Robot lawn mowers can save a lot of effort, but there is a bit of a learning curve to getting started with a robot. I say this as someone who almost broke down while trying to test out their first lawn robot (I’m happy to say I’ve since mastered them). However, it appears that future owners could avoid this stressful step altogether, thanks to the introduction of a new type of navigation technology.
LiDAR-powered lawn robots were everywhere at CES — in fact, it’s one of the hottest tech trends for 2026. This light-based positioning system is already the standard in the best robot vacuums, and now it looks set to overtake this market as well. I had the opportunity to speak with Tony Ho, Vice President of Business Development for Segway Navimow, about this particular advancement and why it’s so important.
LiDAR works by projecting beams of light, using time-of-flight sensors to measure the time it takes for those beams to bounce back. Then, using this information, it determines where objects are positioned, allowing it to create a 3D map of a space.
Segway Navimow has introduced i2 LiDAR as part of its new i2 line of compact lawn robots, and it’s far from the only robot lawn mower brand to take this approach. From the Roborock
Why is Lawnbot LiDAR so important?
While LiDAR isn’t perfect for all scenarios (I’ll discuss its limitations below), it does have some major advantages. You won’t need to find a place to live an RTK station; you won’t have to worry about losing your robot every time a tree blocks the satellite signal; and you certainly won’t need to lay any boundary wires. Since LiDAR generates its own light beams, it will also work in the dark.
In some situations, you will be able to unbox your new lawn robot, place it on the ground and it can simply determine its surroundings and start mowing. “The LiDAR itself can basically map,” Tony explains. “SO [it’ll] locate the robot and automatically map the lawn. » A few brands market this as a variation of “drop and mow,” and it’s undoubtedly appealing.
“LiDAR actually likes obstacles. It’s like humans: we look for landmarks, right? So when we try to navigate, we say, ‘Hey, this building is here, this tree is over there, so I’m home,’ or something like that,” Tony explains. “It’s a very similar concept when you first release the robot. It looks for obstacles and uses that information to determine where it is. Then the next time it’s in the same place, it knows where it is. And once it knows where it is on the map, it can start planning its path.”
Removing this issue from the setup process could have major implications for the broader market. Specifically, Tony believes it could remove the barrier to entry that prevents lawn robots from being widely adopted.
“Even though the current product is already pretty easy to use, some people will say, ‘Hey, I wanted it to be foolproof. Basically, I don’t want to worry about it,'” Tony says of the current setup process. “This LiDAR product will solve many problems. Consumers will adopt [robot lawn mowers] faster.”
“LiDAR is perfect for small construction sites with obstacles,” he continues. “We love [the i2 LiDAR]. It’s literally worry-free.”
Limitations of LiDAR
LiDAR is not really suitable for use in large open construction sites. “If you have a big open space, the light beams don’t have anything to bounce off of,” says Tony (a rep tells me you can actually get long-range LiDAR, but it’s currently too expensive to be a feasible solution in products like this).
Fortunately, these types of obstacle-free areas are particularly well suited to other navigation technology. “Once you get out into open space, the best technology to use is satellites,” Tony continues. This means that on lawn robots designed for larger areas – including those like the Segway Navimow X4 – you’re more likely to see traditional satellite and RTK navigation.
In fact, many modern lawn robots combine different navigation technologies, so that in situations where one fails, another can take over.
Part of the reason we are now seeing (shorter range) LiDAR in lawn robots is that, while it used to be very expensive, it is now starting to be manufactured more widely and so prices have come down.
There is a mix of two different types: mechanical LiDAR, where the module sits above the robot, under some sort of lightweight protective casing; and “solid-state” LiDAR, where the LiDAR module is stored within the body of the lawn robot. The mechanical option is more exposed and arguably more susceptible to damage, but it provides a 360-degree “view” of the area, which the solid-state version lacks. As for what works best for navigation, there’s no clear answer yet – we’ll have to get into testing and reporting back.
Either way, it’s certainly an exciting time for robot lawn mowers.
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