Robot lawn mowers are becoming more and more popular, although the market is still developing. At CNET, we’ve tested a number of them, and the ones that stand out to us the most are those that use wireless navigationwhich means you don’t need to run wires around your yard to keep it within its boundaries. The new Ecovacs Goat LA3000 and A2000 LiDAR Pro join other cordless robot lawn mowers like the Eufy E15, allowing you to set them up and start mowing without wires or much physical intervention.
Wireless setup and navigation
Both models can be set up in minutes and mapped automatically, according to Ecovacs.
EcovacsThe A3000 and A2000 LiDAR Pro use wireless navigation with the company’s HoloScope 360 Dual-LiDAR triple-technology navigation system, which combines laser scanning and 3D mapping for real-time obstacle avoidance. Ecovacs claims the system can be installed in less than a minute and requires no external antenna. This also allows it to work at night and in cloudy weather, with an accuracy of two centimeters when mowing.
The mowers are powered by a 32-volt battery system and feature a dual-blade disc cutting design that Ecovacs says allows for three times faster mowing time.. The A3000 is suitable for larger, more complex lawns of up to three-quarters of an acre, while the A2000 can handle lawns of up to half an acre. Both models can tackle slopes of up to 50% and handle the steepest areas on their own without human assistance.
AI edge trimming
The mowers can recognize more than 200 objects and manage the edge cutting themselves.
EcovacsThe other major technological improvement here is AI-powered edge trimming. Called TruEdge, it’s an automated edger that allows the robotic lawn mower to combine robotic mowing with manual edge trimming, which typically requires a human.
The mowers use flexible, high-speed rotating ropes to cut the edges (much like a weed whacker), while the AI camera works to distinguish grass from non-grassy features. It can identify physical boundaries and work around curves, fences and flower beds.
The clippers can recognize and avoid more than 200 objects, including hoses and pet toys, as well as static objects such as sheds and swimming pools.
Pricing and availability
THE Goat A3000 costs $2,499, and the A2000 LiDAR Pro costs $1,999 on the Ecovacs website and Amazon. This puts them in line with other wireless models we’ve tested, like the $2,299 model. Eufy E15 and the Eufy E18 at $2,599.