Roborock, a leading name in home robotics, has launched its first-ever robotic pool cleaner, the RockAqua P1. The Beijing-based brand is best known for its advanced robot vacuums, including models featuring robotic grabbing arms and stair-climbing capabilities. Now it is expanding into pool care with an autonomous underwater cleaner unveiled at IFA Berlin.
The compact, colorful RockAqua P1 is engineered to clean pool floors, walls, waterlines, and shallow platforms. It brings some of Roborock’s signature indoor-cleaning technology outdoors, positioning the company as a new competitor in a category dominated by established pool-care brands.
How the RockAqua P1 Navigates and Cleans
The RockAqua P1 uses an adaptive cleaning path, a feature borrowed from Roborock’s indoor vacuums, allowing it to navigate pools of varying shapes and depths. Vision-based obstacle avoidance helps the robot identify drain covers, steps, and similar obstructions, reducing interruptions during a cleaning cycle.
One standout feature is the robot’s ability to adjust its suction based on the situation. When it encounters larger debris, the RockAqua P1 lowers suction to avoid pushing objects out of its cleaning path. As it moves closer, it increases suction to capture the debris more effectively.
The cleaner delivers a suction rate of 6,800 gallons per hour, placing it among the more powerful pool-cleaning robots on the market. However, lab testing has shown that raw suction power does not always translate into superior cleaning results. Unlike some rival models that use AI cognition to actively track down debris such as leaves, bugs, and stones, the RockAqua P1 does not appear to offer a comparable debris-detection feature.
Battery Life and Availability
The RockAqua P1 runs for up to 3.5 hours on a full charge, an average figure for high-end pool cleaners. When a cleaning cycle finishes, the robot rests on the water’s surface rather than sinking to the bottom. That design choice makes it easier to retrieve for emptying and recharging, since users won’t need to haul it up manually.
For now, the RockAqua P1 is scheduled for release in the European market only. A rollout to the United States remains uncertain, with no confirmed timeline or pricing announced for American buyers.
