Should you let a robot mow your lawn?
Summary
Jennifer Patterson-Tui and Brandon Doyle review the latest robot lawnmowers, discussing improved navigation via LiDAR and net RTK, all-wheel drive traction, and obstacle avoidance. They share testing experiences with models from MAMotion, Ecovacs, and Navimow, noting better performance but persistent issues with edging and gate opening. The episode also covers news on Apple’s delayed iPhone 18, Flock’s surveillance safeguards, and a Petlibro outage.
Topics discussed
Intro: Robot lawnmower testing and guest introduction
90 Seconds: iPhone 18 delay, Flock surveillance, Petlibro outage
Sponsors: KPMG Adaptability Index and Create or Destroy podcast
Evolution of robot mowers: From boundary wires to GPS issues
Navigation tech: LiDAR, cameras, and Net RTK subscriptions
Obstacle avoidance and handling pets and chickens
Yard terrain, wheel types, and the FCC ban on robot mowers
Safety concerns, blade design, and lawn health improvements
Lawn aesthetics: Stripes and drawing shapes in the grass
Sponsors: Horizon 3, DeepGram, IBM Quantum, and America Actually
Speed, trimming capabilities, and getting stuck in loops
Top picks: MAMotion, Ecovacs, Dreamy, Navimo, and budget options
Industry trends, gate opening tech, and future of home robots
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