Home robot appliance companies have hinted at this future for a while now, but it's starting to become reality: robots with arms. And not humanoid robots, either (although they're in the works, too). As robotic technology gets more sophisticated, you'll notice more devices with appendages, like the Mova AstraX lawnmower. But why?

The simple answer is that, as good as robot vacuums and mowers are now, they currently focus on obstacle avoidance. So, if a vacuum encounters a sock, or a mower spots a stray tennis ball, they'll dodge them, leaving the surface underneath untouched. Equipped with an arm, however, these smarter robots can move objects out of the way and perform their jobs more thoroughly.

It was a common theme I saw at Mova's IFA 2026 booth: robots that don't rely on a pristine environment to do their best work. Across robot vacuums, mowers, window washers, and pool cleaners, there was a lot to take in, as you can see in GadgetGuy's latest YouTube video.