How to Set Up a Robotic Mower

Place the charging station on a flat, level surface at the edge of your lawn. For RTK models, the station needs clear sky view (no overhead tree canopy). For LiDAR models, this is less critical. Ensure a nearby outdoor power outlet within the cable length (typically 30 to 60 feet). The mower will return here to charge, so choose a spot that's not in the way of foot traffic.

RTK models include a separate GPS antenna that provides the correction signal. Mount it on a pole, fence post, or eave where it has unobstructed sky view. Higher is better. The Segway Navimow includes a 20-meter antenna cable. The antenna and charging station communicate wirelessly with the mower. Place the antenna within the manufacturer's recommended distance from the mowing area.

Download the manufacturer's app (Navimow, Mammotion, etc.) and follow the boundary mapping wizard. For most wire-free mowers, you 'drive' the mower around the perimeter of your lawn using the app like a remote control car. Walk the boundary at a normal pace. Mark islands (flower beds, trees, garden features) as no-go zones. The total mapping process takes 30 to 60 minutes for a typical quarter-acre yard.

Divide your lawn into zones if you have separate areas (front yard, back yard, side strip). Each zone can have its own mowing schedule and cutting height. Set the mowing frequency to daily or every other day. Set mowing times during daylight hours for best obstacle avoidance (AI vision works better in light). Many owners set a morning schedule (6 AM to 10 AM) while the lawn is still slightly dewy.

Start with the cutting height 0.5 inches above your current lawn height. The mower cuts a small amount per pass, so you don't want to scalp the lawn on the first run. After 3 to 4 days of daily mowing, lower the height to your target. For cool-season grass, target 3 to 3.5 inches. For bermuda or zoysia, target 1 to 2 inches. Adjustment is usually a manual knob on the mower body.

Start a manual mow session and watch the first full run. Check that the mower stays within boundaries, handles transitions between zones, returns to dock when battery is low, and avoids obstacles. Most mowers need 2 to 3 full runs to optimize their cutting pattern. The map improves with each session as the AI learns your yard's features.