If you are looking to ease your workload, a robot lawn mower is a great tool. But what if you don’t have a small, flat yard for the robot mower to cut? Can robot lawn mowers handle hills or steep slopes?
Robot lawn mowers are continuously being improved and one of this biggest improvements has been in their hill climbing abilities. Most robot mowers can easily handle moderate slopes with no issues.
If you have a yard with more aggressive hills or slopes, you are going to want a robot mower that is built for more than >20 degree inclines.
My Yard Slopes – Will A Robot Mower Work?
Most brands are able to handle slight to moderate slopes that you’d find in the average residential yard.
What is considered slight to moderate?
A moderate slope would be in the range of 15-45%, or around a 8-25 degree incline.
Naturally, like with most things involving technology, you get what you pay for. So, if you want to buy the cheapest robot lawn mower on the market, don’t expect it to climbs hills as well as a top-end model.
Husqvarna has recently released a robot mower that is touted to handle inclines greater than 70 degree. That is just insane and easily makes them the industry leader when it comes to mowing on hills for a robot mower.
Features That Help Robot Mowers Work On Hills
Low Center Of Gravity – a robot lawn mower needs to have a low center of gravity in order to work effectively on slopes and hills. The weight should be evenly distributed over the chassis and the battery needs to be in low position to help disperse the weight.
If you do not have the weight evenly distributed, with wheels set at the correct width, you run the risk the robot mower tipping over on steep inclines.
The Wheels – If your robot lawn mower is going to be tackling steep inclines, then it needs quality wheels with fairly deep treads. Having large wheels and deep threads will make climbing hills much easier for the autonomous mower.
Just like with regular riding lawn mowers, the wetter the grass, the more chances there are for slipping and sliding. Your robot lawn mower isn’t made to climb wet or muddy hills, so don’t be surprised if it doesn’t handle a newly drenched incline all that well.
The low center of gravity and tires are your standard attributes that make for a decent hill-climbing robot mower. But, if you are willing to spend a little more, they do have models that come with rain-sensing technology.
Rain Sensors – If you are really worried about how your robot lawn mower will do in the rain and on wet grass, then purchase a model that offers rain sensors. These sensors detect if the ground is to wet and tell the robot not to go out on its scheduled mow.
Some models even have sensors on top of the machine that will sense drops of rain. When they sense that it is starting to the rain, the mower will actually abort its current job and return to the charging dock.
Which Robot Lawn Mowers Work Best On Hills?
Every major brand can handle a slight hill or slope, but some boost models that can climb better than others. Husqvarna, for example, has made it their mission to handle slopes better than most.
Husqvarna Automower 450X – Best Overall
If you are looking for a robotic mower than can handle hills and is one of the best overall options, then the Automower 450X is an excellent option. Great for medium to larger-sized residential yards, this automatic mower is great for yards up to 1.24 acres. This robot mower is great for any yard.
- Mowes up to 24 degree incline
- 3 pivoting blades
- LED Headlights
- 270 minute battery life
- 1 hour charging time
- Works in the rain
- GPS
- Google Home and Alexa integration
Husqvarna Automower 435x AWD – Best Hill Mower
If your main criteria is to get a robot mower that can mow steep inclines, then the 435X AWD is your automatic mower. This little lawn robot can mow inclines as steep as 70 degrees! This is thanks, in part, to the all-wheel drive system and 4 rugged wheels that this model sports.
- Mowes 70% inclines
- GPS
- All-wheel drive
- Google Home and Alexa integration
- 3 pivoting blades
- LED Headlights
- 270 minute battery life
- 1 hour charging time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvY3Jhil0LU&feature=emb_logo
Worx Landroid WR140 – Best Budget Robot Lawn Mower
If you are looking for a good robotic mower but don’t want to spend thousands, the Landroid from Worx is a great option. For under $1,000, you can have your very own robotic lawn mower, capable of mowing small hills and slopes.
This little budget-friendly robot isn’t going to handle the largest slopes in the land, but it can easily climb and mow on slopes of 20 degrees or less. That should be more than enough for most residential lawns.
- Mowes 20 degree hills
- Easy to use app
- Great price
- Weather resistant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRSmEsf_T0o&feature=emb_logo
Conclusion on Robot Lawn Mowers For Hills
When it comes to mowing on hills, every robotic lawn mower will be able to handle a decent slope. If you are looking for something to get pretty vertical, then I suggest you check out some of the models from Husqvarna.
Not only does Husqvarna make a robot capable of cutting on hills and decent slopes, they also make some state-of-the-art machines. But, you will pay for it.
Realistically, if your front yard resembles the foothills of a large mountain range, a robot mower probably isn’t for you.
