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
China's two major power grid operators -- the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) and China Southern Power Grid (CSG) -- reported a surge in investment in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring efforts to strengthen infrastructure construction and support high-quality socioeconomic development in China.
The State Grid said it completed fixed-asset investment worth 129 billion yuan (about 18.77 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three months of this year, up 37 percent the corresponding period of the previous year. The spending has driven more than 250 billion yuan (36 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across the wider industrial chain.
Key projects such as the Panxi ultra-high-voltage (UHV) alternating current (AC) line and the Anhui-Hubei back-to-back direct current (DC) project have seen ground broken for their construction, while several west-to-east power transmission projects have been upgraded.
Investment in connecting renewable energy generation to the grid was reported to have exceeded 10 billion yuan (1.45 billion U.S. dollars) from January to March, a year-on-year rise of more than 50 percent.
The CSG also reported robust growth in investment in the three-month period, with fixed-asset investment reaching 38.45 billion yuan (5.58 billion U.S. dollars), up about 50 percent from a year earlier.
Among its achievements, the company completed and commissioned 80 key projects, including the 220 kV cross-sea power grid interconnection project, which was officially put into operation on March 20. The project ended years of grid isolation on the Weizhou Island in south China by linking it to the main power system of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The construction of 17 other major energy projects, including one linking the power grid of the Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China with that of Guangdong Province in south China, is advancing rapidly. These projects are expected to bolster regional industries, the maritime economy, digital collaboration and the transition to green energy.
"By accelerating major project construction, investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is expected to approach 1 trillion yuan (145 billion U.S. dollars), driving a further 2 trillion yuan (290 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across upstream and downstream industries," said Dong Yanle, deputy general manager of the Engineering Construction Department under the China Southern Power Grid.
China ramps up power grid investment in January-March to boost growth
