Chinese robot vacuums made their global debut at the just-concluded 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), attracting global attention with stair-climbing and flying designs. Designed to make homes smarter and more responsive to human needs, these devices stood out among exhibitors.
Among the highlights was a stair-climbing model from Dreame Technology, equipped with a track-based system that enabled autonomous movement beyond flat surfaces.
"With our latest track-type stair-climbing system, the robot can climb from the first to the second floor in under 30 seconds. Equipped with the system, it becomes more like an embodied intelligent robot," said Meng Jia, president of the Chinese company's robotic vacuum division.
Nearby, MOVA, a global smart appliance brand, even strapped a robot vacuum to a drone, flying it up the stairs.
"Why do we add a pair of 'wings' to the vacuum cleaner? It's because in many traditional villas or duplex houses, there are many irregularly shaped stairs that are hard for us to clean," said Wu Jiahao, a product manager of MOVA's robotic vacuum division.
These products exemplify key advances in perception, decision-making, and execution, highlighting the deep integration of embodied intelligence into home environments. Many observers noted that Chinese tech startups are leading the way in seamlessly incorporating AI into daily life.
"It's quite new. I like the style of them.They're very sleek and they'll fit in the home. The innovations are coming out of China which it's just fantastic.We need it. And the production and the quality of it is very, very, very good," said an Australian exhibitor.
The CES was first held in 1967. This year's event runs from January 6-9, featuring product launches, exhibitions, business meetings, and industry forums. It aims to showcase breakthrough innovations in consumer electronics and serve as a guiding force for improving everyday life worldwide.
Chinese robot vacuums debut at CES 2026 with stair-climbing, flying features
Chinese robot vacuums debut at CES 2026 with stair-climbing, flying features
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia is fully prepared and willing to negotiate with Ukraine at a U.S. military facility in Anchorage, Alaska, while his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a face-to-face meeting.
At a meeting with heads of major international news agencies attending the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said Russia remains prepared to pursue a negotiated settlement based on a framework discussed with U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting in Anchorage in August 2025.
He said Russia is ready to accept the compromises discussed at the meeting and expressed hope that the Ukrainian side would also agree to them.
Ukraine has previously rejected the Anchorage framework, as it calls for Ukraine to cede territory.
Meanwhile, Putin said Russian troops are advancing along the entire line of contact and have taken complete control of the Luhansk region, 85 percent of the Donetsk region and 80 percent of the Zaporizhzhia region.
Russia's Presidential Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev said at the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Thursday that despite efforts by forces seeking to prolong the war to disrupt talks between Russia and the U.S., bilateral engagement on Ukraine has made substantive progress.
Dmitriev dismissed reports that Russia-U.S. contacts have stalled, accusing other European nations of spreading disinformation to hinder the peace process.
Dmitriev also said that on Wednesday he had spoken by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner and discussed bilateral economic cooperation.
He said the U.S. side had underscored the need to embrace peace rather than engage in constant provocations and confrontations.
The U.S. has been pushing for peace and Ukraine should join the process, Dmitriev noted, adding there were plans for further contacts with Witkoff and Kushner next week.
Later on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published an open letter to Putin, proposing to end the conflict through direct talks between the two leaders.
Relevant parties, including European countries and the U.S., should be part of the peace negotiations, the letter stated.
Ukraine is ready for a complete ceasefire during the talks and proposes an exchange of prisoners of war on the principle of "all for all," Zelensky also said in the letter.
Russia ready to talk with Ukraine at U.S. military base: Putin
Russia ready to talk with Ukraine at U.S. military base: Putin
