DJI Romo: New Robovac with Drone Tech & Transparent Design
DJI, a company synonymous with drones and aerial imaging, has officially entered the robot vacuum market with the introduction of its first home cleaning device, the DJI Romo. This foray into smart home appliances leverages the company’s established expertise in navigation and obstacle avoidance, integrating technology directly from its drone development into a household cleaning solution. The Romo series is initially launching in China, with a broader global release anticipated later this year, though availability and pricing for the US market remain unconfirmed.
The Romo is available in three distinct versions—the Romo S, A, and P—primarily differentiated by their aesthetic design. The Romo S features an opaque white casing, while the Romo A incorporates a transparent panel on the vacuum’s top. The flagship Romo P goes a step further, boasting a fully transparent housing for both the robot vacuum and its accompanying base station, offering a unique glimpse into the device’s inner workings. Pricing in China begins at CNY 4,699 (approximately $654) for the Romo S and A, escalating to CNY 6,799 (around $947) for the premium Romo P.
At the heart of the Romo’s design is its sophisticated navigation system, directly adapted from DJI’s drone technology. The robot employs a combination of a binocular fisheye vision sensor and three wide-angle laser sensors. These work in concert with a machine learning perception algorithm, enabling the Romo to accurately detect, identify, and circumvent obstacles as fine as 2mm, such as ultra-thin cards or charging cables. This intelligent system also allows the vacuum to adapt its cleaning strategy based on the type of obstruction encountered; it can meticulously clean close to wires or furniture legs while giving a wider berth to items like socks or pet urine, preventing tangles or larger messes.
Beyond its advanced navigation, the Romo delivers robust cleaning performance. It boasts an impressive suction power of up to 25,000 Pascals (Pa), nearly double that of some competitors like the recently announced Roomba Max 705. This power is complemented by an anti-tangle double roller brush system, two extendable sweeping brushes on short robotic arms, and a pair of spinning mop pads designed to automatically raise when transitioning from hard floors to carpeting. The vacuum’s intelligence extends to its cleaning execution; if it detects spilled debris like cat food, it can automatically reduce its travel and brush speed to prevent scattering smaller particles, simultaneously increasing suction to ensure thorough collection.
All three Romo models come equipped with a versatile docking station that automates emptying, cleaning, refilling, and charging the robot vacuum in approximately two and a half hours. The Romo P, being the top-tier model, includes an additional compartment within its base station for an alternate mopping solution. This allows users to customize cleaning plans, applying specific solutions like an antibacterial cleaner only to bathroom floors or a degreaser exclusively in the kitchen.
A notable aspect of the Romo’s design, particularly the transparent P model, raises questions about long-term aesthetics. While visually striking initially, the interior of a vacuum and its dock could accumulate dust and grime over time, potentially diminishing its appeal. However, DJI has also integrated practical smart features. The Romo vacuums can automatically generate efficient cleaning routes for a home, leveraging the path planning algorithms developed for drones, with these routes stored locally on the device for enhanced user privacy. Furthermore, all Romo models support voice commands for controlling cleaning areas and can even double as remotely controlled roaming security cameras, allowing users to monitor pets or individuals and engage in real-time two-way communication.
DJI’s entry into the robot vacuum market with the Romo series marks a significant expansion for the company, bringing its renowned drone technology from the skies to the living room floor.