World’s first dual-form AI cleaning robot launches in Berlin — is this the future of smart homes?

How does the xLean TR1’s dual-form design and AI-driven learning set it apart from other cleaning robots on the market?

At IFA 2025 in Berlin, xLean Robotics, a startup spun out of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Robotics Institute, introduced what it claims to be the world’s first dual-form AI cleaning robot. The xLean TR1 is designed to operate both as an autonomous robotic mop and vacuum and as a handheld device, targeting two longstanding gaps in the household cleaning robot category: coverage of corners and difficult spills, and the need for human-like adaptability.

The launch arrives at a time when the global household robotics industry is undergoing a reset. After years of incremental improvements in suction strength and navigation, consumers have grown skeptical about whether new models offer meaningful advantages. According to market research firms, the global robotic vacuum market is projected to reach more than USD 15 billion by 2028, but growth is expected to come from differentiators such as AI personalization and multifunctional form factors. Against this backdrop, xLean Robotics is positioning the TR1 not as another vacuum-mop hybrid, but as a transformative platform designed to adapt continuously through reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF).

What are the technical innovations that allow the xLean TR1 to combine robotic and handheld cleaning in one device?

The hallmark of the TR1 is its ability to switch between robot and handheld forms in one second through an electronic lock. In robot mode, the device employs multi-sensor fusion and reinforcement learning to map its environment. Unlike circular robot vacuums that often struggle with wall edges, the TR1’s square chassis allows for full corner coverage. An 800 RPM dual-roller mop provides deep scrubbing, which the company claims is sufficient to dislodge sticky residues left behind by children or pets.

Handheld mode introduces a different innovation: bi-directional electric assistance. This feature lightens the force needed for scrubbing and vacuuming, making the device more ergonomic. Embedded within this mode are sensors — an RGB-D camera, a green laser, and motor encoders — that record how users clean different types of messes. These observations are stored and later applied when the device operates autonomously in robot form, effectively letting the machine learn cleaning strategies that mirror human choices.

The TR1’s hardware is equally ambitious. The Dual-Motor DirectSuction™ system employs high negative pressure to vacuum both solids and liquids simultaneously, bypassing the limitations of traditional mop-vacuum hybrids that separate the two functions. To handle the challenge of separating gas and liquid in such a compact body, xLean Robotics developed VortexMatrix™ Separation Technology. Over three years and 40 iterations of fluid dynamic simulations and prototypes, the startup refined a mechanism that channels solids and liquids into separate reservoirs without clogging. This achievement, if validated in consumer use, could prove a critical differentiator in a crowded marketplace.

How does reinforcement learning from human feedback create self-evolving intelligence in the xLean TR1?

The TR1 integrates RLHF, a methodology more familiar in generative AI models than in consumer robotics. In handheld mode, the TR1 records how users tackle specific spills — for example, whether they scrub a coffee stain in circles or draw the mop back and forth. By analyzing these actions, the robot builds behavioral models that are transferred to its autonomous routines. Over time, the robot adapts to an individual household’s cleaning preferences.

This data loop is further enhanced through cloud aggregation. With user consent, anonymized behavioral data from multiple households is uploaded to xLean Robotics’ servers. Engineers refine machine learning models based on these large data sets, and updates are pushed to all TR1 devices through over-the-air upgrades. The company describes this process as Self-Evolving Intelligence, arguing that each TR1 becomes smarter not only from its owner’s usage but also from collective learning across the installed base.

The reliance on RLHF aligns with broader AI trends. In 2025, reinforcement learning is being adopted beyond large language models into fields like autonomous driving, industrial robotics, and healthcare imaging. By being the first to integrate it into consumer cleaning devices, xLean Robotics is staking an early claim to a field where personalization could become a key selling point.

How does the OMNI Station enhance user convenience and address maintenance concerns?

Maintenance remains one of the largest pain points for robotic vacuums and mops. Consumers often complain that self-cleaning docks require frequent manual intervention. To counter this, xLean Robotics developed the OMNI Station, an accessory dock that automatically separates solids from liquids, performs hot water flushing at 60°C, and dries the mop rollers to prevent mold.

The station is also designed with privacy in mind. A mechanical shutter covers the onboard camera when not in use, and vision-LiDAR recognition is employed for navigation rather than constant video monitoring. This design choice appears intended to reassure consumers who are increasingly cautious about smart home devices storing sensitive household data.

How is xLean Robotics positioning itself against incumbents in the global cleaning robot industry?

Founded in 2022, xLean Robotics has built its founding team from a mix of academic researchers and industry veterans. Its roster includes PhDs from leading robotics programs, IEEE Fellows, and professionals who previously held roles at DJI, Roborock, eufy, and XREAL. This blend of academic and commercial expertise positions the startup as both technically innovative and market-aware.

The company’s decision to debut at IFA 2025 is strategic. Berlin’s IFA is one of the largest consumer electronics shows in Europe, attracting over 180,000 visitors annually and serving as a launchpad for global brands. By securing visibility at Hall 25, Booth 260, xLean Robotics is signaling that it intends to compete not just in the Chinese market but also in Europe and beyond.

The initial go-to-market plan involves a global Kickstarter campaign to capture early adopters. This approach mirrors the strategy of other hardware startups, which often use crowdfunding not only to secure capital but also to test market appetite and refine pricing. If the campaign proves successful, the company is likely to pursue partnerships with distribution networks in Asia, North America, and Europe.

What are institutional and investor perspectives on the TR1 and its market potential?

Analysts tracking consumer robotics see potential in the TR1’s dual-form factor and AI capabilities but caution that execution will be critical. The global consumer robotics market is notoriously competitive, with leading firms like Ecovacs and iRobot operating on thin margins due to price wars in the mid-tier segment. xLean Robotics’ reliance on proprietary technology could enable premium pricing, but consumer willingness to pay for novelty remains uncertain.

Institutional sentiment suggests guarded optimism. Investors are particularly interested in whether RLHF integration can deliver tangible user satisfaction improvements that justify a premium. Venture capital trends in 2025 show growing appetite for robotics startups that leverage AI, with more than USD 2.5 billion raised in the first half of the year across industrial, logistics, and consumer robotics sub-sectors. If xLean Robotics can translate its technical innovations into consumer traction, it could attract significant late-stage funding.

What does the debut of the xLean TR1 suggest about the future of AI-powered household robotics?

The TR1’s debut comes at a pivotal moment for the smart home industry. While penetration of robotic vacuums in markets like China and South Korea exceeds 20%, adoption in Western Europe and North America has plateaued as consumers question the value of incremental upgrades. By framing the TR1 as an AI-driven, dual-purpose solution, xLean Robotics is challenging incumbents to rethink how they position their next-generation devices.

Broader consumer electronics trends also favor the integration of AI into everyday appliances. At IFA 2025, alongside televisions and smartphones, many exhibitors are emphasizing AI as a defining feature of new products. For robotics specifically, the move toward self-evolving intelligence suggests that households will increasingly expect devices that adapt and improve over time, rather than remain static after purchase.

Will self-evolving AI cleaning robots redefine the consumer robotics segment?

The xLean TR1 illustrates how a startup can attempt to leapfrog incumbents by blending hardware innovation with advanced AI learning techniques. By integrating RLHF, dual-form adaptability, and an automated maintenance station, xLean Robotics is setting a high bar for what consumers may come to expect from home cleaning robots.

For investors, the TR1’s Kickstarter launch will be a key litmus test. Early traction could validate demand for dual-form robots with AI learning, while weak adoption might highlight consumer reluctance to experiment beyond proven brands. Either way, the debut underscores how household robotics is no longer just about suction power or app integration, but about intelligence, adaptability, and trust.