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What an achievement: Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra was the first robot vacuum in space

Boldly going where no vacuum has gone before

Roborock first robot vacuum in space S8 MaxV
Roborock

In case you haven’t heard, a robot vacuum was sent into space. It made it up there successfully and safely and continued working, and now that it’s back on Earth it’s ready to clean some floors. The vacuum in question? Roborock’s S8 MaxV Ultra, an advanced robot vacuum and mop with the ultimate all-in-one dock. Of course, the dock didn’t travel to space, just the vacuum, but it’s an amazing feat nonetheless. Here’s how it all went down:

In space, no one can hear you vacuum

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra first robot vacuum in space
Roborock

As part of a partnership with Sent Into Space (SIS) Roborock teamed up with the titular spacefaring adventurers and shipped a robot vacuum into the upper atmosphere. Using a large hydrogen balloon that stands taller than the White House, at about 25 meters in diameter, the robot vacuum was mounted and took flight. It reached a height of 110,000 feet above Earth, with a total flight time of about two and a half hours.

As many of you know, space is a vast, cold, and extreme environment, and items shipped there have to be specifically designed for that kind of exposure. So, it’s impressive that the S8 MaxV Ultra was able to survive the trip. What’s even more impressive is that the team successfully activated features while it was floating out there. The DuoRoller side brush and “Hello Rocky” voice assistant both continued to work, despite the unforgiving nature of space travel. It highlights the product’s ability to stand up to potential extremes, showcasing Roborock’s sheer engineering excellence.

Puffing out its chest, Roborock valiantly praised the vacuum’s durability and functionality. This has “unequivocally proven that our vacuum’s quality and durability can withstand the extreme cold of Near Space, underscoring our dedication to excellence.”

I am curious how many space rocks fit into that vacuum’s dustbin.

Why space flight? Why this vacuum?

Preparing Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra for trip to space and upper atmosphere
Roborock

This is far more than a “because we can” event. Instead, Roborock has proudly showcased the power, capability, and durability of its product simply by exposing it to a place where few men have boldly traveled. No, it’s not the moon, but that doesn’t make the feat any less formidable.

“Witnessing our vacuum soar 120,000 feet above Earth was an extraordinary moment, symbolizing how far Roborock has come in redefining the smart home experience. The vacuum faced temperatures plummeting below -60°C — conditions that would typically incapacitate inferior batteries and freeze motors.”

What I find funny about all of this is I constantly hear people espousing “They don’t make ’em like they used to anymore,” specifically referencing older, durable products. How many of those devices were shipped off into space? This is certainly a win not just for Roborock but modern engineering as a whole. Not to mention the vacuum continued to work in space and continues to work now that it’s back on Earth.

Roborock hopes to inspire people “to think bigger, dream bolder, and go beyond limits.” What is it that we can do in our daily lives to push the boundaries like this? At this point, I’m kind of thinking of space travel myself.

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How do I get my hands on this modern marvel?

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop with dog napping nearby
Roborock

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra comes with a super powerful dock that really changes the game — even more than a space adventure if you can believe it. Operating out of that dock, the S8 MaxV Ultra will return home, recharge, empty, and self-maintain.  It auto-empties the dustbin and dirty water bin, refills the clean mop water, washes the mop element with hot water then warm air dries it, intelligently detects dirt while cleaning, and offers auto detergent dispensing. But the dock even cleans itself, too. As a result, you never have to lift a finger for weeks and weeks at a time. You can sit back and relax until the dock needs your support.

As for the S8 MaxV Ultra, it offers deep cleaning with powerful suction, effective edge cleaning for baseboards and corners, mopping capabilities, and complete self-maintenance. You can also optionally connect the docks to drainage systems or water sources, ensuring they can both replenish and properly drain dirty water. Finally, and more aptly, the S8 MaxV Ultra has a built-in voice assistant that includes Matter smart home protocol support. “Hey Rocky, clean my floor would ya?”

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