Limit cables could be quickly becoming a thing of the past, but modern modern modern robot navigation technology is not exempt from problems. Most of the Céspedes find their path using satellites, with an RTK receiver to make the location information more accurate. Sometimes, this is combined with backup technology such as vslam and/or cameras.
The newest launch of Mammotion takes things to another level, with a triple approach that includes RTK, a 3D and lidar camera in solid state. The inclusion of Lidar is the most interesting (so interesting that Mammotion has called it in the name of the product: the Luba Mini Awd Lidar): This is the navigation technology that feeds today’s best robot vacuum cleaners, but I had never seen before in a robot cutter.
The idea is that the Luba Mini Awd Lidar will exchange between these different navigation technologies to offer “± 1 cm of precision in any situation”. Each technology has its strengths and weaknesses, so adding several options makes sense.
Lidar works by emitting beams of light and measuring how long they take to recover, then using this information to build a map of an area and everything in it. It is very precise and excellent for closed spaces with things in them (hence their popularity with the robot vacuum), but less in open areas that lack objects to bounce.
RTK is its standard Lawnbot technology. It is less accurate that lidar and is based on a direct line of vision for several satellites in the sky, which means that it can have difficulty operating under trees or in narrow halls. However, it is perfect for open and open areas.
The 3D camera is useful for the identification and avoidance of objects, but needs light to function properly. In contrast, RTK and Lidar work in the dark and are effective in shaded areas.
With the technology “tri-fusion” of Mammotion, the Luba Mini Awd Lidar will automatically choose the best approach to any specific space. So, when there is a bad satellite signal, Lidar could be activated, then in open areas that lack obstacles, RTK would take care of the main positioning source.
This brand already makes some of the most advanced robots cutters (go to the review of Mammotion Luba 2 AWD of Techradar for a sample), so I am excited to see how this new addition is maintained, having seen it in action in IFA 2025.
