Robotic vacuum cleaners have come a long way and are beginning to rival the upright models in performance. Gone are the days of bulky, obtrusive boxes that repeatedly hit the wall, and in their place are sophisticated, self-contained designs that map a room and calculate the best route.

And Dyson just filed a patent for a robotic vacuum cleaner that can actually climb stairs!

Dyson has earned a reputation for its quirky designs, which is no surprise considering some of its iconic products. From air purifiers to hair care products and, of course, vacuum cleaners, Dyson has gradually branched out into new areas and now has a presence in every market.

Dyson has already released a robot vacuum cleaner, the Dyson 360 Heurist Robot Vacuum Cleaner. However, as expected, Dyson hopes to take the design a step further by potentially releasing an innovative robot vacuum cleaner that can climb stairs.

As can be seen from the illustration of the patent published on September 1, this theoretical robotic vacuum cleaner has a "tri-star wheel" and a robotic arm. The wheels spin on the flats of each step, allowing the robotic arm to be used as leverage to push the unit up the stairs. And it would be clean in the process as well, and once down the stairs, it should be able to navigate.

As with all patents, there is no way to know if this design will make it to store shelves. Many companies apply for patents just to secure their intellectual property.

My personal experience with the Dyson 360 Heurist robot vacuum cleaner is that it performs well at sucking up trash, but struggles with intelligence. In other words, it can collect trash, but it cannot navigate as efficiently as other brands.

I believe that the quality of the original product should be further improved before exploring innovative new areas in design. Dyson has always been great when it comes to suction and air technology, but they have a long way to go when it comes to robotic technology.

As long as the concept is designed correctly, there is no reason why it should not work. The market for robotic vacuum cleaners could also expand and provide a solution for those with multiple levels in their homes.

However, the additional arms would make the design more bulky, and it is difficult to see how effectively it could clean while climbing stairs. Going up and down stairs is also likely to be a timely process. Therefore, unless the robot vacuum cleaner is moved when not at home, it could become a hindrance and a potential stumbling block. A good idea, but practicalities need to be considered.

Nevertheless, this patent certainly shows that Dyson is still a brand to watch when it comes to cleaning technology.