CES 2021 Highlight: Robot Vacuum And Mop From Roborock Unveiled, 50Hz Scrubber For Tough Stains

The unveiling of the Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop was a CES 2021 highlight, featuring its new 50Hz agitator that promises to scrub up even dried up stains on hard floors. The advanced mop only engages when it detects that it’s on a hard surface while disengaging when it’s on carpet, making the S7 the first robot vacuum on the market to date in combining a vibrating mop to an auto-lift system.

Robot Vacuum And Mop Combo

There are robot vacuums, then there are robot mops, but with a robot vacuum and mop combo, you theoretically get the best of both worlds, getting effective cleaning on both carpeted and hard floors. However, most additional mopping operations only consist of a self-dampening cloth that passes over the covered ground, merely passing over any mess and stain that requires more serious scrubbing.

3,000 Scrubs Per Minute

This is where the "Sonic Mopping" comes in. Rather than dragging a moist cloth over the cleaning surface, you get this reciprocating action of the cloth that can be set to operate between 1,650-3,000 passes per minute. The "sonic" part of the name has nothing to do with a certain fast moving blue hedgehog, but rather when you do the math, 3,000 passes per minute works out to be 50Hz which wanders into the human audible range frequency of 20-20,000Hz.

Does that mean you will be able to hear the mopping action? That’s a question we’ll answer when we do our hands-on review of a S7 unit - stay tuned.

Auto-lifting Mop Makes An Effective Hybrid

The best mop in the world to lift dirt from your hard floor will suddenly become the worst if it drags all that dirt across your carpet. Roborock’s solution is to include a 5mm auto-lift system that brings the mop up when it reaches carpet. The vacuum cleaner maker does note that since the lift distance is 5mm, the S7 is, therefore, most suited for low-pile carpets of under 4mm thick to ensure that the mop stays well cleared from your carpeted areas.

How does the S7 know that there is a carpet or rug present? The "auto" part of this lifting operation utilizes an ultrasonic sensor that detects where the carpet is in the room. But if you’re still worried about streaks, you are able to set "no mop zones" on its iOS/Android app to ensure the robot vacuum and mop hybrid keeps away from rugs and runners.

Brush Bristles No More, Say Hello To Rubber Fins

Really looking to disrupt the robot vacuum space, Roborock even upgraded its roller design. Gone are the brush bristles which are a nightmare when it comes to hair entanglement. Instead, rubber fins are used for the pre-vacuum agitation. Rubber will also be harder wearing than brushes, which will be an important contributing factor for the robot vacuum’s longevity.

Final Verdict

Roborock’s S7 is jam-packed with innovations and, more importantly, brings exciting tech that goes beyond concepts by are readily available to consumers.

We’re awarding Roborock’s latest home robotic vacuum and mop combo with our "Best of CES" award for its creative endeavor to make the life of consumers simpler while deploying cutting edge technology.

The Roborock S7 is expected to be available to U.S. consumers through Amazon on March 24 for an MSRP of $649.