4 months ago
CES 2026 isn't nan first twelvemonth we've seen a activity of absorbing robots aliases moreover useful robots harvest up successful Las Vegas. But it's nan first twelvemonth I tin retrieve erstwhile location person been truthful galore humanoid and humanoid-like robots performing really useful tasks. Of those, Switchbot's Onero H1 has been 1 of nan astir intriguing robot helpers I've seen connected nan show floor, particularly because nan institution says that it will really spell connected waste later this twelvemonth (though it won't travel cheap).
Up to now, Chinese institution Switchbot has been known for its robot vacuums and smart location devices. Much of that expertise is evident successful Onero. The unexpectedly tiny robot has a wheeled guidelines that looks akin to nan company's robot vacuums, but is besides equipped pinch a group of articulated arms that tin thief it execute communal family tasks.
I was capable to spot immoderate of its abilities astatine Switchbot's CES booth, wherever Onero dutifully picked up individual articles of clothing from a couch, rolled complete to a washing machine, opened nan door, placed nan items wrong and closed nan door. The robot moved a spot slowly; it took astir 2 minutes for it to drawback 1 portion of clothing and deposit it wrong nan appliance which was only a fewer feet away.
I'm not judge if its slowness was a quirk of nan mediocre CES Wi-Fi, a demo designed to maximize conference-goers attraction aliases a genuine limitation of nan robot. But I'm not judge it matters each that much. The full entreaty of a chore robot is that it tin return attraction of things erstwhile you're not around; if you travel location to a load of laundry that's done, it's not that concerning if nan robot took longer to complete nan task than you would have. The laundry is done and you don't person to do it. That's nan dream.
Under nan hood, Onero is powered by RealSense cameras and different sensors that thief it study its surroundings, arsenic good arsenic on-device AI models.
The demo of people only offered a very constricted glimpse of Onero's imaginable capabilities. In a promotional video shared by Switchbot, nan institution suggests nan robot tin truthful much, overmuch more: service nutrient and drinks, put dishes away, lavation windows, fold apparel and complete a bunch of different — frankly, awesome — tasks. The Onero successful nan video besides has an articulated manus pinch 5 fingers that gives it much dexterity than nan claw-hand 1 I saw astatine CES. A Switchbot rep told me, though, that it plans to connection some versions erstwhile it does spell connected sale.
Which brings maine to nan astir breathtaking portion astir watching Onero: nan institution is really readying connected trading it this year. A Switchbot rep confirmed to maine it will beryllium disposable to bargain sometime successful 2026, though it will apt beryllium person to nan extremity of nan year. The institution hasn't settled connected a last price, but I was told it will beryllium "less than $10,000."
While we don't cognize really overmuch less, it's safe to opportunity Onero won't travel cheap. It besides seems adjacent to opportunity that this will beryllium a very niche instrumentality compared to galore of Switchbot's different products. But, if it tin competently grip everything nan institution claims it can, past there's astir apt a batch of group and businesses that would beryllium consenting to pay.
