IFA 2025 is Berlin's annual proving ground for tech that wants to reshape everyday life. Amid the wall of 8K screens and concept cars, one of the best, quietly radical debuts this year scrubs. The xLean TR1 is a floor-washing robot that doesn't just roll around your living room, but transforms, adapts, and even learns from you.
A New Form Factor
Look at most robot vacuums, and they still resemble hockey pucks with sensors. The TR1 breaks that mold with a dual-form design. In just one second, an electric lock allows it to snap between two identities: a low-profile robot for autonomous whole-home cleaning and a handheld unit for instant spot jobs. Think of it as the cleaning equivalent of a Transformer, but stripped down to its core functions and speed.
That switch matters because real life isn't neat. Robot vacuums excel at picking up crumbs and dust bunnies, but stumble over spills like a latte or a bowl of cereal. The handheld form lets you respond immediately, while the robot form quietly takes care of the rest.
Engineering for the Messy Middle
The engineering story here is surprisingly ambitious. The TR1 utilizes Dual-Motor DirectSuction™, paired with VortexMatrix™ separation technology, to vacuum up solids and liquids simultaneously. The challenge of gas-liquid separation in a low-profile chassis took xLean nearly three years of prototypes and 40 iterations to refine.
Docked in its OMNI Station, the robot undergoes a spa day of its own: a 60°C hot-water flush, solid-liquid separation, and a silent dry cycle that leaves both the robot and the station spotless. The result: you never touch sludge, and maintenance is a fraction of what wet/dry vacs usually demand.
The AI Angle
Where the TR1 really excels is in its Self-Evolving Intelligence. Instead of running the same routine every night, the robot learns through Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF). In handheld mode, when you clean up a mess, the system records your approach, how long you scrub, where you focus, and what you decide is "clean enough." Then, in robot mode, it applies those insights autonomously. Over time, your TR1 doesn't just clean; it cleans like you.
With user consent, anonymized data is fed back into cloud models, allowing the robot to receive OTA updates that refine its intelligence. It's a step toward general-purpose robotics: machines that evolve in the mess of human homes, not sterile labs.
A Startup with Pedigree
xLean Robotics might have been newly founded in 2022 out of CUHK's T-Stone Robotics Institute, but the team isn't new. Its roster includes robotics PhDs, IEEE Fellows, and veterans from DJI, Roborock, and XREAL. Their philosophy is deceptively modest: one robot, one task, done right. With the TR1, that task is one of the toughest in domestic life: sticky, mixed-material mess.
Why It Matters
Robotic cleaning hasn't seen a true leap in years. The TR1 feels like one, not just a hardware upgrade but a reframing of what a home robot should be. It's pragmatic, slightly sci-fi, and aimed at everyday chaos rather than showroom perfection.
On the floor at Hall 25, Booth 260, you can watch the TR1 devour spills and glide through cluttered furniture with ease. However, the bigger picture is even more compelling: a glimpse of robots that won't just execute commands, but also begin to embody intent.
To learn more and to sign up for the Early Bird discount of 41% off their Kickstarter, visit the xLean website today.
ⓒ 2025 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
