Robot lawn mower house. 3 robot lawn mower garage ideas – Ready made and DIY

robot lawn mower garage ideas – Ready made and DIY!

Looking to buy or build a garage for your robot lawn mower? We list the top 3 robot lawn mower garage ideas all important things to consider when buying – or building – a robotic lawn mower garage. If you already own a robot lawn mower, you might want to build a fitting garage to it – or buy a ready made robot lawn mower garage. But there are a couple of things you need to think about before you start. This article contains all important information on this fun subject, and a list of ready made and DIY robot lawn mower garages that you can buy or grab inspiration from. We are working on adding more garage ideas over time.

DIY robot lawn mower garage

If you are going to build your own garage you need a blueprint, tools and material. it’s not hard to do a DIY robot lawn mower garage, it just takes some time.

What do you need?

• Screwdriver
• Jigsaw and/or circular saw
• Screws
• Building material – differs depending on construction.

robot lawn mower garage ideas

• DIY: Wooden robot lawn mower garage with flower bed on top

This robot lawn mower garage has a really neat construction with rubber bands covering the opening. The robotic lawn mower can drive straight through it, and it then closes again. On top of the garage is a flower bed, making it look homier.

Ready made: Black tinted thermoplastic garage for robot lawn mowers

This robot lawn mower garage from Inlife is made out of two metal legs and a black tinted thermoplastic (polycarbonate sheet) roof. The dimensions of it are 30.3″x40.6″x18.1″ (LxWxH).

DIY: Root cellar robot lawn mower garage

This robot lawn mower garage is almost like an underground lair, but is actually built by adding a plastic sheet on top of the lawn and then adding dirt and planting grass on top of it. The image shows a 3D rendered version, but this can be done in real life with the same technique you use when you build an underground root cellar.

LUBA AWD 5000 : Perimeter Wire Free Robot Lawn Mower

Using the RTK-GNSS and Multi-sensor integrated Navigation System, LUBA AWD can map out your lawn and set up various mowing zones without you having to dig or bury wires. LUBA AWD makes the lawn maintenance a breeze for you.

RTK-GNSS and Multi-Sensor Navigation System

With the advanced four Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and RTK Technology and IMU sensors, LUBA can map and navigate in cm-level accuracy.

Powerful RTK Signal Coverage

LUBA RTK signal range can cover a radius of 120m, so LUBA can take care of even large and challenging lawns. The LUBA AWD series maintain perfect route stability even when satellite signals are poor thanks to the integration of interial navigation, odometry, and patented algorithms.

Powerful All-wheel Drive System

Featuring four powerful in-hub motors and exclusive off-road tires and suspensions, LUBA AWD Series boasts best-in-class traction and zero-turning agility. Unlike small-diameter wheel mowers, the LUBA can effortlessly handle 75% slope and traverse the most demanding terrain without getting stuck.

Take good and soft care of your lawn

Four Powerful In-hub Motors

Manage 37° steep slope and obstacle of 50mm height

Make the best off-road capability in rough terrain

Dual Cutting Plates of 400mm

In-app adjustable cutting height of 30-70mm. Never miss a cut.

Impressive Slope Mowing

LUBA AWD 5000 can mow the steep slope up to 75% (37°), and handle the complex lawns and thick tall grass.

In-APP Adjustable Blade Height

LUBA AWD’s double cutting plate with a 400mm(16 inch) cutting width allows it to cut your grass without missing any areas.

LUBA AWD 5000 is ideal for all types of lawns up to 5000㎡(1.25acres). It has a super high efficiency of mowing up to 500㎡(0.13acre) each hour, allowing your family to spend more time enjoying the picture-perfect grass.

Smart App Control Anywhere

With the Mammotion App, lawn care has never been easier.You can customize mowing tasks, and track real-time mowing status anywhere, anytime. Enjoy your vacation and Luba will take good care of your lawn.

Efficient Multi-Zone Management

With the Mammotion App, You can easily set up mowing tasks for multiple working areas, and create channels between them. Set different schedules, cutting modes and cutting heights for each mowing zone.

Planned Route Modes

Compared to the random mowing pattern of conventional robotic mowers, the planned route algorithm significantly improves Luba’s mowing efficiency. You can have it mow one direction then the other, or define angles to mow.

Smart Obstacle Avoidance

Four ultrasonic radar sensors allow the LUBA to automatically detect and avoid obstacles as small as 5cm (2 inches) with a Field of view (FOV) of 220 degrees.

Powerful Battery Auto-recharge

Luba lithium-ion battery has enough capacity to enable Luba to run 180 minutes and to mow up to 500㎡ (0.13 acre) per hour in a session. When the battery is low, it automatically returns to the charging dock, then continues the interrupted mowing session.

Easily Create No-go Zones

You can create no-go zones for plant beds or children’s playgrounds or pools in App, Luba AWD will automatically avoid them.

Automatic Rain Detection

Tiny sensors atop the Luba robot can detect when rain begins and will automatically send the mower back to the charging station.

Anti-theft System

The app will sound an alarm to notify users when there is unusual movement. Luba supports the lost feature. The original user will be informed of the current position of the lost LUBA when it reconnects to the network. LUBA cannot be used by others if the original user has not granted permission.

TüV Rheinland-certified Quality

The LUBA AWD Series robot lawn mower is committed to providing high-quality performance with TüV Rheinland-certified quality. LUBA provides a quiet mowing experience (60dB) and emissions-free lifestyle.

What Our Users Say

Luba does incredibly well on what is quite a difficult terrain. It is amazingly well built and as you can see, even manages to produce stripes.

I was really amazed at how he can mow really tall grass. Tried with a 700 m2 map, the result was outstanding.

I am super impressed so far! My rideon mower would have gotten stuck! Hats off to the Mammotion team! Great product.

Here LUBA is running on a hill where the slope varies between 15 and 35 degree.

It is doing a surprisingly great job. It cut the whole front lawn today with no interventions. It has every potential to be the leading fully automated lawnmower.

The 4 motors on every wheel have proven super useful. In my first trial, the machine hasn’t had any failures and the GPS position seems to be very accurate, even near the house.

Tech-art Aesthetics and Robust Safety

Mowing in another direction when encountering hard objects.

Stop spinning blades when Luba is lifted or unbalanced.

Smart obstacle avoidance with 220°FOV

Ensure Luba AWD easy clean with sprinklers and has absolute durability in all-weather

• Charging Station
• LUBA AWD 5000
• Power Supply
• RTK Reference Station
• RTK Reference Station Extension Cable(10m)
• RTK Reference Station Power Supply
• Extra One Set Of Blade
• Key
• Installation Kits
• Mounting Pole
• Quick Start Guide

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If the product does not work as guaranteed during the warranty period, you can request after-sales service by contacting the upcoming local MAMMOTION distributor or email us at support@mammotion.com. The main parts of the lawn mower and battery are covered under a 2-year warranty. Please note that the accessories (Charging Station and RTK Antenna) are under a 1-year warranty while blades and tires do no have warranty. The warranty period for a product is valid on the day when product(s) are delivered from local warehouse for Kickstarter backers’ orders and pre-orders, while the other orders is valid on the purchase date.

• With a perimeter wire, firstly, someone has to install it – this means extra time if you do it yourself, or extra cost if someone else does it. Secondly, the perimeter wire can be damaged by animals or someone putting a spade through it. a break in the perimeter wire can be frustrating.Thirdly, if you want to change the area to be mowed, it means re-laying the wire. Finally, if you decide to move, you need to re-laying again the wire in your new lawn.
• With Luba, forget all the above worries. You just walk with Luba along to draw vitrual bounderies, you can program your multi-cutting zones without the hassle of digging or burying the wires.
• With Mammotion APP, you can remotely preset and update the mowing parameters for each zone, as well as check Luba’s status in real-time. The APP can be used remotely to manage your lawn when you are on a vacation or business trip.
• Luba robotic lawn mower keeps your lawn carpet-like all the time. Luba cuts more frequently in 1-2cm to ensure your grass stay healthy.
• It is quiet, you can run it at any time without worrying about disturbing your daily activity or your neighbours.

Thanks to the RTK-GNSS System, users can easily create and set mowing tasks for separated mowing areas in the Smart app. as well as set channels to connect them for multi-zone management. By setting up the operation parameters of different tasks, the equipment can automatically operate in multiple areas in sequence. Luba can pass the sidewalk when the width is more than 1 meter and surroundings are not severely blocked.

RTK base station does not need to be connected to the charging station. You can put the charging station anywhere you want! If you want to install RTK station on the roof, you will need to have a separate power adapter and extension cord to power RTK reference station.

Does the entire area needs to require Wi-Fi signal or once it gets its command near its charging base it can go complete work and then come back to charge ?

Once the mission is set it get do the whole workflow itself even without Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi is to help you check the status of LUBA and receive messages remotely on your cell phone.

You can easily perform the installation yourself. A quick start guide will be included in the box. installation course video will comes.

Luba can manage multiple zones,if there is a path between these two yards, Luba can travel to the second yard and do the work automatically.

With Mammotion App, you can remotely preset and update the mowing parameters for each zone, as well as check Luba’s status in real-time.

Robot lawn mower house

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What the experts say

“Although this brand may sound unknown to some people, the Norwegian company SØMLØS is synonymous with quality and attention to detail Migliorirobot.it

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The result is impressive. The blades of grass are neatly cut off, the clippings remains in place and serves as a future source of nutrients.

We like how quiet and self-sufficient the SØMLØS G1 is

What is certain is that the Somlos itself performed quite well in the rain. A real surprise. Other models fail more

The G1 does a largely excellent job of cutting larger gardens other mowers cannot reach

The SØMLØS G1 is a premium robot lawnmower from a Norwegian start-up that means business and that business is cutting grass Lint

Made for people

In Norwegian SØMLØS means ”seamless”, which emphasize our belief in a future of more freedom through seamless integration with technology.

@daddyanddad

Without exaggeration, the G1 has blown us away; firmly taking the top spot as the best piece of family technology we’ve ever tested.

@laviecocooning

Its a little gem of technology Our lawn has never looked so beautiful 24/7. And that. It’s really lovely

@carisma_interior

A modern and innovative robot mower with the latest in technology You control everything via app, time, settings, length etc.

SEAMLESS OVER-THE-AIR, SOFTWARE UPDATES.

Your SØMLØS G1s never stops improving. Equipped with advanced over-the-air update capability for quick and easy wireless upgrades that help enhance quality, capability and enable new features.

SELF-MANAGING, WITH ADAPTIVE TERRAIN CONTROL.

The SØMLØS G1s is designed to take care of itself with the latest Adaptive Terrain Control™. Intertwined with digital tilt, lift, rain and bumper sensors it can navigate and venture your yard with ease. When the robot has perfected the lawn, it will automatically return to the dock to recharge.

EXPERIENCE A NEW LEVEL, OF ROBOTIC PRECISION.

With advanced mowing patterns that enable a level of precision that manual mowing can rarely achieve.

Featuring spot mowing, random mode, edge-cut mowing, and pivot razor blades cutting system; you can assure that every blade of grass will be chopped back to perfection.

BUILT-IN, INTELLIGENT, ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM.

While your lawn might become the envy of the street, your robot could become a target too.

However, you can rest assured it’s safe at any time with a built-in anti-theft system and alarm.

Robotic Lawn Mowers in Multi-Zones: How It Works

How does a robotic mower work across different surfaces? How does it know when and how to drive onto each area, and how does it function in these different areas? I have dealt with these questions in detail and would like to share my findings with you here. How can mowing robots mow on several differing areas? Robotic mowers have various options that allow them to mow on several surfaces. Functions such as remote start points or the passage function help them do this. But even completely separated areas can be mowed by the same robotic mower under certain conditions. In this article I would like to explain everything about mowing several different areas with a mowing robot. Of course, there is an almost infinite number of possibilities for scenarios with different areas: more than two areas, completely separated areas, areas that are partially connected, areas with large size differences and so on. So that you do not get lost in all the information, we will take things step by step.

Main, Adjoining, and Separate Areas

The terms “main zone,” “adjoining zone,” and “separate zone” are akin to the terms “main area,” “adjoining area,” and “separate area.” The terms “main zone,” “subzone” and “separate zone” are also used.

The following figure shows you how the boundary wire is laid in the case of several surfaces.

• Main area: This is the area on which the mowing robot will mainly mow. Usually this is the largest area of the lawn. In any case, the main area is where the charging station is installed; it might also be installed in the immediate vicinity, e.g. on a terrace.
• Adjoining area: This is an area of the yard that is connected to the main area, so that the mowing robot is able to reach it from the main area. The connecting passageway between the two might not even be grass: for example, the areas can be connected by a paved path on which the robotic mower can drive. The adjoining zone uses the same cabling as the main zone.
• Separate area: This area is not accessible from the main area and therefore not from the loading station of the mowing robot. There is no possibility to connect this area with the main area- it might be separated by a wall or a fence, or even on the other side of your house. If you were to create a small hole in the fence through which the robotic mower could drive, it would then become an adjoining area. The separate zone can use the boundary wire of the main zone depending on the situation. However, sometimes a separate cable must be installed.

It is of course possible that your total yard area consists of a combination of these types of areas. In addition, there may be chains of connected areas, or areas the branch off of each other. Imagine that there is a main area from which a path leads North to an adjoining area, behind which there is another adjoining area. Then you turn West, and there is another adjoining area, plus another area that branches off of that one. Can a mowing robot do that? Of course it can! You only need the right model.

Which Methods and Techniques Are Available for Robotic Mowers That Can Mow Multiple Areas?

Connected Areas

For connected surfaces there are a number of functions you should know if you want to choose the right model for your yard. I will first present them to you individually here; later I will delve into various examples and explain which techniques are suitable and why.

Multi-Zone Function

The multi-zone function is a feature that you will mainly find on Worx robotic mowers. It is used to mow several connected areas with one mowing robot, taking the different area sizes into account. This works as follows.

As you know, robotic mowers that utilize boundary wires will enclose the entire mowing area with a boundary wire. This also applies to adjoining areas. The cable is therefore drawn around all areas and a narrow corridor is left with the cable as a connection between the areas, through which the robotic mower can fit.

You can set up so-called remote start points on this cable. Most Worx models have an app in which you can activate the multi-zone function. In this app you define how many zones you want to have. In most cases you can set up to 4 zones – maybe soon there will be models with even more zones.

Then you press the button “Define zones”. The mowing robot now simply drives along the outside of the boundary wire and you follow it. Whenever you want to set a remote start point, you press a button in the app. The mowing robot remembers this point by remembering the number of meters it has travelled from the charging station.

For each zone you can define a remote start point. At the end you can then use the slider in the app to determine the percentage of mowing on each area. For example, if you have two areas and set the value for the first area to 80% and the second to 20%, the mower will spend only 20% of its time on the second area and the rest on the first area during the week.

In this video you can also see again what the whole adjustment process looks like:

On all robotic mowers that have a guide wire, the guide wire is used to show the mower the way back to the charging station. This is particularly important in complex yards where it is impossible for the robotic mower to find its way back to the charging station by chance, especially if it is located in an adjoining area.

But the guide wires also have another purpose when it comes to the Automower models. As part of the lawn coverage function, you can set remote start points on the guide wires, similar to the multi-zone function. They just don’t call themselves that with the Automowers. In the menu they are usually found under Installation. Lawn coverage. Area (1-5). There you will find the items How?, How far?, and How often?

Under How? you can determine how the robotic mower should reach the area X. You can choose which guide wire you will be setting the remote start point on.

In the section How far? you set how far the mowing robot must travel over the guide wire to reach the remote start point. In a special test mode you can also let the Automower drive over the guide wire and press STOP to measure the distance. This distance is then immediately used for the remote start point.

The section How many times? allows you to specify how often the mower should approach this point. This is also very similar to the multi-zone function. Here, for example, it makes sense if you select the percentage value so that it corresponds approximately to the area of the adjoining area as a proportion of the total lawn area.

An example: You have set up a remote start point on 3 side plots. Two of them are on the first guide wire and one on the second.

• Which cable: You can set which guide wire the remote start points are located on under How?
• Distance: Point 1 is 50 yards from the charging station, point 2 is 80 yards, and point 3 also 50 yards (How far? ).
• Frequency: With How often?you have set 30 % for both of the adjoining areas 1 and 3 and 10 % for area 2, because this is particularly small and therefore requires less “mowing time”.

The mowing robot will now not always start mowing at the charging station during the course of the week. Instead, it will drive over the guide wire to area 1 and start mowing there in 30% of cases, to area 3 in 10% of cases and again to area 2 in 30% of cases.

Lawn Coverage Function for Automowers (with GPS)

Some Automowers have GPS-assisted navigation. This is used in tandem with the lawn coverage function. I have just explained to you how you can use the lawn coverage function to manually set points on the guide wires that are located in the adjoining areas you want to mow.

If the Automower is in “GPS Auto” mode, this is not necessary. After installation, the mowing robot will randomly drive around your lawn for a few days, as well as drive over the guide wires to reach different points. During this time, it is in search mode instead of mowing mode. In this search mode the mower is switched off.

During these first few days, it collects GPS data on your yard. After a few days it will have created a digital map of your lawn. On this map, it now remembers when it last visited each location.

The Automower can also use a special resistance sensor in the mower deck to detect how high the grass has grown and can thus calculate how fast the grass is currently growing in various places in the yard. It is therefore able to create a digital map that shows not only the dimensions of your lawn, but also the current average grass growth speed in each area.

This means that you do not need to give the robotic mower any remote start points, nor do you have to give it percentages of how often it should drive to each location. It does all this completely automatically.

Sounds like pretty advanced technology, right? It is! Automowers with GPS cost a good two or three times as much as a “normal” robotic mower, generally between 2,500 and 5,000. For this price, however, they can handle the most complex yard layouts.

Separate Areas

The systems presented so far all serve the navigation of robotic mowers between connected surfaces. But what if you have areas in need of mowing that have absolutely no connection, and are separated by a wall or even a building?

In such cases, other solutions are needed, which I would like to discuss here now. Let me address one key thing before we dive into it: All these solutions require regular human intervention and do not work completely automatically, as the systems mentioned above do, which, as a fan of automation, I find to be a major drawback.

If there is no connection between two lawns, the mowing robot unfortunately cannot conjure itself from the main area to the separate area. It must be carried to the separate area in any case.

Separate Area with Common Boundary Wire

Having two separate areas does not necessarily mean that you cannot use the same boundary wire to connect them, even if, say, your house is in between. For example, if you want to connect the main area in your backyard to a separate area in your front yard, you can run the cable through the basement or through the gutter.

The boundary wire that runs around your main area is interrupted at one point because it branches off here to reach your separate area. When it arrives at the separate area, the cable runs completely around the separate area and is then led back to the main area to complete the perimeter of the main area. The following graphic shows what the whole thing can look like.

The nice thing about this is that, for once, you don’t have to make sure that the back and forth boundary wire between the main area and the separate area is far enough apart. This way you can lead it back over exactly the same distance as you led it there. If you use empty conduits for this, you can run both cables through the same conduit.

IMPORTANT: There is one thing you have to pay attention to. The cable that runs out of the main area towards the separate area on the left must also come out on the left side of the separate area. If the direction of circulation around the separate surface is reversed, the boundary wire will create an inverted magnetic field.

This causes the robotic mower to think it is no longer in the mowing area at all, when it is actually in the separate area. Contrary to the instructions, the boundary wire may cross itself, but it must then cross again to create an even number of crossings so that each wire comes out on the same side again and the current circulates the separate area in the same direction as it does in the main area.

One option to get the boundary wire to the separate area is to run the cable through the basement like I mentioned earlier. You can even use cable coverings to run the cable along the ceiling, in which case it won’t be as noticeable.

Another possibility is to take it over the house by threading it along your gutter’s downspout. For this you can also use an empty conduit which has a similar color as the downpipe. Or you can use a cable with a similar color, for example brown.

At the top you can continue it under the eaves and lead it down again on the other side.

Newer buildings may also have special cable ducts, which you can also use to guide the cable over the house.

When the construction is finished, you now have to carry your mowing robot to the other side at regular intervals and let it continue mowing there. It will not even notice that it is in another area and will continue mowing as normal. After a while, you can carry it back over to the main area where you can either leave it on the lawn or, if the battery is empty, place it in the charging station.

Separate Area with Separate Boundary Wire

There are also situations where there is absolutely no way to take the boundary wire from the main area to the separate area and back again. For example, the separate area could be on a different plot that is not connected to the plot on which the main area is located. Maybe there are other plots in between or the other area is located somewhere else. But there are solutions for this as well.

Somehow the separate area must be surrounded by a boundary wire, or the robotic mower will not start mowing. Only if it can register the signal of the boundary wire with its sensors, it knows that it is safe to mow, and drives off. Exceptions are cheaper noname models or mowing robots without boundary wire. I will come back to the latter later.

So what can you do so that the separate area also has a boundary wire? Well, there are actually only two solutions. The first is to buy a second charging station, and the second, a so-called perimeter switch, which is not available for all models of robotic mower.

Possibilities for generating a loop signal in a separate boundary wire:

For a second charging station, install the boundary wire as normal from the charging station. So it runs from the charging station, around the entire separate area and back to the charging station. With some models you may have to teach a new loop signal to the other charging station every time you move the mowing robot.

A signal transmitter or perimeter switch saves you the purchase of another charging station and the need to train the loop signal again. It replaces the charging station in your separate area and supplies power to the boundary wire there or generates the signal in the boundary wire. If you have the possibility to buy such a signal generator/perimeter switch instead of a charging station, I would definitely recommend it!

However, if you want to save yourself the hassle of carrying the mower back and forth, you should perhaps simply buy a second mowing robot if the size of the separate area justifies this investment. After all, it is your precious time that you have to invest here regularly, even daily.

Robotic Mower Without Boundary Wire

Perhaps a robotic mower without a boundary wire is just the right thing for you. If you don’t mind transporting the mowing robot regularly between the different areas, this is definitely an option you should consider.

Mowing robots without a boundary wire work, as the name suggests, without a boundary wire. They orient themselves completely with sensors that they have on board. There is also no charging station where they can dock. You must always charge them manually with a charging cable.

In addition to the shock sensors, which the mowing robots with boundary wire also have, mowing robots without boundary wire also have a so-called grass sensor. This is able to detect whether the mowing robot is currently still on the lawn or not.

However, this sensor is not nearly as reliable as a boundary wire. If you want to operate such a model, the best thing to do is to make sure that the mower is prevented from leaving your lawn by a barrier, e.g. a fence.

In addition, the grass sensor cannot distinguish between your lawn and your neighbour’s lawn. If your lawn does not have a clear boundary separating it from your neighbour’s lawn, a robotic mower without a boundary wire will simply drive over to your neighbour’s lawn to mow it.

But there is the huge advantage of having the flexibility to use your robotic mower on any lawn, because there is no need to install a cable or a charging station.

Connecting Surfaces by Tunnel Circuit

There are some areas that may technically be considered separate surfaces, but ultimately can be connected to the main surface. In these cases, the long distance or detour that the mowing robot would have to travel may make a connection seem impossible at first.

Perhaps you have a bigger yard than most, and it is separated by your house, but connected by a paved path that runs around the outside of the building.

These areas can be connected so that your robotic mower can move from one area to the other without you having to carry it over.

The two surfaces can be connected by a passage that is bordered on the left and right by the boundary wire. In the middle of the passage there is a guide wire that connects the charging station and the main area to the adjoining area, so that the robotic mower can find its way through the passage to the adjoining area in search mode.

But there is a problem: What prevents the mowing robot from driving into the passage in mowing mode and mowing there even though there is no lawn? It would spend hours there mowing and possibly not even find its way out if the passage is very narrow.

There are two tricks for that:

A: The Loop Trick

At the entrance to the passage, you can make a small loop on the left and right, which narrows the entrance to the passage considerably. Through such a loop the mowing robot can only enter the passage if it is heading straight towards it. If it arrives at an angle, it is not possible for it to drive into the passage.

If it is well done, the mowing robot then really does hardly ever drive into the passage. Only in search mode, when it wants to drive over the guide wire to the distant adjoining area, does it fit perfectly through the two loops, because it will be driving straight directly through the passage.

B: The Passage Circuit

However, if the loop trick does not seem safe enough for you and you are afraid that your mower will get caught in the passage, e.g. if you are on vacation for a longer period of time, there is also the possibility of installing a so-called passage circuit (also called a tunnel circuit).

An additional cable is installed to enclose the entire passage. This cable is connected to the boundary wire via a switch and is supplied with power. This prevents the mowing robot from driving through the passage when the switch is switched on.

The switch can either be connected to a timer or you can equip your robotic mower with a Bluetooth receiver. Then, depending on which one you chose, you can either set times when the passage is open, or your robot will connect via Bluetooth to a passage circuit and, in search mode, give the OFF command to the passage’s Bluetooth switch so that it can drive through the passage.

This video explains the problem once again:

Overcoming Height Differences Between Separate Areas

Sometimes two different surfaces cannot be driven over by the same robotic mower because there is too great a difference in height between them. Here you can consider installing a special ramp for the mowing robot, depending on the situation and the nature of the yard. However, such ramps usually only work with a proper passage circuit, as I explained in the previous section.

Now, if you don’t have a clear picture of what the whole thing could look like, here is a website of a German company that builds ramps specifically for robotic lawn mowers. They only operate in Germany though. I still have to find a company in the US that does something like this. Feel free to contact me, if you know one.

The Right Area Output of the Mowing Robot

Different models of robotic mower have different maximum area outputs. The maximum area a specific robotic mower can mow is advertised on every robotic mower. However, this specification is only valid under ideal conditions, which are almost never achieved in reality.

The information is therefore somewhat misleading to a regular person at the beginning, as you usually have to add on some area output to make sure that the mowing robot can also manage your area. Here you can read up on how to interpret the acre specification exactly.

Especially if your robotic mower mows in two or more individual areas, whether they are connected or not, you should plan for a lot more area output. If you would like to learn more about how to find the right area output for your lawn, this article should be very helpful for you.

By the way, here you can find my recommended mowing robots for different area sizes:

Related Questions

Can the perimeter wire be run underneath paving stones? The perimeter wire of the robotic mower can also be guided under paving stones. The cable can be laid up to a depth of 4 inches. On some models the cable can even be laid to a depth of 8 inches.

Can the robotic mower drive over gravel paths? You should avoid driving over gravel paths in your yard with a mowing robot. The blades and the mowing unit of the robot can be damaged by the gravel. The mower can also get stuck in the gravel, especially if it is a three-wheeled model.

Why spend weekends pushing a loud gas mower and breathing exhaust fumes? Let one of these autonomous electric mowers do the work cleanly and quietly.

By Mark Wolfe | Updated Jul 18, 2023 10:43 AM

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila

Improvements in rechargeable battery tech and intelligent software have dramatically changed the way we live. Smart televisions and lighting systems improve our sensory environment, while other automated home devices like vacuum cleaners, thermostats, and refrigerators minimize many more mundane tasks. Similarly, robotic lawn mowers can now keep the grass at just the right height, eliminating a time-consuming weekend chore.

These devices may even cost less to own and operate than gasoline-powered mowers while making very little noise and producing no exhaust emissions. They maintain up to an acre or more on most types of terrain, and they work automatically so folks with lawns have more time to relax and enjoy their green space.

No doubt, all of this sounds great—but how well do these robots actually perform? To find out, we put some popular models through their paces on real-life lawns. Read on to learn about the criteria we used to select these mowers, and then check out our product reviews to find out how each one did on our test turf. Anyone in the market for a new mower might just discover that a robot model can be a Smart, time-saving investment. R2-D2 would surely approve!

• BEST OVERALL:Worx Landroid M 20V Robotic Lawn Mower
• BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK:Gardena 15001-20 Sileno City Automatic Robotic Mower
• UPGRADE PICK:Husqvarna Automower 415X Robotic Lawn Mower
• BEST FOR STEEP HILLS:Redback MowRo 9.5-Inch Robot Lawn Mower
• BEST FOR LARGE LAWNS:Husqvarna Automower 115H Robotic Lawn Mower
• BEST FOR SMALL LAWNS:Gardena 15202-41 Sileno Minimo Robotic Mowe

Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila

How We Tested the Best Robotic Lawn Mowers

All of the robotic lawn mowers we tested use 14-gauge low-voltage wire to establish the barrier. We assembled two barriers around two 1,200-square-foot patches of lawn—one with Bermuda grass and a steep slope and one mostly flat area with centipede grass. Each test area included two large open spaces connected by a narrow bottleneck corridor, and all the mowers were tested on both test areas.

We established a daily mowing schedule for 7 days in each location. We observed the ease of programming and communication with the mower as well as its actual performance. Criteria to be included in this guide were as follows:

• Consistently reliable mowing on schedule and returning to the base station after initial setup and first-day adjustments
• Consistently navigating the narrow corridor to mow both large areas
• Avoiding random obstacles intentionally left within the boundaries
• Returning to the base station in the event of rain or sprinklers
• Avoiding excessively steep slopes without becoming stuck
• Complete coverage of the test area—no noticeable missed spots for the entire test week

Our Top Picks

We measured the following robotic lawn mowers against our shopping considerations (detailed below) and put each one to work for a 7-day home trial. Find out why we recommend them among the best robot lawn mowers available.

Worx Landroid M 20V Robotic Lawn Mower

The popular Worx Landroid robotic mower lineup includes models S, M, and L for yards up to 0.125 acre, 0.25 acre, and 0.5 acre, respectively. While they offer many similarities, we found that the Worx Landroid M offers the best combination of capability and affordability. It is powered by a 20-volt 4-amp-hour lithium-ion battery for 2 hours of runtime per 90-minute charge. It can mow on a 20-degree slope thanks to a pair of high-efficiency brushless wheel motors that provide extra traction. The Landroid’s 8-inch self-leveling mowing disc cuts closer to the edges of the yard than many competitors. The blade height manually adjusts from 1.5 to 3.5 inches.

Landroid connects to a home Wi-Fi network via Bluetooth and automatically keeps its own software up to date. You can easily set or adjust the custom mowing schedule or monitor the mower on the go via the Landroid mobile app. An integrated rain sensor stops the mower from cutting if rain starts and sends it back to its charging station.

The Landroid M performed at or near the top in most of our testing rubric categories. Assembly and programming were easy, mowing was reliable with excellent coverage, communication through the mobile app was intuitive, and runtime was superior—all for a very competitive price. Runtime was especially impressive: We clocked it at 2 hours 35 minutes, the longest of all the mowers we tested.

Unfortunately, we subtracted points for poor docking ability. Landroid was the only mower we tested with recharging contacts located on the side of the machine rather than the front or back. To recharge, it must be perfectly positioned in relation to two flexible contact points as it passes over the base station; otherwise, it continues tracking along the perimeter wire without stopping. After resetting the base station three times and ensuring it was absolutely level in all directions with a long, straight approach, we finally achieved satisfactory results.

Aside from that issue, the Landroid provides outstanding overall functionality for the price. Available upgrades include the ACS module that prevents collisions, Find My Landroid GPS cellular module, Radio Link module to extend Wi-Fi connectivity for improved artificial intelligence, an Off Limits module for wire-free no-mow zones within the main mowing area, and the Landroid Garage.

Product Specs

• Coverage area: 0.25 acre (10,890 square feet)
• Mowing height range: 1.5 to 3.5 inches
• Slope rating: 20 degrees
• Includes everything you need to get started and clear step-by-step instructions for easy installation
• User-friendly mobile app makes it simple to control the mower and check status remotely
• 2 hours of runtime per charge means more mowing and less time spent charging
• Competitive price point for a highly capable robotic lawn mower
• Base station must be installed perfectly or the mower may not align properly for charging
• Some desirable features are not included with the base kit

Get the Worx robot lawn mower at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.

Gardena 15001-20 Sileno City Automatic Robotic Mower

Anyone shopping for an affordable and uncomplicated robotic lawn mower for a small yard would do well to consider the Gardena Sileno City. It navigates slopes up to 25 percent and corridors as narrow as 24 inches wide. Plus, it works rain or shine, day or night.

Available with either a 2,700-square-foot or 5,400-square-foot maximum mowing capacity, the Sileno City is a great option for most urban landscapes. It requires a flat, level area for the charging station and a nearby power source. A low-voltage perimeter wire keeps the mower inbounds and may be configured to mow a secondary area that is isolated from the primary lawn.

You can customize the mowing height between 0.8 inch and 2 inches high by means of a manual adjustment knob. The Gardena Bluetooth app makes it easy to operate the mower or customize the schedule and other settings from any mobile device, or use the onboard control panel to make adjustments.

It took about 1.5 hours to set up the Gardena Sileno City in our testing area. The kit included everything needed to get started, along with clear instructions. We plugged in the base station and allowed the mower to charge while we installed the perimeter wire and guide wire. The guide wire is an extra wire that bisects the lawn from the base station to the most distant portion of the perimeter wire. All Gardena (and parent company Husqvarna) robot mowers use it to navigate more efficiently.

After installation, we followed the instructions to calibrate the system and program the schedule. Starting with a pre-mowed lawn, we adjusted the mower height to mow 1.5 inches high, and the yard looked great throughout the test period.

One feature that shoppers should be aware of is the maximum daily runtime of about 3.5 hours per day (for the 2,700-square-foot version that we tested). Don’t bother scheduling the mower to run more than 3.5 hours total per day since after reaching the time limit, the device will simply return home until the following day. Since we mowed no more than 2.5 hours per day, we didn’t have a problem.

Product Specs

• Coverage area: 2,700 square feet
• Mowing height range: 0.8 to 2.0 inches
• Slope rating: 14.04 degrees
• Value-priced yet feature-rich robotic mower ideal for smaller lawn areas
• Kit includes everything needed for installation and easy-to-follow instructions
• Reliably and quietly mows all kinds of grass, day or night, rain or shine
• Navigates slopes up to 25 percent and passages as narrow as 24 inches
• Preprogrammed with a daily runtime limit that stops the mower regardless of battery status
• Not Wi-Fi or GPS enabled

Get the Gardena 15001-20 robot lawn mower at Amazon or Gardena.

Husqvarna Automower 415X Robotic Lawn Mower

Here is a well-equipped mower for warm-season grasses up to 0.4 acre, especially lawns with challenging obstacles, narrow passages, and sloped terrain. With a mowing height range of 0.8 to 2 inches, the Husqvarna Automower 415X is designed for maintaining low-mow grasses like zoysia, Bermuda, and centipede. It is powered by an 18-volt 2-amp-hour lithium-ion battery that delivers a runtime of 50 minutes per charge and recharges in 60 minutes. This premium mower features a high-resolution onboard display, rugged poly front bumper, LED headlights, and coarse-tread wheels that easily handle slopes up to 40 percent.

The Automower 415X is loaded with communication and control features, beginning with cellular and Bluetooth connectivity. It is easily controlled via the Automower Connect mobile app and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home Smart devices. Husqvarna’s intelligent mapping technology uses GPS sensors to virtually map the lawn, enabling zone control with customized settings, and real-time tracking through the app. This high level of communication pairs nicely with precision control and automated features like electric height adjustment, automatic passage handling, remote location starting, spiral- and spot-cutting capabilities, wireless firmware updates, theft protection system with GPS tracking, and more.

The Automower 415X arrived for testing with everything we needed for a quick and easy DIY installation. The layout and setup were similar to the other models we tested but with the unique addition of a central guide wire running through the middle of the mowing area to assist with navigation back to the home base. Initial programming was fast and intuitive with the mower’s onboard controls. After downloading the app, we spent some time customizing mowing options, adding the targeted mowing height and spiral mowing options. Targeted mowing automatically lowered the cutting height each day until our preselected height was achieved. With spiral mowing engaged, the mower automatically detects extra-tall or dense growth and mows that isolated area in a spiral pattern. These two options were especially helpful in combination, as we needed to get our overgrown Bermuda grass under control.

Our testing lawn was an irregularly shaped area encompassing 1,200 square feet, with a tree isolated by the boundary wire near the middle and two larger lawn areas on either side. Part of the test area included a steep slope, close to 50 percent in one small area, and the 415X had no trouble. We noticed after the third or fourth mowing that the robot was making more efficient linear cuts and less frequently getting caught up in multipoint turns.

During the target-height adjustment period, the mower seemed to FOCUS more time on a section after it had been sufficiently cut, then running out of battery before fully cutting the other section. Once the target was achieved, however, daily mowing at 1.25 inches kept the grass looking great. Docking at the base station went perfectly every time. Easy setup, reliable operation, Smart tech, and a lower mowing height range make this a good choice for most small to midsize yards with warm-season lawn grass.

Product Specs

• Coverage area: 0.4 acre (17,424 square feet)
• Mowing height range: 0.8 to 2 inches
• Slope rating: 22 degrees
• Precision control features allow you to target portions of the lawn that require more attention
• GPS-assisted navigation allows the robot to mow challenging areas more efficiently
• Easily navigates obstructions like toys and lawn furniture as well as difficult terrain
• Cellular and Bluetooth connectivity make it easy to connect and control the mower remotely
• Premium price point for top-of-the-line robotic mowing technology
• Highly efficient mowing capability is offset by a somewhat limited runtime per charge

Get the Husqvarna Automower 415X robot lawn mower at Amazon or Lowe’s.