What Is HybridSense® AI Vision? How Pool Robots Work

Keeping a pool clean should be straightforward today. Yet many pool owners still encounter the same issues, even when using robotic pool cleaners. Steps are not fully cleaned, debris collects in corners or on ledges, and after a complete cleaning cycle there is still work left to do. In most cases, this is not a matter of suction power or brushes, but something more fundamental: the robot does not know what to expect inside the pool.

This is where HybridSense® AI Vision comes into play. The technology allows a pool robot not only to detect its surroundings, but to understand them in a structured way and respond accordingly. Instead of following fixed routes or random movements, the robot operates based on informed decisions. It recognises pool shapes, depth changes, obstacles and debris, and adjusts its cleaning behaviour to match.

What is HybridSense® AI Vision

Beatbot HybridSense® AI Vision is a sensing concept that enables pool robots to understand their environment as a complete system rather than as isolated data points. It is not a single sensor or a standalone feature, but an integrated system in which multiple types of sensors work together and are evaluated as a whole.

Specifically, HybridSense® AI Vision combines an AI-powered camera with ultrasonic and infrared sensors. The camera provides visual information, ultrasonic sensors measure distances, edges and pool contours, and infrared sensors support spatial orientation, particularly in complex pool structures. What matters is not the number of sensors, but how their data is combined.

All sensor data flows into a shared environmental model processed by the internal AI system. As a result, the robot no longer reacts only to individual obstacles, but recognises relationships. It understands whether it is dealing with a step, a platform, a pool edge or debris, and adapts its behaviour accordingly.

For pool owners, HybridSense® AI Vision can be summed up simply: the robot no longer follows a fixed pattern, but makes decisions based on what it actually perceives in the pool. This is the fundamental difference between traditional navigation and a pool robot that actively interprets its surroundings.

How HybridSense® AI Vision works

Trained on real pools, not simulations

HybridSense® AI Vision is built on AI trained using real-world conditions. Instead of relying on theoretical models or idealised simulations, the system was trained with more than 200,000 real underwater recordings from actual pools. These data sets come from different countries and climate zones and reflect real usage environments.

Both simple and complex pool designs were included, such as pools with steps, ledges, seating areas, varying depths and custom geometries. Seasonal changes were also considered. The AI is familiar with pollen in spring, insects in summer, leaves in autumn and fine seeds or particles at other times of the year. This allows the robot to learn recurring patterns rather than isolated scenarios.

Multiple sensors, one shared understanding

Another key element is how the sensors work together. HybridSense® AI Vision combines data from an AI camera with ultrasonic and infrared sensors. These inputs are not analysed separately, but merged into a single model. This creates a clear picture of the pool environment, even when underwater visibility is limited.

Through this sensor fusion, the robot achieves centimetre-level accuracy under water. Pool edges, steps and platforms are detected reliably, and distances are assessed precisely. On this basis, the robot can continuously adapt its movements and cleaning strategy instead of following a rigid routine.

In practical terms, this means the robot does not guess or react randomly. It recognises situations known from real pools, classifies them correctly and makes informed decisions throughout the cleaning process.

Why this technology truly matters

HybridSense® AI Vision does not improve pool cleaning through isolated features, but by changing the overall experience. Many of its benefits become apparent in everyday use, when the pool robot operates reliably and requires far less attention.

What improves noticeably in daily use

• More targeted cleaning
  The robot focuses on areas where debris is actually present instead of treating every surface the same.

• Safer navigation
  Pool edges, steps and platforms are detected reliably, reducing the risk of getting stuck or slipping.

• More efficient routes
  Intelligent path planning avoids unnecessary overlaps and long idle movements.

• Shorter cleaning cycles
  Cleaning programmes are adjusted to the real condition of the pool and do not run longer than needed.

• Lower energy consumption
  Fewer unnecessary movements mean more efficient energy use.

• Less manual intervention
  The robot needs to be restarted, repositioned or checked far less often.

• Greater confidence in the result
  Cleaning becomes more consistent and transparent, making it easier to trust the outcome.

Overall, HybridSense® AI Vision turns pool cleaning from a constant supervision task into an automated process that works reliably in the background.

SonicSense™ vs. HybridSense® AI Vision

Both technologies aim to guide the pool robot safely through the pool and prevent collisions. The difference lies in how much the robot actually understands. SonicSense™ helps the robot detect obstacles and orient itself more effectively. HybridSense® AI Vision goes further by enabling the robot to perceive the pool as a whole, classify debris and actively adjust its cleaning strategy. In everyday use, this results in greater reliability and less manual involvement.

Direct comparison

SonicSense™ improves basic navigation. HybridSense® AI Vision changes how the robot perceives the pool and how intelligently it cleans. For more complex pools and higher expectations, this difference becomes clearly noticeable in everyday use.

Which pool robots use HybridSense® AI Vision and who they are suited for

HybridSense® AI Vision is implemented differently depending on the model. Both pool robots are based on the same core technology, but are designed for different levels of automation and pool complexity.

AquaSense 2 Ultra

Introduced in 2025, the AquaSense 2 Ultra was the world’s first pool robot with integrated AI Vision technology. It marked the first practical application of HybridSense® AI Vision in everyday pool cleaning.

What HybridSense® AI Vision enables on the AquaSense 2 Ultra:

• Precise mapping of the pool environment
• Active obstacle detection around steps, edges and fittings
• Intelligent, floor-focused cleaning adapted to pool structure

Suitable for:

• Pool owners upgrading from standard or mid-range pool robots
• Pools with steps, ledges or more complex layouts
• Those who value reliability and reduced manual intervention

AquaSense X

Launched in 2026, the AquaSense X represents the next development stage, combining HybridSense® AI Vision with Beatbot AI 2.0. The focus is on a higher level of autonomy and adaptability.

What HybridSense® AI Vision enables on the AquaSense X:

• Recognition of up to 40 types of debris across the pool floor and water surface
• Advanced adaptive path planning in real time
• A significantly higher level of automation with minimal oversight

Suitable for:

• Pool owners who want their pool to stay clean with minimal attention
• Pools with multiple levels and changing debris conditions
• Those with high expectations for comfort and system autonomy

In summary, AquaSense 2 Ultra brings AI Vision into everyday pool maintenance, while AquaSense X builds on the same foundation and pushes it further towards maximum autonomy.