86 Curtain Robot

The Arklyfe 86 Curtain Robot is the cheapest path to a smart curtain in the Arklyfe range: a clip-on robot that turns an existing manual curtain into a smart one in seconds, without replacing the track, drilling into the pelmet, or running any new wiring. It is the entry-tier product for renters, students, granny flats, holiday rentals and anyone curious about smart curtains who is not ready to commit to a full motorised track. Shipped from Melbourne, it works with most standard curtain tracks already installed in Australian homes.

Before choosing a retrofit, check the track or rod, curtain details and mounting space using our curtain motor buying checklist.

The installation story is genuinely as simple as it sounds. The robot clips onto the existing curtain track, grabs the curtain, and pulls. Within a minute of unboxing, the curtain you already own becomes openable from your phone, voice assistant or a scheduled scene. If the power drops out, the robot disengages cleanly and the curtain can still be operated by hand. The right behaviour for an Australian home where storms occasionally take out the grid, and where you would rather not be locked out of opening a curtain on a 40°C afternoon.

For households not ready to commit to a full track replacement, the 86 is the practical product. Move to a new rental? The robot clips off and travels with you, leaving no holes. Want to test which rooms genuinely benefit from automation before buying the more expensive mains-powered or Matter-certified motors elsewhere in the Arklyfe range? Start with the 86 in one room. It is positioned as the entry point. The trade-off is curtain weight capacity, which is lower than the dedicated motor lineup. For sheers, light blockouts and most apartment-grade curtains, that is rarely a problem.

✓ Clip-on, no track replacement, manual fallback during outages. Shipped from Melbourne. 12-month warranty. Free shipping on orders over $199. | Compare the full Curtain Motor range →