Most of today’s best robot vacuums have bases that automatically empty trash cans, clean mop pads, and sometimes more. Now, it looks like the same idea is starting to make its way into robotic window cleaners.
I was just introduced to the new version of Ecovacs’ windowbot, the WinBot W3 Omni, at CES 2026, and it comes with its own cleaning station. It’s called the Vortex Wash OMNI Station and Ecovacs says it’s the first of its kind.
Once automatic window cleaning is complete, you remove the plate with the mop pads (no need to touch the dirty pads) and slide it onto a dock.
Inside, rotating brushes and squeegees clean it over the course of a 1-minute cycle. Then you are ready to put it back.
While it’s a neat trick, it doesn’t make as much sense here as it does on a robot vacuum.
First, the mopping pads on window robots don’t get as dirty as those on robovacs, because they barely use any water. This is a great support for something that could easily be fixed by occasionally throwing the pad in the washing machine.
Second, it requires slightly less effort: you have to remove the pad to place it in the cleaner. And it’s not that self-cleaning helps the window robot operate autonomously (as is the case with the robot’s vacuum bases); You’ll still need to be around to supervise it while it cleans and pick it up to move it to each new panel for another.
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While you probably wouldn’t buy that big, bulky base solely for its self-cleaning features, it has another trick that helps strengthen the proposition.
The base also functions as a charger and power source for the window robot. Window cleaning robots generally need to be plugged in to work; They need to be light to stay sucked into the glass, so they don’t want to carry around a heavy battery.
Here, the wireless base acts as a separate battery, with a cable running from there to the window cleaner. Then recharge the base as needed.
If you have a window that is in an awkward location, far from an electrical outlet, you usually won’t be able to clean it with your robotic window cleaner. Except now you can take this base to your secluded window.
I’m still not sure it’s the most elegant solution, but it’s an interesting progression in a category that I think will become more popular.
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