Frequently asked questions

• Do I need to replace my existing curtain rail?

  No. The robot clips onto the rings of the curtain already hanging — pull a few hooks out at the mounting point, snap the motor on, and the rail and drape stay exactly where they are. No wall drilling and no electrician, which makes it renter-friendly: take it with you when you move out.
• Does it connect to my phone directly or do I need a hub?

  The ZC-RB01-A is a ZigBee 3.0 device and does NOT connect to a phone directly. For the Tuya/Smart Life app, scenes and voice you need a ZigBee gateway — a Tuya/Zigbee hub such as the Moes ZHUB or the Matter MZHUB, or any Tuya ZigBee gateway. Without a gateway the robot runs from the bundled remote and the manual pull, but it will not appear in the app.
• What curtain weight and rod diameter does it handle?

  The robot pulls up to 8 kg of fabric and mounts on straight tracks or Roman rods up to 40 mm in diameter. Measure the rod and roughly weigh the drape before ordering: above 8 kg or over 40 mm and the robot slips or labours. A centre-opening, two-way drape needs two robots, one per side.
• How long do the batteries last, and do I need a socket by the window?

  No socket is needed. The robot runs on three 1.5 V AA batteries, and the manufacturer quotes up to four months (about 120 days) of life under normal use. That means no wire to run to the window — again handy for a rental, where a socket by the window is often missing.
• Can I schedule it to open automatically with the light?

  Yes, if you have a ZigBee gateway. The robot has a light sensor and, through the Tuya/Smart Life app, supports schedules and scenes: the curtain can open itself in the morning as light rises and close in the evening. Without a gateway, scheduling and automations are not available — only manual control and the remote remain.
• How loud is it, and what happens if it hits an obstacle?

  The robot has an automatic stop-on-obstacle: if a cat, a chair or a jammed fold is in the way, the motor stops instead of forcing the fabric. It can also be started with a gentle manual pull of the curtain. Travel speed is 17 cm/s at 120 rpm, so an ordinary window opens in a few seconds.
• Does it work with any kind of curtain?

  It works with most ring-hung curtains on straight tracks or Roman rods up to 40 mm, in one-way or two-way opening. It is not made for blinds, roller shades or horizontal Roman shades — those have other mechanisms. On heavy drapes over 8 kg travel becomes unreliable, so check the weight first.