So, you’ve taken the leap and invested in a pool robot. The robot cleans the pool. But then, who cleans the robot? Surprise! You do.

The AquaSense X isn’t in itself self-cleaning; that job comes courtesy of a second device—a massive machine, 42 pounds on its own—that does the heavy lifting. The AstroRinse station handles both cleanout of the debris filter and charging duties for its upstairs neighbor, the AquaSense robot.

Introducing AstroRinse: a hefty contraption with a squared-off design and telescoping arm hovering above. The process of setting it up is not for the faint-hearted; you’ll need screwdrivers, wrenches, and hoses to get everything positioned, and even then, you might find it a little daunting.

The 'quick start' guide contains 16 steps to get things running smoothly, but most of that time involves getting the AstroRinse station connected and configured. The highlights include attaching the cleaning arm to the chassis with four included hex nuts, connecting two hoses—one for water input and one for drainage—that you’ll need to position near a water source.

Beatbot’s innovation brings self-cleaning technology closer than ever, but it seems we still have a way to go before our robots can clean themselves. For now, the AquaSense X offers a promising solution to pool maintenance, albeit with an extra step for you to take care of.