Robot lawn mowers<\/span><\/span> are becoming more popular, though the market is still developing. At CNET, we’ve tested a number of them, and the ones that stand out most to us are the ones that use wire-free navigation<\/span><\/span>, meaning you don’t need to run wires around your yard to keep them within its boundaries. The new Ecovacs Goat LA3000 and A2000 LiDAR Pro join other wire-free robot lawn mowers like the Eufy E15, allowing you to set them up and start mowing without wires or much physical intervention.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/div> Both models can be set up in a matter of minutes and map automatically, according to Ecovacs.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span> Ecovacs<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The A3000 and A2000 LiDAR Pro use wire-free 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 says the system can be set up in under a minute and doesn’t require any external antennas. This also allows it to work at night and during cloudy days, with two-centimeter accuracy during mowing.\u00a0<\/p>\n The mowers are powered by a 32-volt battery system and feature a dual-blade-disc cutting design that Ecovacs says results in three times faster mow time. <\/strong>The A3000 is suitable for larger, more complex yards up to three-fourths of an acre, while the A2000 can handle lawns up to half an acre. Both models can tackle inclines up to a 50% grade and can handle the steeper areas on their own without human assistance.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/div> The mowers can recognize 200+ objects and handle edge trimming on their own.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span> Ecovacs<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The other major technological improvement here is AI-powered edge trimming. Called TruEdge, it’s an automated edge trimmer that lets the robot lawn mower combine robot mowing with manual edging — something that typically requires a human. \u00a0<\/p>\n The mowers use high-speed, rotating, flexible strings for edge cutting (sort of like a weed whacker), while the AI camera works to distinguish grass from non-grass items. It can identify physical boundaries and work around curves, fences, and flower beds. \u00a0<\/p>\n The mowers can recognize and avoid more than 200 objects, including hoses and pet toys, as well as static objects such as garden sheds and pools.<\/p>\n The Goat A3000<\/span> costs $2,499, and the A2000 LiDAR Pro<\/span> costs $1,999 on the Ecovacs site and Amazon. This puts them in line with other wire-free models we’ve tested, like the $2,299 Eufy E15<\/span> and the $2,599 Eufy E18.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWire-free setup and navigation\u00a0<\/h2>\n
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
AI edge trimming\u00a0<\/h2>\n
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Price and availability\u00a0<\/h2>\n