(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)
BERLIN – Dreame is at the IFA trade show here to show off its latest flagship robot vacuum, and while the L40 Ultra certainly looks like a highly capable model thanks to integrated AI, extendable side arms, mop pads, and 11,000Pa of suction power, the company's future concepts have even more appeal.
While not expected to be integrated into a consumer-ready model until the next calendar year, Dreame showed off three new robot vacuum features at IFA, each of which was functional and built into a demonstration model. I had the chance to see them in action at the show.
(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)The first, a Pro Leap System, uses an extra pair of retractable legs to push the vacuum up and over a threshold. It can navigate a step as tall as 1.5 inches, and while not designed to climb a flight of stairs, the technology should ensure the vacuum can reach all spaces on a single floor, even if you have some odd dips and extra large thresholds. Combined with dampened suspension and shockproof sensors, Dreame’s upcoming robot vacuums should be able to move fluidly over tall obstacles without noticeably increasing their noise output.
Indeed, I didn't notice any banging during the demonstration. The closed-off demo area featured two separate steps for the robot to climb but had traversable floor space between them, unlike a staircase.
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(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)The second feature, Versalift Navigation, allows the sensor-filled periscope on top of the vacuum to raise and lower depending on where it needs to go. Upcoming vacuums with this feature will generally navigate with the periscope raised, as it uses a 360-degree panoramic camera to check its surroundings and navigate systematically. When traversing under furniture, however, the periscope lowers until it's flush with the rest of the vacuum, reducing its profile and letting it clean in tighter spaces.
Finally, a Hyperstream Detangling system uses two counter-rotating brushes to keep the vacuum clear of hair. While many robot vacuums have counter-rotating brushes, these feature different materials meant to cut through hair and brush the other clean as they continually rotate.
(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)The Dreame X30 Ultra ($1,699.99) already earned an excellent rating in our review earlier this year, so if the company’s next flagship model can implement the new concept features demonstrated at IFA without a significant price hike, it could be a real winner. In the meantime, check out our list of the best robot vacuums you can get right now.