iRobot's Roomba Duo pairs a powerful mop with a compact vacuum in new two-bot concept

iRobot revealed an unconventional take on home cleaning at IFA 2025: the Roomba Duo, a two-part robotic system that tackles floors with a larger mopping-and-vacuuming powerhouse paired with a smaller, deployable unit that extends the cleaning reach into hard-to-access corners and under furniture.

How the System Works#

The Duo operates as an autonomous dock on wheels, equipped with water reservoirs and built-in storage for dust collection. A mechanical arm lowers a second robot—based on the Roomba Plus 757 model—when needed to handle spaces the main unit cannot navigate. The primary machine uses lidar and camera-based navigation to map the home, detect obstacles, and identify soiled areas as it moves throughout the space.

Key Capabilities#

The main unit represents iRobot's most powerful vacuum to date and functions more like an upright machine than a traditional robot cleaner. It features a large roller mop that applies 46 newtons of downward pressure for steam-mopping, and demonstrated competency tackling both dry messes—such as pasta scattered on carpet—and then washing the same surface afterward. The deployment mechanism in live demos appeared smooth and relatively quick, operating at a much larger scale than iRobot's earlier mopping-bot prototypes like the J7 Combo.

Where It Stands#

As a concept device, the Roomba Duo has no announced pricing or availability date. iRobot's new CEO Hao Li, brought in from parent company Picea (which acquired iRobot from bankruptcy in 2025), framed the innovation as proof that "the future of floor care has a familiar name." The design draws resemblance to commercial cleaning robots seen in hotels and malls, though engineering feedback and durability considerations remain under development.