DJI’s Romo 2 robot-vacuum line is an exercise in both hardware iteration and reputational repair.
The company has announced two models—the transparent Romo P2 and opaque Romo A2—with stronger cleaning specifications, improved obstacle handling and a new Local Data Mode. That last feature is the consequential one: DJI’s first Romo line suffered serious security flaws that reportedly exposed floorplans, camera and microphone access, and remote-control capabilities on thousands of devices before fixes were issued.
For operators building connected-home products, the announcement reinforces an increasingly basic rule: in products that map private physical spaces, security architecture is part of the product—not a back-office concern.
What DJI says has changed
Romo 2 uses two underside “legs” to cross a single step up to 4cm (1.5 inches), or two smaller steps totaling roughly twice that height. It will not climb stairs, but the mechanism could reduce the common failure mode of robot vacuums getting trapped by thresholds and room dividers.
DJI also says the machines can identify obstacles as small as 2mm, including cables and transparent objects such as mirrors or glass. The company describes its navigation system as using “human-like reasoning and concept transfer” to adapt lessons from prior obstacles to unfamiliar ones. That claim will need real-world validation, but the direction is clear: robovac competition is moving beyond room mapping toward more resilient physical-world perception.
Other stated upgrades include up to 36,000Pa of suction on carpet, longer-reach brush and mop arms for edges and under furniture, and an 85% reduction in volume. Quieter cleaning is not merely a convenience feature; it expands the hours during which autonomous appliances can run without disrupting households or small offices.
Privacy is now the central feature
The Local Data Mode is due to arrive on Romo 2 in the fourth quarter of 2026. DJI says it disconnects the DJI Home app from the internet, preventing synchronization of photos and camera feeds. Owners can also disable the vacuum’s camera and microphone entirely and delete data stored on the device. DJI plans to extend the mode to the original Romo range.
The important distinction is that this is an explicit operating mode rather than a broad assurance that data is protected. Giving users a way to cut cloud connectivity, turn off sensors and remove local records creates more understandable control boundaries—particularly for customers wary of internet-connected cameras moving through bedrooms, living rooms and workplaces.
But a local-only option does not erase the first product’s history. Buyers and enterprise procurement teams should still look for specifics: which functions remain available while offline, whether the setting is persistent and easily auditable, how software updates are delivered, and whether independent security researchers can verify the isolation claims.
A restricted route to market
DJI has not announced Romo 2 pricing or a release date. A US launch appears unlikely: the company’s recent products have been constrained by US restrictions, and a new FCC ban on foreign-made robot vacuums further narrows the route to the American market.
That leaves DJI with a product strategy shaped as much by policy and trust as by suction power. Its technical upgrades address practical shortcomings in household robotics. Its local-data controls address the more fundamental question: whether consumers will permit an autonomous, sensor-equipped device to operate inside their homes.
What to watch next
The next signal is implementation. Watch for the Q4 rollout of Local Data Mode, its availability on older Romo devices, and detailed documentation on its limits. Independent testing of obstacle avoidance, sensor shutdown and network isolation will matter more than headline specifications.
For the wider home-robotics market, Romo 2 is a reminder that better autonomy increases the stakes of privacy design. As devices gain more sensors, maps and agency in private spaces, trustworthy defaults and verifiable controls will become a competitive requirement.
