities not previously seen in household robotics.
Advanced Navigation and Cleaning
The Saros Z70 and the new Saros 10R are equipped with Roborock’s StarSight 2.0 navigation system. This is an upgrade of Roborock’s StarSight, a dual-transmitter 3D Time-of-Flight (ToF) technology, which Roborock was the first in the industry to implement. StarSight 2.0 is designed to create detailed spatial awareness with more than 21,600 data points at a frequency of 38,400 Hz, a data sampling that is even higher than the Qrevo Slim, which first introduced StarSight technology to consumers. This upgrade should result in precise mapping and effective obstacle avoidance, even in complex home environments.
Roborock’s new VertiBeam technology is a key part of this advanced navigation system. It uses vertical structured light to measure distances and shapes along furniture edges and irregular objects. By combining StarSight 2.0’s spatial mapping with VertiBeam’s fine-tuned edge cleaning capabilities, the Saros Z70 is expected to clean closer to edges and corners without colliding or missing spots
Matter for Smart Home Integration
The Saros series integrates with Matter 1.4, the version of Matter released in November of 2024. Matter is a system that helps Matter-compatible smart home devices from different brands communicate and work together. This means the Saros Z70 would connect to popular smart home platforms like Apple Home or Google Home without needing special or brand-specific systems. These are important developments we have been watching carefully and it looks like we are starting to move forward in smart home integration.
Tech Talk: Matter 1.4
Matter allows devices from different manufacturers to link directly to each other without requiring extra hubs. This makes setup easier, reduces potential problems, and lets users control their vacuum along with other smart devices through a single portal, such as Apple Home.
In practice, this is intended to look something like, “Hey [Siri, Alexa, Google]. Vacuum the kitchen.”
The Saros series will receive OTA (over-the-air) updates to keep its Matter compatibility up-to-date as the system improves. We will be watching these developments closely, as they signal significant advances in robot vacuum utility.
See Also: Roborock joins CSA and the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) Website
App Features
The latest version of the Roborock app, SmartPlan 2.0, is meant to enhance the Saros Z70’s functionality with adaptive and intuitive cleaning strategies. The Roborock app has been a favorite of ours, and now it has added settings: automated deep cleaning for neglected areas, a Do-Not-Disturb mode to minimize noise during quiet hours, and advanced mopping that washes the mopheads after cleaning high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Docking Functions
The Roborock Saros Z70 and the Saros 10R are both compatible with the Multifunctional Dock 4.0, which introduces several upgrades aimed at improving convenience and efficiency. One key feature is 80°C (176°F) hot water mop washing, which provides a deeper clean for the mop pads. The dock also includes Auto Mop Removal, a function activated through the app that detaches the mop when the robot is set to vacuum only or to prioritize carpet cleaning, preventing dampness on carpets.
Additionally, the dock offers a 2.5-hour fast-charging capability, significantly reducing downtime. It intelligently calculates the power needed for the remaining cleaning tasks, charging just enough to complete the job rather than fully recharging. Combined with off-peak charging options, this system is designed to optimize energy use while ensuring the vacuum quickly returns to cleaning.
Following the Qrevo Series
Roborock’s Qrevo Curv and Qrevo Slim have been top-performing models in recent months. The Saros Z70 builds on these foundations with new technologies like the OmniGrip™ arm and AI-driven object recognition.
Both series include features such as AdaptiLift Chassis for threshold navigation and anti-tangle brushes.
The Saros Z70 has a new brush system called the FreeFlow Main Brush that hopes to improve on the already successful Duo Divide system, which will reappear in the Saros 10 and Saros 10R.
Technical Features Saros Z70
| Feature | Saros Z70 Details |
| Special Feature | OmniGrip articulating robotic arm |
| Height | 7.98 cm (3.14 inches) |
| Anti-Tangle Brushes | FlexiArm Riser Side Brush and FreeFlow Main Brush |
| Navigation | StarSight 2.0 and VertiBeam |
| Automation | Roborock App SmartSense 2.0 with new settings |
| Mobility | AdaptiLift Chassis |
The Saros Z70’s inclusion of a mechanical arm and Matter compatibility reflects Roborock’s effort to address practical cleaning challenges while pushing the boundaries of home automation.
If Vacuum Wars reviews the Saros Z70 robotic vacuum, we will make our findings available in the Robot Vacuum Reviews area of our website.
⭐ More news from CES 2025
⭐ See our Top 20 Best Robot Vacuums
⭐ Read more about Apple Home and Robot Vacuums
⭐ Learn about Matter 1.4 on the CSA website
