An Affordable Lidar-Equipped Lawn Robot: The Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 5000H

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      Last year, I wrote about my experience with a robot lawnmower—specifically, a Mammotion Luba 2. The inspiration came from an article Andrew wrote on a self-driving riding lawnmower. While an autonomous zero-turn mower is certainly an intriguing gadget, my point was that a lawn robot is much more practical and equally advanced—all for less than 10% of the Honda’s (quite high) price tag.

      I have a fondness for my little mowing robot, and while the article wasn’t a conventional review, it caught the attention of Mammotion’s U.S. product representatives. One of them contacted me in early March to inform me that my clever little robot was already outdated. The third-generation model was out, and it now featured a lidar module—something not available in the U.S. for the Luba 2. Would I be interested in reviewing it?

      If you’re not familiar with lawn robots, they resemble something you might imagine a robot vacuum engineer dreaming up; think of a Roomba equipped with sharp blades, and you’re almost there. I’m not exaggerating. As wild as it may seem, these devices actually function. Their effectiveness (and the setup required) largely depends on your budget, which can be quite substantial if you wish to invest heavily in a robot lawnmower. Go ahead and search for “Yarbo.” Apologies or you’re welcome.

      Unboxing and assembling the Luba 3 AWD 5000H -Byron Hurd

      The simplest self-guided models use buried wires and other methods to set their mowing perimeters, while the more advanced ones incorporate GPS-based geofencing, real-time GPS, RTK, and WiFi for navigation. RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) systems link a fixed satellite base station with a GPS receiver on the mower. By maintaining a radio link to the base station, the mower can adjust for any inaccuracies or GPS drift through what is essentially dead reckoning.

      They’re compact, so even the more sophisticated models typically can’t mow a lawn as quickly as the cheapest gas or electric walk-behind mowers, but their automated nature makes the mowing time less significant. Still, having two of them would allow me to cover more ground. More is better. Simple logic. Yes, please.

      What’s in the box

      Last year, my $2,400 Luba 2 3000H was Mammotion’s premier model (though not the one with the largest battery), featuring dual-motor all-wheel drive, a variable-height, self-adjusting adaptive suspension, and obstacle detection using camera, radar, and bump sensors, among other features. Lidar was available on some Mammotion models abroad last year, but the Luba 2 didn’t come with it in the U.S. It also depended on an RTK antenna for signal correction.

      With the launch of the Luba 3, Mammotion has made the RTK station an optional feature. Starting with the new model, Mammotion has introduced what it calls NetRTK, which allows the use of 4G or WiFi signals instead of an RTK station for GPS error correction. Even better, this option has been made retroactive for the Luba 2, meaning I no longer need my base station.

      This change is more beneficial for newcomers to the technology than for those of us who are upgrading. The main drawback of RTK is the initial setup, especially if your home is tall or you have a lot of tree cover. Once established, the stations require minimal maintenance aside from firmware updates through the Mammotion app. Now, as long as you have decent LTE or WiFi coverage with a clear view of the sky, the RTK station can be considered unnecessary.

      Luba 2 (left) vs. Luba 3 (right), both on their charging docks. Notice the redesigned vision module on top. -Byron Hurd

      The Luba 3 takes over for the Luba 2 (don’t confuse it with the Mini; they are different lines), so most specifications from the previous model are similar or unchanged. Upon inspection, it appears that most of the physical components are identical. Mammotion’s modular design allows for easier shipping with only minor final assembly (attaching the guards, vision/lidar module, and front bumper) required by the user. It also enables Mammotion to provide ongoing upgrades. Same body, upgraded brain (and new cutting discs aimed at reducing grass clumping). It’s also about $500 pricier than the Luba 2; this is likely due to the lidar module, along with tariffs.

      Mammotion’s modular setup and app-based operation led me to believe that expanding my little lawn care fleet would be just as straightforward. Oh, was