When a consumer robot vacuum ships with sensor tech borrowed from drones, it signals a larger shift in how homes map and navigate space. DJI’s Romo line treats your living room like a test flight, using drone-grade sensing to guide cleaning with new precision. In short, the line reframes a routine chore as an exercise in autonomous spatial awareness.

Romo’s core is a multimodal sensor stack: dual fisheye cameras, a wide-angle LiDAR array, and machine-learning-powered mapping. DJI says the system can detect objects as thin as 2 mm and plan paths that dodge cables, socks or even playing cards, a claim that shows how far sensor fusion has moved in consumer devices. Note these tests come from controlled settings; real homes vary in layout and firmware will continue to evolve.

On the cleaning front, Romo touts up to 25,000 Pa suction, an airflow of 20 L/s, two high-speed roller motors for hair management, and a 164 ml onboard water tank with adaptive flow control. A four-nozzle auto-wash base, a 16 mm waste outlet, and a 12 N downward force on pads promise extended maintenance intervals, all aimed at busy households that want high performance with minimal upkeep.

Availability starts today, with three trims: Romo S at €1,299 (~$1,511), Romo A at €1,599 (~$1,860), and Romo P at €1,899 (~$2,210). The P model adds transparent windows and an extra dispense chamber for concentrated cleaners or fragrances. Official accessories include spare brushes, a threshold ramp and starter cleaning solution.

Privacy and control sit in the DJI Home app, with two-factor authentication on first use, encrypted camera streams, and an option to disable cameras for privacy. In a market where data flows are a top concern, these features are increasingly table stakes rather than novelties.

Beyond the product itself, the Romo announcement highlights a broader industry trend: drone-grade sensing is seeping into consumer robotics. The fusion of aerial-grade sensing with ground-based cleaning could push rivals to lift their own sensor game, affecting both product design and price points. For consumers, the takeaway is clear: more capable robots may deliver better cleaning, but also demand more attention to how data is captured and used. Notebookcheck’s Anubhav Sharma outlines the line’s specs and pricing, echoing the deeper implications for the smart-home market. BraveX Aero’s note about swarm-capability partnerships points to a future where multiple devices coordinate autonomously, hinting at “Swarm-as-a-Service” business models that could extend beyond drones to robots in the home.

Drone-grade sensing and the home of tomorrow

In practical terms, Romo’s features translate into tangible best-use scenarios. For example, the ability to map room geometry with LiDAR helps the vacuum navigate under furniture, avoid fragile items and optimize routes across carpeted zones and hard floors. The 25kPa suction is eye-catching for pet hair and dense debris, while the auto-wash base reduces routine care—an important factor for families with busy schedules. For reference, consumers often compare Romo against established players like the Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni C20, highlighting a crowded field where sensor quality can be a market differentiator.

What this means for the market and users

For manufacturers, the trend toward sensor-rich cleaning could drive investments in smaller, cheaper sensing modules and edge-AI processing. It may also sharpen competition around data privacy, encryption standards, and user controls. For policymakers, stronger privacy protections and transparent data-use disclosures will be a recurring topic as these devices collect more environmental data in homes. In short, the Romo move aligns with a broader push to blend drone-grade perception with everyday robotics, expanding the functional envelope of household tech.

Conclusion

DJI’s Romo signals a notable shift: consumer robots are stepping closer to drone-grade perception, delivering smarter cleaning while inviting new questions about data governance and ecosystem integration. Expect more brands to explore similar sensor stacks, and more homeowners to demand higher performance paired with clearer privacy controls. The coming year will show whether Romo’s sensor-first approach becomes a new baseline for premium robot vacuums.