For those who doubted the robot vacuum cleaner, here comes the autonomous lawn mower

Skeptics scoffed in 2002 when Roomba introduced its robot vacuum cleaner. The joke didn't last long, as the small round device quickly became a common item in millions of homes. Now, the gardening industry is betting on the same revolution.

Robotic lawn mowers aren't exactly new to CES, but there are a growing number of them on display this year. Manufacturers hope that the convenience and free time they provide will be enough to attract consumers to this type of equipment, which is very common in the USA.

The challenge is similar to the one that robot vacuum cleaner manufacturers faced. Would people accept having a robot at home? Would they do as good a job as traditional braces? The answer, in this case, was a resounding yes, with the market valued at US$4.48 billion in 2021 and an expected annual growth rate of 23.4% until 2030.

Sales of robotic lawn mowers are expected to reach US$10.62 billion by 2032, with a projected growth rate of 12% per year, according to Grand View Research.

At CES 2025, Segway is leading the charge to make the device a mainstream product. The company is showing off the Navimow X3 series, which can cover up to 10,000 square meters of land.

“With more than 200 robotic innovations… we have reduced the equivalent of more than 1.13 tons of carbon emissions to date,” says George Ren, CEO of Segway Navimow.

The Navimow X3 also interacts with smart home devices, such as Amazon's Alexa and Google Home, allowing the person to tell the robot mower to start working while they go get a beer from the fridge. Pricing has not been released, but current Navimow mowers start at $999.

A few booths away at CES, the Lymow One is on display, with professional-grade blades, tracks instead of tires (which help it navigate steep terrain), and the ability to cut about a thousand square feet per hour. It is scheduled to begin shipping in April, costing US$2,999.

Later, Yarbo is introducing its complete garden solution, which does everything from mowing the grass to blowing leaves and removing snow, depending on the accessories purchased (a cost that can exceed $5,000).

The blades of these devices, usually small and quickly rotating, are hidden under the body of the equipment, ensuring that if someone approaches the mower, the risk of injury is low. Additionally, if lifted, the mowers automatically shut off as a safety measure.

Camera-based models identify obstacles (such as toys or pets) and avoid them. And it's possible to train the cutter to avoid certain areas, ensuring your flowers aren't damaged.

If the device detects rain or water, it automatically returns to the charging station. And the systems are quiet compared to manual or motorized mowers. The neighborhood thanks you.

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