We’re getting closer to a robot vacuum that can climb stairs

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Roborock’s latest robovac has an auto lift chassis that can raise its body to navigate high transitions … stairs feel only a small step away.

By Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, a smart home reporter who’s been testing connected gadgets since 2013. Previously a contributor to Wirecutter, Wired, Dwell, and US News.

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Roborock’s Q-Revo Curv is a complete redesign of the company’s robot vacuum and dock.

Roborock’s Q-Revo Curv is a complete redesign of the company’s robot vacuum and dock.
Image: Roborock

With the ability to lift itself up to get over room transitions as high as 40mm, fluffy rugs, and other possible obstacles, Roborock’s new Qrevo Curve could be a sign that the stair-climbing robot vacuum is almost here.

To be clear, Roborock hasn’t said this, but based on how fast this company — and others — are innovating in this space, it feels like we’re really not that far away. SharkNinja also announced a new robot vaccum with lifting capabilities this week, and the other companies are likely not far behind.

Whether we need stair-climbing robovacs is a question I’m not sure I have the answer to yet.

the Qrevo Curv has a sleeker, curvier dock that can auto=empty the bin and clean and refill the mop.

the Qrevo Curv has a sleeker, curvier dock that can auto=empty the bin and clean and refill the mop.
the Qrevo Curv has a sleeker, curvier dock that can auto=empty the bin and clean and refill the mop.
Image: Roborock

Furturecasting aside, the Qrevo Curv is a significant change for the company. The robot features a completely redesigned multifunction dock that’s shapelier and smaller than its other models, a new dual anti-tangle brush system that splits the brush in half, allowing hair to roll off it, and a whopping 18,500 pa suction power.

Its signature self-raising feature — called AdaptLift Chassis — automatically lifts the robot’s front wheel and independently adjusts its main wheels to raise the robot 10mm, enabling it to go over standard thresholds up to 30mm and double-layer thresholds up to 40mm.

As well as helping the robot get around your house more easily and avoid getting stuck, the new mobility means the Curv can now clean mid-to-long pile carpets.

The redesigned brush system comprises two shorter brushes with spiral blades and bristles that should push the hair off the role and into the vacuum and a curved FlexiArm Arc side brush that stops hair from getting tangled in it.

The Qrevo Curv features Roborock’s reactive AI obstacle avoidance tech, which uses a built-in camera to avoid common household clutter. It’s launching this month for €1499.99 (US pricing is still TBD) alongside the Qrevo Edge, which sports the same features but a more traditional-looking base station in black.

The Qrevo Slim is just 3.3 inches tall.

The Qrevo Slim is just 3.3 inches tall.
The Qrevo Slim is just 3.3 inches tall.
Image: Roborock

Roborock is also launching a super slim robovac that it says is designed to get under low furniture better. The LiDAR tower on the new Qrevo Slim has been removed from the top, and the vacuum is just 3.3 inches high. Its new navigation system uses dual-light 3D time of flight technology, deploying lasers and an RGB camera for navigation and obstacle recognition. It works with a multifunction dock, has 11,000 pa suction power, and is launching this month for $1,399.

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