Simply press a button, and the lawn mower begins to move at a steady pace along the line, leaving fine clippings on the lawn. Sounds nice, right?
Robot lawn mowers in Canada have gradually become a thing, especially in recent years. Still, many people are on the fence when it comes to buying a robot lawn mower.
How does a robot mower work? Does it really do what you want? Robot lawn mowers are much more advanced, but they aren't complicated to understand. This article provides an introduction to everything you need to know about how a robot lawn mower works and beyond.
What Is a Robot Lawn Mower?
A robot lawn mower is a robot that can autonomously mow the lawn. It uses advanced positioning and navigation technologies (such as NRTK, LiDAR, and Vision) to define lawn areas and plan paths. It typically comes with an AI vision system to identify and avoid obstacles, such as pets and toys, enabling efficient, safe, and intelligent mowing without human intervention.
Compared to traditional lawn mowers, robot lawn mowers provide a more convenient and efficient lawn mowing experience.
Basic Components of a Robot Lawn Mower
To learn more about a robot lawn mower, here's a list of its basic components:
Control / Navigation System: It's the brain of a robot lawn mower, consisting of various kinds of microprocessors and sensors, including ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, GPS modules, etc., making the machine autonomous and competent to avoid obstacles, create a virtual map of the lawn, and implement a customized mowing schedule.
Cutting Mechanism: Robot lawn mowers usually feature blades made of high-strength materials that can cut grass at a set height, creating clippings as a natural fertilizer. And the cutting deck lets you adjust the cutting height based on your lawn conditions and your preference.
Power Supply: Robotic lawn mowers are usually powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and equipped with wheels and drive motors to move forward, backwards, and rotate. Some models will automatically return to the charging station when the battery is low, ensuring they're always ready for the next mowing cycle.
Wheels & Traction System: The most substantial component in a robot lawn mower is usually its wheels, which are made of tough materials with grooves, enabling them to move over different kinds of terrains. The motor inside, together with a traction system, drives the wheels.
How Do Robot Lawn Mowers Work?
Probably, you already have a rough idea about how a robot lawn mower works after learning its basic components. Listed below is a summary of how it works.
Setting Up
Set up the boundary for the robot mower to mow, so it won't go into unwanted areas. You may install a perimeter wire or use GPS to create an invisible "fence" around the lawn through the app, depending on the specific model you're using.
Modern wire-free robot lawn mowers can map your whole lawn automatically. You just need to drop them on the lawn, and they do everything on their own. And you can check the boundaries and fine-tune through the app.
Next, you can set up specific mowing schedules. This gives the mower the autonomy to operate during set times, maximizing efficiency and minimizing disruption.
Mowing Process
Once set up, you can leave the mowing to the machine. The robot mower will map the lawn and plan optimal paths to ensure complete and even coverage without random bouncing. Usually, they will move in a systematic pattern with the help of GPS navigation.
Returning to the Charging Station
When the cutting cycle is complete or when the battery is low, the robot lawn mower will automatically return to its storage and charging station, if there is one. A lawn mower garage is recommended since it can protect the mower from the weather and keep it in good condition for the long term.
Maintenance
From time to time, clean the mower deck to improve airflow, prevent rust, and maintain cutting efficiency. Also, check whether there's damage. Over time, the blade may get dull, or some nuts may get loose. Fix the problem once you spot it.
Types of Robot Lawn Mowers
Robot lawn mowers can be categorized into two types based on how they set up the boundary: wire-guided and wire-free. Both can operate autonomously and handle lawns of different sizes.
Wire-Guided Lawn Mowers
As the name implies, a wire-guided lawn mower uses a perimeter wire, buried or laid above ground, to define the mowing area. This wire emits a signal that the mower detects, ensuring it stays within the designated boundaries.
While this installation can be labour-intensive, it allows the mower to navigate precisely within the designated space. Moreover, you can easily change the lawn boundaries whenever needed.
Wire-Free Lawn Mowers
On the other hand, wire-free robot lawn mowers employ AI and intelligent navigation systems to automatically map the yard. Most wire-free models feature NRTK, LiDAR, or vision-related AI algorithms to detect boundaries and avoid obstacles, creating an optimal path for efficient, care-free lawn care.
Benefits of Robot Lawn Mowers
Many people prefer robot lawn mowers because they outperform traditional mowers in so many respects. Here's a summary of some important benefits that robot lawn mowers provide.
Time-Saving
The biggest advantage of using a robotic lawn mower could be that it frees you from manual operation. You can sit in your room and enjoy your reading while the mower is doing its job in the garden, just as expected.
Efficient Cutting
Through an optimal path guided by advanced technologies, robot lawn mowers can provide a finer cutting with greater coverage, improving the overall lawn condition in the long run. And the fine clippings return nutrients to the soil to ensure a healthy lawn.
Quiet Operation
Battery-powered robot mowers are generally much quieter, operating with noise levels of around 55dB to 70dB, given that electric motors produce less noise than internal combustion engines found in gas-powered mowers, which can generate noise levels over 90dB. Some robot lawn mowers are so quiet during operation that you can even run them at night without worrying about disturbing the neighbourhood.
Less Maintenance Effort
As mentioned earlier, robot lawn mowers are self-charging, so they require less upkeep than gas mowers. Not to mention, most models are proof against water, dust, and sunlight, ensuring their longevity.
Environmentally Friendly
Obviously, robot lawn mowers produce zero emissions because they are battery-powered, making them a sustainable option for lawn carers. On the other hand, the clippings they produce will be left on the lawn to act as a natural fertilizer. Your garden matters, so does clean air, and your carbon footprint.
It goes without saying that buying a robot lawn mower will be a good investment since it offers so many benefits. With an advanced navigation system, the mower can offer inch-level precision without boundary wires as well as identify and navigate around numerous obstacles. They can even mow on inclines, and some mowers can also handle steep slopes that other mowers can't.
Also, these mowers are waterproof and capable of detecting the weather conditions, so when it's raining, they will pause operation and return to their charging dock.
Related Reading: Are robot lawn mowers worth it?
How to Choose the Right Robot Lawn Mower for Your Needs?
Robot lawn mowers offer so many benefits that they're preferred by homeowners. However, before making a purchase, there are several important factors to consider.
Lawn Size
Each mower comes with blades and batteries designed for specific lawn sizes. Go beyond that capacity, and you're dealing with an underpowered machine. At Navimow, we offer a wide range of mowers, suitable for residential and commercial use, ranging from 0.15 acres to 6 acres. Check out the Navimow buying guide to land on the right mower for your needs.
Navigation System
Pay special attention to how the mower navigates. Different models use different technologies, and understanding their strengths can make all the difference. Our mowers employ EFLS™ (Exact Fusion Location System), which combines GPS positioning with advanced sensors for centimetre-level accuracy.
Cutting Width and Height
Cutting specifications also matter. Evaluate how high and how wide it can cut. If we talk about our, they offer cutting widths (7.1 to 10 inches) and adjustable cutting heights from 0.75 to 4 inches.
Terrain
Consider the layout. If your terrain is complicated with obstacles such as trees or flower beds, choose a model that can navigate complex environments. For extreme complexity, mowers with LiDAR are great. Similarly, if your outdoor space is full of pebbles and sand, pick a mower with big, grippy wheels that can handle uneven surfaces.
Navimow models come with AWD (All-Wheel Drive) that completely solves that problem. Not only that—they can handle slopes up to 40 degrees (84%), which makes them ideal for sloppy, hilly yards.
Maintenance
Check the maintenance requirements of the mower carefully. An easy-to-maintain mower can save you tons of trouble and cost in the long-term perspective. So don't forget to check whether the manufacturer provides blade replacement, general upkeep, and a reliable warranty, so you won't freak out even when something goes wrong, and you are not that tech-savvy.
Smart Features
Smart features such as scheduling and voice control via smart home systems like Alexa would be a bonus, as they allow you to remotely start, stop, or monitor the mower when you're in other parts of the world. If you fancy a specific smart feature, pick a model that is smart enough to do what you want.
Budget
Last but not least, robot lawn mowers come with different prices, which are mainly decided by the size it can handle, how intelligent it is, and how easy it is to operate and maintain. While the good ones usually cost more, it's a good investment if you consider the maintenance fee that you can save. And a premium lawn mower with easy maintenance usually lasts for at least five years, which means you don't need to keep on buying new ones.
A Look at Navimow’s Top Robot Lawn Mowers
We've had a lot of explanations of how a mower works... let's switch gears and explore what's actually out there. Here at Segway Navimow, we have the i Series, X Series, and H Series, each with multiple sub-models for different yard sizes and needs.
Navimow i Series: Smart Mowers for Small/Mid-Sized Lawns
The Navimow i2 Series is designed to simplify lawn care. This lineup covers yards from 0.15 acres up to 0.37 acres, so whether you've got a compact backyard or something a bit roomier, there's a model that fits.
One of the latest models in this is i2 AWD (0.15–0.25 acre). This is an AWD robot mower built for small to mid-size yards. Powered by Xero-Turn™ all-wheel drive, it handles slopes up to 45% (24°) and navigates uneven terrain without tearing up your lawn.
Another variation is the i2 LiDAR, which covers a lawn up to 0.37 acres. What's more is the ultra-precise solid-state LiDAR navigation, which scans around 200,000 points to create a precise map of the yard. It's also proven for yards with lots of obstacles.
Navimow X Series: Large Yard Masters
The X4 Series (1–1.5 acres) is our latest in this category. Four-wheel drive with turf-safe Xero-Turn™ AWD that handles difficult terrain and slopes up to 40° (84%). With its MowMentum™ triple efficiency tech, which includes a 17-inch cutting width, 2.7 ft/s speed, and ultra-fast charging, it spends more time cutting (covers the whole yard in a day) and less time docked.
Navimow H Series: Premium Mowers for Complex Yards
The Navimow H2 Series handles complex lawns with great precision. The reason is the AI Triple Fusion system that combines LiDAR, NRTK, and Vision navigation technologies. No matter how many obstacles there are in the lawn, the mower knows how to handle everything. It mows under trees, in open yards, and in total darkness. It offers incredible efficiency and detects 200+ obstacles for safe mowing.
FAQ
How do robotic mowers know where to cut?
Wire-free robotic mowers use advanced navigation technologies like NRTK, LiDAR, and vision. They can map your whole lawn, including the boundaries, flowerbeds, and lawn items, and mow every corner precisely.
Where does the grass go in a robot lawn mower?
A robot lawn mower cuts fine clippings. They fall directly on the grass and land on the soil. Within 24-48 hours, they break down and turn into a natural fertilizer that provides your lawn with the essential nutrients it needs. Thus, there is no need to bag clippings.
Why are robotic lawn mowers the sustainable choice?
Robotic lawn mowers are powered by rechargeable batteries instead of gas, so they produce zero emissions, making them an environmentally-friendly choice for lawn care.
Conclusion
Now, hope you are clear about how a robot lawn mower works. To summarize, robot lawn mowers are a blend of navigation technology, cutting mechanisms, safety features, and smart connectivity. They simplify lawn care by providing an efficient and user-friendly solution for homeowners. It's time to revolutionize gardening with a robot lawn mower!