DJI’s next trick could be a surprise robot vacuum – and no, it sadly won’t fly upstairs

• A leaked image suggests DJI could be planning to launch a robot vacuum
• It could be called the DJI Romo and combine a vacuum and mop
• It’s early days for rumors but DJI has been entering new markets lately

From e-bikes to power stations, DJI has been dipping its toes into new waters this year – and it could soon make a particularly surprising leap into robot vacuums, according to new rumors.

According to a leaked image from @JasperEllens (picked up by DroneNR and Notebookcheck) the so-called DJI Romo vacuum seemingly exists, in prototype form at least.

Whether the Romo actually makes it to production remains to be seen, but given DJI’s recent record of branching out from making the best drones, it certainly wouldn’t be a huge leap. A robot vacuum would also, on paper, combine a lot of its existing tech.

DJI currently makes robots like the RoboMaster S1, drones with advanced obstacle-avoidance systems like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, and cameras with advanced Lidar-based autofocus like the DJI Ronin 4D. The only thing that’s really missing from the tech mix is the cleaning powers of the best robot vacuums.

Given this is the only leak we’ve seen so far, the DJI Romo remains highly speculative, but it seems we can expect a combined robot vacuum and mop with features like individual room controls and pet detection.

The only thing we’re pretty confident of ruling out is a flying robot vacuum with propellors (which the leaked image appears to back up). That is unless DJI has quietly absorbed some of the team behind the bonkers Ring Always Home Cam (below), a flying security cam that never saw the light of day.

Why a robot vacuum?

DJI has never been shy about barging into new…