Wire-free & RTK, explained
Wire-free robot mowers are the biggest shift in lawn care in years, and the most misunderstood. Here's the honest, cited buyer's guide.
Wire-free robot mowers replace the buried perimeter wire with software. You draw the mowing boundary once in an app, and the mower holds it using satellite RTK positioning or camera vision. The trade-off is accuracy versus sky view: RTK needs a clear view of the sky to stay precise. To compare the models by price, coverage, and slope, see the robot mowers.
This is background, not a product.
This page explains how wire-free and RTK robot mowers navigate without a perimeter wire, and the trade-offs to know before buying. It is not a product to purchase. For the mowers themselves, see the robot mowers.
What to know before you buy
The facts that decide whether a wire-free mower fits your yard. Each links to the source that states it.
- 1
Wire-free robot mowers stay inside a boundary you draw once in an app, using satellite RTK positioning or camera vision instead of a buried perimeter wire. There is no wire to lay, cut, or repair. Segway Navimow
- 2
RTK gives centimetre-level accuracy but needs a clear view of the sky. Heavy tree cover can weaken the satellite fix, which is where added camera vision, or a beacon-and-LiDAR system like the Ecovacs Goat G1, keeps a mower on track. Ecovacs
- 3
Slope capability varies widely. Most models are rated to about 45% grade, while all-wheel-drive models such as the Mammotion Luba 2 AWD climb up to 80% grade. Mammotion
- 4
Coverage ratings are for an open lawn. A complex, obstacle-filled yard with narrow passages effectively reduces the area a mower can finish in one session, so size up if your layout is intricate. Segway Navimow
- 5
Robot mowers mulch fine clippings back into the lawn by default, which feeds the grass. Only a few models (the Mammotion Yuka with its sweeping module) can collect clippings and leaves instead. Mammotion
- 6
Modern RTK mowers ship with anti-theft built in: a PIN lock, GPS tracking, and a tamper alarm. Confirm it is enabled during setup. Segway Navimow
- 7
Before buying, check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for any active recall on the model, the same as for any powered outdoor equipment. CPSC
Would you rather have it set up for you?
Wire-free mapping is app-guided and most owners do it themselves in under an hour. If you would rather not, here is what paid setup covers and roughly what it costs.
- Professional setup & mappingAccessory
Includes: First-time boundary mapping and RTK station placement
Marketed as: Have the yard mapped and the mower tuned for you.
Price: varies by yard
Sold via Local dealers, some retailers · Optional. Wire-free mapping is app-guided and most owners do it themselves in under an hour.
Ready to compare the actual mowers?
The robot mowers available now cover anything from a small courtyard to several acres, and climb slopes from gentle to steep. Compare every one by price, coverage, and slope, or browse the accessories that go with them.