A robot lawn mower is an advanced garden equipment technology that autonomously takes care of your lawn care. Mowing, bagging, mulching, and charging—the best robotic mowers can do it all with little to no input required from you. While robot mowers in Australia may seem like new-age magic, technology has advanced significantly, and there are several smart mowers on the market today.
Our team at Mowrator is familiar with creating remote control and robotic lawn mowers. We've written this article to help you understand what a robot lawn mower is, what features it offers you, and if they're good for the environment; you've come to the right place.
Key Takeaways
- Robot lawnmowers are autonomous, sensor-driven devices that offer advanced navigation, safety measures, and smartphone connectivity for efficient lawn care.
- They require significant initial investment and regular maintenance, with limitations on handling steep slopes and certain grass varieties.
- Most models create micro-clippings that decompose naturally, eliminating the need for manual emptying.
What is a Robot Lawn Mower?
Robot lawnmowers are intelligent and autonomous mowers that use automation technology and sensors to mow your lawn without human intervention. The modern smart lawn mower is an emerging technology that has become ground-breaking— especially in Australia. While walk-behind mowers still dominate the market share at 72%, robotic lawn mowers have strong market projections and are estimated to reach $1.3 billion by 2029 according to Arizton.
What features does a Robot Mower have?
Robot lawn mowers have many unique features that set them apart from traditional lawnmowers. Advanced navigational systems, safety features, and superior operational capabilities allow your robot lawn mower to manage acres of lawn by itself, with 24/7 connectivity to your smartphone via an app. Let's take a deeper look at the features that your robotic lawnmower may have:
Advanced Navigational Systems
A robot lawnmower relies on advanced navigational systems and sensors to mow any landscape. The best robot lawnmowers have multi-system integration, combining VSLAM navigation and RTK-GNSS technology to properly position the mower in a large lawn. This combination of systems allows for centimetre-level positioning accuracy, allowing your robot to mow any lawn size and return to its charging station.
Some robot lawnmowers require the use of boundary wires to indicate where they need to cut the grass physically. If we were writing a buying guide about robot lawnmowers in Australia, we'd recommend avoiding boundary wires, as they can be quite time-consuming to set up. This is especially the case if you have multiple zones to set up.
Safety Features
An automated lawn mower requires safety features to operate correctly. Not only do safety features stop your body and pets from being injured by lawn mower blades, they also prevent your precious lawn mower from being stolen by thieves. The most prevalent safety features you'll find on mower battery-powered robot lawnmowers include:
- Pivoting blades that retract upon impact
- Automatic blade stop when mower is lifted or tilted
- Lift and tilt sensors for immediate blade deactivation
- Obstacle detection sensors that trigger direction changes
- Physical bump sensors requiring contact for detection
- Boundary wire systems to maintain operational limits
- Programmable schedule settings
- Remote monitoring via smartphone apps
- Automatic return to the charging station when the battery is low
Operational Capabilities
A robotic lawn cutter has many operational capabilities that allow it to mow several acres of land without worrying about rugged terrain or grass heights. Specific models are capable of breaking lawns into manageable sections, systematically cutting patterns into your lawn to give it an aesthetic look. The best robot lawnmowers on the market are also able to operate on slopes up to 70% gradient, cutting grass heights between 20 and 102 mm as they go.
Robot lawnmowers only mow between 2 and 5 mm of grass height each time they make a pass on your lawn. Luckily, they can mow 24/7, but you may still choose to opt for a remote-controlled lawn mower if you want to tackle overgrown and uneven lawns. A great choice is the Mowrator S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower, powered by the potent Beast™ motor and all-wheel drive that can handle up to 75% slopes (37°).
FAQs on What is a Robot Lawn Mower?
What is the disadvantage of a robotic lawn mower?
In Australia, robotic lawn mowers require a significant initial investment starting at $1,400, compared to traditional mowers available for $550, with additional maintenance costs of approximately $40 per year for replacement blades every 3 – 4 months. These mowers also struggle with Australian grass varieties like Sir Walter Buffalo, requiring more frequent blade replacements than traditional mowers, and have limitations on slopes, with most residential models only managing gradients up to 25% (14.5 degrees), while also needing regular clearing of fallen objects and debris to prevent damage.
Do robot lawnmowers empty themselves?
No, most robot lawnmowers don't empty themselves after mowing your lawn. Traditional robotic mowers, which make up most of the 25,020 units shipped in Australia in 2023, don't require emptying as they create micro-clippings that are only a few millimetres and naturally decompose to act as fertiliser for your lawn.
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