ROBOT MOWERS
Robot Mowers
At Plough Barn we are currently running 3 robot mowers. A Segway Navimow 800E, a Husqvarna Automower 430X Nera and a Mammotion Luba 1 AWD 5000. Each have their strengths and weakness in terms of grass cutting operation and app usability. Also I would say, each is worth buying.
All 3 mowers are GPS mowers so do not require boundary wires. This is really useful in our ever changing environment of planting and changing landscape. These mowers are used to mow an intricate area of patios and boundaries, several large grass areas and a field of pathways, even a putting green, so get a good and varied use, giving us the opportunity to assess them in different environments.
A full detailed review off each is available on the links in the panels below. A summary of key points follows.
One thing to keep in mind with robot mowers. Dont expect to only use them once a week. Robot mowers work best when used often. the smaller pieces of grass they take off the better so think of them as electric sheep, that just continually graze.
Cutting Systems
Both Segway and Husqvarna use a single orbital cutting disc with 3 blades. The Husqvarna has an additional skid plate over the discs which seems to help prevent "snagging". The Mammotion Luba uses two cutting discs each with four blades, giving 8 in total. The cut width of the Segway is 210mm, the Husqvarna is 240mm and Luba is a massive 400mm. You would think that with the offset segway cutter and almost full width Luba cutter they would give good edge cutting, but in reality with a gps robot mower you always have to stay a little bit away from the edge for GPS issues so you still have to manually edge cut with your good old lawn mower, accept it and move on.
One thing to keep an eye on all robot mowers is grass build up under the mower. Ideally only cutting grass when it is perfectly dry is the best situation, but given we live in the UK and Plough Barn is 1,000 feet above sea level, showers and morning dew have to be taken into consideration. The Husqvarna accumulates the least grass, then the Navimow and then the Luba. We have modified our Luba which improves grass build up quite dramatically. (more info on detail pages below).
With regard to quality of cut all 3 are good. The Segway Navimow needs regular outings with its narrow cut. The Husqvarna again needs regular outing but can give a finer cut with is minimum 20mm height, (we use this on the 'Putting Green'). The Luba with its app option of cutting height, cutting width and cutting speed gives you the ability to choose between speed or quality of cut. If you have a big area this is great for going over really slowly when trying to get grass down or get a fine finish, once down to required level you can then whip up the speed and path width to shorten the job.
Segway Navimow
What we like
- Ease of setting up an area to mow.
- Ease of changing an area. This is really simple
- Pausing or starting, or continuing a mowing task
- Mowing schedule set up
- Mowing schedule control
What we dont like
- Nothing really.
Husqvarna Automow
What we like
- Ease of making small changes to an area.
- Pausing or starting, or continuing a mowing task
- Mowing schedule set up
- Mowing schedule control
What we dont like
- Ease of making large changes to an area.
Mammotion Luba
What we like
- Ease of setting up an area to mow.
- Ease of changing an area.
- Pausing or starting, or continuing a mowing task
- Options for height, speed and path width and direction
What we dont like
- Mowing schedule control
- Slow app response time
- poor connection
Summary Table
| Navimow H800E | 450X Nera | Luba AWD5000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | £1200 | £5500 | £2900 |
| Cut width | 210mm | 240mm | 400mm |
| Cut height | 30-60mm | 20-60mm | 30-70mm |
| Rain Sensor | Yes | No | Yes |
| Charge Time | 180 min | 40 min | 150 min |
| Mow Time | 180 min | ? | 3 Hr |
| Rec Area | 800m² | 7,500m² | 5,000m² |
| App rating | 9/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Connectivity | 8/10 | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Good Points | Great App, reliable, easy start, stop, zone pick and schedule, rain snsor | Reliable work horse (just gets on with it), low 20mm cut, better now it can mow in different patterns. | wide cut, great stripes, app flexibility with cut height, speed, pathways, and path widt |
Segway H800E Navimow
Husqvarna 450X Nera with Nera EPOS Reference Module
