A stair-climbing robot vacuum isn't a new idea. We saw an early attempt at it with the Dreame X50 Ultra, which was able to overcome thresholds of around 2 inches. Recently, at IFA 2025, we saw the Eufy Marswalker and Dreame CyberX, which use a system of treads and an additional shell to help the robot get up stairs. However, neither can actually clean the stairs.
The Roborock Saros Rover is different. It's a robot with legs -- and I mean real legs, not treads or a lift system.
Read more: The Roborock Saros Rover has been selected as a winner in the Best Smart Home Tech category for the Official Best of CES 2026 Awards.
Yes, this robot vacuum comes with genuine chicken legs (or maybe frog legs) and wheels on the bottom. It's a weird-looking device, no doubt, but the result is hard to argue with. Here at CES, I watched Roborock run the Saros Rover through a range of demos to showcase its stair-climbing abilities, balance and ability to hop over obstacles and even dance. Here's what I thought.
Watch this: Check Out the First Robot Vacuum With Legs in Action at CES 03:49
The Rover's legs remind me of chicken or frog legs with how they fold and unfold. Ajay Kumar/CNET
How the Saros Rover works
The Saros Rover uses its legs to wedge its body up on the next step, then draws them up after it. Ajay Kumar/CNET
The Saros Rover operates differently from the other stair-climbing robots I've seen demoed before. Instead of using a shell with tread attachments, it deploys a pair of legs and wheels to lever itself up over stairs and other obstacles. Its climbing is vaguely reminiscent of a stork or other long-legged bird, with the two legs acting as a support to push its large, flat body up on the next step. Then the legs fold themselves up behind its back, and then it deploys them again for the next step.
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