Wire vs RTK vs vision

The way a robot mower finds the edge of your lawn decides how much setting up it needs, and which gardens it copes with. There are four main types, plus hybrids that combine them.

The short answer

• Boundary wire suits almost any garden, including shady and built-up ones, if you're happy to lay the wire.
• RTK suits open lawns with a clear view of the sky.
• Camera vision suits lawns with clear edges, such as paths and patios.
• LiDAR suits enclosed gardens with fences, walls and trees to map against.
• Hybrids suit mixed gardens, with open lawn in one part and shade in another.

The decider above weighs your garden against each one.

At a glance

	Boundary wire	RTK	Vision	LiDAR
Needs a wire round the edge	Yes	No	No	No
Needs a clear view of the sky	No	Yes	No	No
Needs clear lawn edges	No	No	Yes	Helpful
Copes with tree cover	Well	Poorly when heavy	Fairly well	Fairly well
Change borders in an app	No	Yes	Varies	Yes

These are general traits of each type. Individual models vary, so check the manufacturer's own guidance.

Boundary wire

A low-voltage wire round the lawn edge carries a signal, and the mower turns back when it senses it. It doesn't need satellites or cameras, so trees and buildings don't matter. The trade-off is installation: you peg or bury the wire round every edge and every island, and if it's cut, the mower stops until you find the break.

RTK satellite

RTK mowers use satellite positioning, corrected by a base station or a network service, to know where they are very precisely. You draw the boundary in an app, so there's no wire and you can change zones whenever you like. The catch is the signal: tree canopy, tall buildings and high walls near the lawn can weaken it. Some models need an app connection or a subscription.

Camera vision

Vision mowers recognise grass and its edges with cameras. They don't need a wire or a satellite signal, so they cope with tree cover better than RTK alone. They work best where the lawn has a clear edge, such as a path, patio or edged border, and can be confused where grass runs into other green planting.

LiDAR

LiDAR mowers scan their surroundings with a laser and build a map to navigate by. They don't rely on satellites, so trees and buildings matter less. They're the newest type, with the fewest models, and a very open lawn gives them less to map against.

Hybrids

Many newer models combine methods, most often RTK with vision or LiDAR, so one covers where the other is weak: RTK on the open lawn, cameras or a laser under the trees.

FAQs

Can I switch from a wire mower to a wire-free one?

Yes. You can leave the old wire in the ground; a wire-free mower simply ignores it.

Does RTK need a subscription?

Some models need a network RTK plan or a mobile data plan, others use their own base station. Check the model's page before you buy.

Which is cheapest to run?

That depends on the model, not the navigation type. Our running-cost calculator is coming soon.