China’s DJI launches first robot cleaner with drone-level obstacle avoidance system

The new Romo series is a combination vacuum cleaner and mopping robot. Equipped with binocular fish-eye vision sensors and three wide-angle lidars, the machine can avoid thin items like playing cards and cables thicker than 2mm, according to a post on DJI’s WeChat account on Wednesday.

The unit has a battery life of three hours, enabling it to clean an area of roughly 178 square metres (1,916 sq ft) and can be fully charged in 2.5 hours. It can operate in environments of between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius.

The cleaner, with a built-in water tank with a capacity of 164 millilitres, can adjust the water volume and automatically add more when encountering excess dirt. The mop will automatically lift when it encounters a carpet.

Users can connect to the cleaner remotely using a phone, which allows them to see what’s happening, like a security camera function, as well being able to talk to family members at home.

The new product comes in three models, with the most expensive Romo P featuring a see-through outer shell for the cleaner and dock, while the cheapest Romo S has a white cover for both.