When you think of DJI, images of sleek drones zipping through the sky likely come to mind. But on August 6, 2025, DJI will redefine its own trajectory—landing squarely on your living room floor with its first-ever robot vacuum, the Romo. After more than four years in stealth development, this ground-based debut promises to marry DJI’s aerial expertise with home-cleaning muscle, setting the stage for a serious challenge to established players like Roborock, Dreame, and Ecovacs.

Romo’s unusually lengthy gestation reveals DJI’s cautious, deliberate approach. Sources inside the company say the project began back in 2021, but faced multiple delays—plans slated for 2023 and 2024 were quietly shelved, with a full reboot in May 2024. The extended timeline wasn’t a sign of floundering; rather, DJI appears to have leveraged every extra month to port its drone-grade hardware and software into a household appliance, ensuring Romo would launch as more than a proof-of-concept.

Most robot vacuums rely on LiDAR towers—think small rotating domes that scan your room with lasers. DJI chose a different flight plan. Romo sports a front-facing sensor array—akin to a mini drone cockpit—paired with what DJI calls “six degrees of freedom” sensors. These components stitch together a live 3D map of your home, granting the bot exceptional spatial awareness without the bulk of a LiDAR tower. The result? Detailed room-by-room mapping in the companion app, complete with custom labels (living room, kitchen, hallway) and real-time cleaning progress.

Despite packing advanced vision hardware, DJI has managed to keep Romo’s profile impressively low—thinner than many of its rivals. Twin side brushes sweep debris toward a central suction inlet, while the main body glides under furniture with ease. Early teasers suggest the vacuum balances function and form in true DJI fashion: clean lines, rounded edges, and a finish that feels premium.

DJI clearly understands that a robot vacuum’s dock has gone from kitchen utility to living-room statement piece. Romo’s docking station ships in two flavors:

• Transparent “Nothing-style” Edition: A semi-transparent shell that showcases the dustbin, clean/waste water reservoirs, and the mop-washing mechanism—an engineering enthusiast’s dream Gizchina.com.
• Minimalist White Edition: A sleek, paneled exterior that blends seamlessly into modern décor, with only subtle DJI branding.

Both docks automate more than charging: they empty dust, refill water, and scrub and dry mop pads—bringing Romo’s automation in line with premium models like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Dreame L20 Ultra.

Why the push into home appliances now? Beyond the allure of smart-home growth—projected to exceed a $200 billion market by 2027—DJI faces mounting regulatory headwinds in its core drone business, especially in the U.S., where national security concerns have led to bans and import restrictions. By repackaging its navigation, obstacle-detection, and mapping technologies into a high-end robot vacuum, DJI can diversify its revenue while keeping its cutting-edge R&D humming.

Romo’s pricing hasn’t been disclosed, but we can expect DJI to position it at the premium end—looking to win over early adopters who already trust the brand for quality and innovation. Competing head-on with Roborock, Dreame, and Ecovacs will require standout performance, and DJI seems to be banking on its vision-based navigation and distinctive dock design to do just that.

Romo may be the vanguard of DJI’s smart-home ambitions. Rumors already hint at additional appliances—perhaps robotic lawn mowers or security cams—leveraging the same visual-processing backbone. If DJI’s track record is any guide, the company will continue refining user experience and adding AI-driven features (think predictive cleaning schedules or self-learning obstacle avoidance).