SHENZHEN-BASED drone giant DJI expanded its focus from the sky to the floor Wednesday, launching its first series of robotic vacuum cleaners and officially entering the smart home appliance market. DJI’s new ROMO product line combines sweeping and mopping functions while leveraging the company’s proprietary environmental sensing and intelligent path-planning technologies, which were originally developed for its drones. Priced between 4,699 yuan (US$655) and 6,799 yuan, the ROMO series is now available in stores across china and online. “ROMO represents DJI’s first strategic shift from aerial intelligence to home cleaning,” said Zhang Xiaonan, a spokesperson for DJI. While home floors differ greatly from aerial environments, the core principle remains the same — utilizing intelligent navigation, environmental perception, and precision control to enable machines to serve people more effectively and intelligently, Zhang explained. DJI’s extensive drone expertise gives it a competitive edge in addressing key challenges faced by the robotic vacuum industry, the spokesperson added. The company plans to expand the ROMO series to overseas markets later this year, although specific launch dates and regions have yet to be confirmed. The ROMO project has been under development since at least late 2023, when DJI updated its business scope to include intelligent robotics and filed for the ROMO trademark. Registered in May 2024, the trademark covers categories such as robotic vacuums and steam cleaners. While robot vacuums are not a new technology, DJI’s entry is seen as a strategic move to disrupt a market still facing structural limitations. According to market research firm IDC, global robotic vacuum shipments reached 20.6 million units in 2024, up 11.2% year on year, with total sales climbing 19.7% to US$9.31 billion. The average per-unit price rose to US$452, reflecting a shift toward higher-end models. Chinese brands Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, and Xiaomi held four of the top five spots by shipment volume. Despite growing demand, the household penetration rate for robotic vacuums remains below 10% globally, with product innovation and market maturity still evolving. (SD-Xinhua) | 