Narwal AMA Reveals Fleet Mode Plans, Coming Carpet Improvements and Future Priorities

Narwal hosted an AMA on the r/NARWAL subreddit from Aug. 9-13, with its CEO and founder, product team and tech team answering questions about the company’s roadmap and technology.

Narwal discussed early work on multi-robot fleet control, continued development of its wet/dry vacuum lineup and a greater focus on reliability and reduced maintenance. The company also addressed carpet cleaning, app development, mopping performance and new FCC restrictions in the U.S.

Narwal Looks Beyond More Features to Reliability and Lower Maintenance

One of the more revealing responses came when Narwal was asked what comes after LiDAR, increasingly advanced obstacle recognition, extending brushes, automated docks and ever-higher suction numbers.

Narwal's technical team said manufacturers are already getting close to what current motors, sensors and drivetrains can deliver within existing cost structures.

Rather than continuing to chase specifications, Narwal believes the next major area for improvement will be long-term reliability and reduced maintenance.

Narwal specifically pointed to the buildup of grime around wet-mopping systems and underneath the robot as an area where better long-term reliability and easier maintenance could make a meaningful difference.

Fleet Mode Is on the Long-Term Roadmap

Narwal is also exploring ways for multiple robot vacuums to work together.

The company said a "fleet mode" is on its long-term roadmap and is already undergoing early technical evaluation.

Such a system could allow multiple Narwal robots to coordinate cleaning across different areas of a home.

Narwal said the technology would require real-time map sharing, collision avoidance between robots and task coordination across multiple devices.

Carpet Cleaning Improvement Still an Area of Interest

Narwal also acknowledged continued work on carpet performance, an area where its products have generally lagged behind its competitors.

The company said carpet recognition should improve as more real-world data is incorporated and acknowledged that some carpet settings could be easier to find in the app. Narwal noted on recent models, users can now manually correct misidentified flooring and add or remove carpets.

Asked whether deeper carpet cleaning would become a bigger priority, particularly for North American homes, Narwal said additional improvements are coming but did not provide details on future hardware or a timetable.

Wet/Dry Vacuum Development Remains Active

Narwal also confirmed it is continuing to invest in its wet/dry vacuum lineup.

The company was asked specifically about the future of the product category and whether a steam-cleaning model could eventually join products such as the S20 Pro.

Narwal confirmed additional development of wet/dry vacuums, signaling that the category remains part of its broader product plans. The company did not, however, confirm a steam model or provide a timetable for one.

Stair Climbing Is Still a Long Way Off

The company said it is not currently developing a consumer stair-climbing model because reliable detection remains too susceptible to false triggers.

Narwal said considerably more long-term research would be needed before the technology could be implemented with enough reliability for everyday use.

Narwal Defends Its Mopping Performance

Several questions focused on the Flow 2 and Freo 20's track-style mopping systems, particularly their performance on dried-on or tough stains.

Narwal defended its use of 12 newtons of downward mop pressure, saying cleaning performance is not simply a matter of applying more force.

The company said other factors contribute to mopping performance and cited internal testing showing its current system performs competitively.

The company also acknowledged interest in adjusting track-mop speed when detecting dried stains. Narwal said the concept is being worked on but is not ready, stopping short of confirming a variable-speed system or explaining how it might operate.

Reusable Flow 2 Dust Box Is Still in Development

Narwal also provided an update on the reusable dust box previously shown for the Flow 2 at its European launch.

The company said the accessory is still in the development stage and is not yet ready for release.

App Improvements Will Be Gradual

Narwal acknowledged criticism that its software experience has not always matched the premium positioning of its hardware.

The company said its design team is conducting user research on the app's layout, appearance and interactions. However, Narwal does not appear to be preparing a single major redesign of its app.

Instead, the company said it favors incremental improvements delivered through regular updates.

FCC Changes Leave U.S. Roadmap Unclear

Narwal's CEO also addressed several questions about new FCC restrictions affecting foreign-produced advanced robotic devices in the U.S.

Narwal said it is closely monitoring the regulatory changes and evaluating their implications for the robotics industry and future products.

The company stressed that there is no change to the operation or support of Narwal products already sold in the U.S. Existing owners can continue using their devices normally, and support will continue.

Narwal did not disclose whether it plans to pursue conditional approvals, adjust manufacturing, change its wireless hardware strategy or take another approach to future U.S. launches.

The company said it will provide additional information as the regulatory situation becomes clearer.

More From Narwal’s AMA

The full AMA, including additional questions and responses from Narwal’s CEO, product and technical teams, is available at /Narwal.