The world of smart technology continues to expand across multiple industries. Case in point is the rise of robotic lawn mowers. Here, we examine how the technology works and what safeguards are in place to keep them safe around your loved ones. We'll also take a look at the current lawnmower robots on the market.

What They Can Do

There are many benefits to owning a robotic lawn mower. At the top of that list, not surprisingly, is the ability to have your grass cut without doing the job yourself. They are also electric, making them better for the environment than traditional gas-powered devices, meaning no nasty emissions. (Better still, the robots go back to their charging station as needed).

Healthy Grassy Lawn Needs to Be Mowed

You'll also find that robotic lawn mowers are designed to cut grass in small pieces at a time. As Wired once observed, they cut "a small amount of grass over a long period, like getting a haircut every few hours for a month." This type of cutting means you won't need to rake the clippings. Instead, they add fertilization back to the soil.

Doesn't this mean it takes more time to get the grass cut? Yes, but only when you compare it to traditional grass cutting. These robots are workhorses, and they'll cut the grass to get the job done. Better still, they are quiet enough to get their job done in the middle of the night. Another benefit: Robotic lawn mowers can even cut the grass when it rains.

Where to Go?

Robotic vacuum cleaners like Roomba (CA) use cone-shaped plastic beacons to indicate where to work. Robotic lawn mowers follow a similar concept, using GPS tracking to work. In this case, you set up perimeters around your home using wires, which tell the robot where to cut and identify those areas to avoid. You can also establish no-mow zones so the machine can avoid objects like trees, lawn ornaments, or a fire pit.

Another important point is that you can schedule when your robotic lawn mower operates, courtesy of a smartphone app.

Safety First

Regular lawn mowers can be extremely dangerous to operate. In one quick move, you could lose a limb or worse, your life. By comparison, robotic lawn mowers are extremely safe, even though they still have dangerous blades underneath.

Built-in safety features such as collision detection systems prevent robotic mowers from bumping into obstacles. Better still, high-tech sensors turn the blade off when objects get close or whenever you lift the machine. These features help to alleviate accidents and injuries to children, adults, and pets alike.

Robotic Lawn Mowers Worth Considering

So what's the catch? Current-generation robotic lawn mowers are extremely expensive, as you'll see in the list below.

Husqvarna Automower 450x

The Husqvarna Automower 450x (Amazon US, CA) is ideally suited for large and complex lawns. Large course-treaded wheels provide traction even if the surface is slippery, with the mower handling slopes up to 45 percent. The device cuts using sharp razor-like blades made of carbon steel mounted on a cutting disc system. These blades provide efficient operation and low energy consumption.

Robotic Lawn Mower Husqvarna Automower 450x

Weighing 31 pounds, the Husqvarna Automower 450x cuts a 9.45-inch wide path, up to 0.25 acres. The cutting blade is adjustable up to 2.4 inches. It runs 260 minutes on one charge, with charging time of 75 minutes.

The Husqvarna Automower features an integrated alarm system that tells you if it's been taken off your property. You can also add a PIN code that must be activated before it can run.

Looking for something less expensive? Husqvarna offers other robotic lawn mowers starting at $2,000. These offer fewer features than the company's most expensive model. Nonetheless, these are ideal for homeowners with smaller yards.

Robomow

Robomow (Amazon US, CA) currently offers four robotic lawn mowers, ranging in price from $1,000 to $2,100. The company's most expensive model, the RS630, features a mowing width of 22 inches, up to 0.75 acres. The cutting blade is adjustable up to 3.1 inches, with slopes up to 36 percent.

Robotic Lawn Mower Robomow RS630

At 44 pounds, the Robomow RS630 is the heaviest mower on our list. It can run 50 to 70 minutes before needing a charge.

Bosch Indego

The Bosch Indego [No Longer Available] (CA) (approximately $2,500) robot lawn mower uses technology to map your lawn area and then decides on the most efficient route to mow. Because you don't know Bosch's path, it's best to clear your entire lawn of objects such as footballs, bicycles, and lawn ornaments, before getting started.

Robotic Lawn Mower Bosch Indego

Weighing just under 25 pounds, the Bosch Indego robot lawn mower cuts a 10-inch wide path, up to 0.25 acres. The cutting blade is adjustable up to 2.5 inches. It runs 50 minutes on one charge, although like other robotic lawn mowers, it charges itself automatically.

Like other devices on our list, the Bosch features an integrated alarm system.You can also add a PIN code that must be activated before it can run.

Landroid M

The Landroid M (Amazon US) Cordless Robotic Lawn Mower is the most affordable robot on our list at just under $1,000. Some would argue it's also the smartest since it uses an artificial intelligence algorithm to allow it to navigate narrow passages.

Featuring a user-friendly control panel, the Landlord M includes a rain sensor, Anti-theft system using a security PIN, and can mow rugged landscapes up to a 20-degree incline or decline.

Robotic Lawn Mower Landroid M

Weighing 20 pounds, the Landroid M cuts a 7-inch wide path, up to 0.25 acres. The cutting blade is adjustable up to 4 inches. It can cut a 1,000 square meter area on a single charge.

LawnBot LB300EL

Robotic Lawn Mower LawnBot LB300EL

The cutting blade on the LawnBot LB300EL measures 14 inches wide, with a maximum height of 3 inches. It can manage a hill or slide of up to 25 degrees.

A beast at 43 pounds, the LawnBot LB300EL mower can run up to 10 hours between charges. On the downside, it takes six hours to achieve a full charge.

Final Thoughts

Many folks love to cut their lawns. Others absolutely hate it. Depending on your needs, you might want to consider a robotic lawn mower. They are much better for the environment than traditional push mowers and are safer. They are also more expensive. Luckily, there are many robotic lawn mowers on the market from which to choose are various price points.

Have you used a robotic lawn mower? Tell us what you think below.