"It's literally worry-free" – Segway Navimow exec on the new technology that's going to take robot lawn mowers mainstream

1. Home
2. Smart Home
3. Robot Vacuums

"It's literally worry-free" – Segway Navimow exec on the new technology that's going to take robot lawn mowers mainstream News By Ruth Hamilton published 24 January 2026

LiDAR-powered lawnbots were everywhere at CES

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Segway Navimow) Share Share by:

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Reddit
• Pinterest
• Flipboard
• Threads
• Email

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

Robot lawn mowers can be a major effort-saver, but there's a bit of a learning curve to getting started with one. I say this as someone who nearly had a breakdown when trying to test their first lawnbot (I'm happy to say that I've since mastered them). However, it looks like future owners might be able to skip the stressful stage altogether, thanks to the introduction of a new kind of navigation technology.

LiDAR-powered lawnbots were everywhere at CES – in fact, it's one of the hot tech trends for 2026. This light-based positioning system is already the standard in the best robot vacuums, and now it looks set to make its way beyond that market, too. I had a chance to chat to Tony Ho, vice president of business development for Segway Navimow, about this particular advancement and why it's such a big deal.

(Image credit: Segway Navimow)

LiDAR works by shooting out beams of light, using time-of-flight sensors to measure how long these beams take to bounce back. Then, using that information, it figures out where objects are positioned, allowing it to build a 3D map of a space.

You may like

• Lawnbots are going places in 2026 — these are the 3 big trends to look for
• Segway Navimow exec on the invention that means its new flagship lawnbot won't churn up your grass
• Mammotion's new flagship lawnbot is ultra-smart and incredibly capable

Segway Navimow has introduced the i2 LiDAR as a part of its new i2 compact lawnbot range, and it's far from the only robot mower brand following this approach. From the Roborock X1 LiDAR to the Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD (and various sibling models), to the Anthbot M5 LiDAR and the Ecovacs GOAT LiDAR, pretty much all of the major brands are exploring this option for navigation.

Why is lawnbot LiDAR such a big deal?

While LiDAR isn't perfect for every scenario (I'll get into its limitations below), it does have some major benefits. You won't need to find somewhere for an RTK station to live; you won't have to deal with your robot getting lost whenever there's a tree blocking the satellite signal; and you definitely won't need to lay any boundary wires. Since LiDAR generates its own light beams, it will work in the dark, too.

In some situations, you'll be able to unbox your new lawnbot, place it on the ground and it will be able to just work out its surroundings and start cutting. "The LiDAR itself essentially can map," explains Tony. "So [it'll] localize the robot, and also automatically map out the lawn." A few brands are marketing this as some variation on 'drop and mow', and it's undoubtedly appealing.

"LiDAR actually likes obstacles. It's like human beings – we look for landmarks, right? So, when we try to navigate, we say, 'Hey, that building is here, that tree is over there, therefore, I'm home', or something like that," says Tony. "It's a very similar concept when you drop the robot for the first time. It looks around for obstacles and uses that information to figure out where it is. Then, the next time it's in the same spot, it knows where it is. And after it knows where it is on the map, it can start doing path planning."

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Being able to 'drop and mow' is a big benefit of using LiDAR (Image credit: Roborock)

Removing this pain point from the setup process could have major implications for the market on a larger scale. Specifically, Tony thinks it could remove the barrier to entry that's stopping lawnbots from being widely adopted.

"Even though the product today is already quite easy to use, some people will say, 'Hey, I wanted this to be foolproof. Basically, I don't want to worry about this'," says Tony about the current setup process. "This LiDAR product will solve a lot of problems. Consumers will adopt [robot lawn mowers] quicker."

"LiDAR is perfect for smaller yards with obstacles," he continues. "We love [the i2 LiDAR]. It's literally worry-free."

You may like

• Lawnbots are going places in 2026 — these are the 3 big trends to look for
• The 25 best gadgets we saw at CES 2026
• 7 big robot vacuum upgrades I'm desperate to see in 2026

LiDAR limitations

LiDAR isn't really suitable for use in large, open yards. "If you have a wide open space, the light beams have nothing to bounce off," says Tony (a rep tells me that you can actually get long-range LiDAR, but it's currently too expensive to be a workable solution in products such as this).

Thankfully, these kinds of obstacle-free areas are particularly well-suited to another navigation technology. "Once you're in open space, the best technology to use is satellites," continues Tony. That means that on lawnbots designed for larger areas – including the likes of the Segway Navimow X4 – you're more likely to see traditional satellite and RTK-based navigation.

In fact, many modern lawnbots will combine various different navigation technologies, so in situations where one fails, another can take over.

Models (like the X4 series) that are designed for larger areas won't use LiDAR (Image credit: Future)

Part of the reason we're seeing (shorter-range) LiDAR in lawnbots now is that while previously it was very expensive, it's now starting to be manufactured more widely and therefore prices have come down.

There's a mix of two different types: mechanical LiDAR, where the module sits on top of the robot, beneath some kind of light protective casing; and "solid-state" LiDAR, where the LiDAR module is tucked into the body of the lawnbot. The mechanical option is more exposed and arguably more open to damage, but it does offer a 360-degree "view" of the area, which the solid-state version lacks. As to which works best for navigation, there's no clear answer yet – we'll need to get into testing and report back on this one.

Whichever prevails, it's certainly an exciting time for robot lawn mowers.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

Ruth HamiltonSocial Links NavigationHomes Editor

Ruth is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in air (vacuum cleaners, fans, air purifiers), and hair (hair dryers, straighteners and stylers). She has been in consumer journalism since 2020, reviewing and writing about everything from outdoor kit to mattresses and wellness gadgets, with stints on Tom's Guide and T3.

Show More Comments

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Lawnbots are going places in 2026 — these are the 3 big trends to look for    The 25 best gadgets we saw at CES 2026    7 big robot vacuum upgrades I'm desperate to see in 2026    From robovacs for small homes to a Roomba for your lawn, here are 4 things we can expect to see from iRobot – according to the CEO    Roborock's new robot vacuum has the best mopping system I've seen    The outstanding Roborock Saros 10R just got even better. Meet the Saros 20    Latest in Robot Vacuums The 3 biggest lies robot vacuum brands are telling us, by a professional tester    I've seen most of 2026's new robot vacuums, and these are the 2 models I can't wait to try    This shapeshifting cleaner can be a robot vacuum, a stick vacuum or a mop    Dreame just unveiled its new flagship robovac – here are my 3 favorite upgrades    Segway Navimow exec on the invention that means its new flagship lawnbot won't churn up your grass    So you got a new robot vacuum – here are 7 things to do first    Latest in News The Insta360 CEO just leaked two upcoming cameras in one teaser image    The Galaxy S26 Series looks like getting one of the best Pixel features    ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from ChatGPT to OLED TVs    Disneyland Handcrafted is a fascinating look at how Disneyland was built    We just watched the official The Muppet Show on Disney+ trailer and now we're going gonzo    Lego on why Smart Bricks needed custom wireless charging    LATEST ARTICLES

1. 1I field-tested the best-selling Wandrd PRVKE backpack, and the hype is real — it's my new favorite camera bag that doesn't look like one
2. 2'Tesla's chip game is no joke': Elon Musk confirms it has restarted work on its biggest supercomputer yet - but what will it actually be used for?
3. 3The Insta360 CEO just leaked two upcoming cameras in one teaser image – here's what might be coming
4. 4The PowerA Advantage Wireless Controller is an okay Switch 2 pick on sale — but it’s no Pro Controller
5. 5'Weaponized AI' could be the biggest security threat facing your business this year - here's what experts say you should be on the lookout for