The company Segway is known for its means of transportation and related e-scooters. With Navimow, Segway is entering the lawn maintenance equipment segment for the first time and would soon like to be represented in retail stores and garden centers. A gradual expansion of the robotic mower product line is also planned.
Segway has many years of experience and expertise in service robotics innovation.
"Our robotics products include, for example, Loomo, our first personal attendant robot, T60 the world's first semi-automated, teleoperating, shared scooter, DeliveryBots, and Segway RMP, a mobile robotic ride-on vehicle designed for indoor and outdoor delivery and patrolling, among other applications," says George Ren, general manager at Segway BU.
According to Ren, the company’s goal is not to be a tool manufacturer, but to offer users labor-saving and intelligent solutions with the help of robotics. Specifically, in the field of robotic mowers, the company has identified potential for improvement in terms of user experience and wants to take the robotic lawnmower industry to the next level with Navimow.
Virtual zones, real efficiency
Segway relies on a technical innovation called EFLS (Exact Fusion Locating System), a type of fusion locating technology. The locating module on the mower communicates simultaneously with the satellites and the antenna to form a stable triangular locating system and precisely position the robot.
"At the core of this technology is the use of GPS satellite signals to achieve outdoor positioning accurate to within two centimetres through real-time kinematics," Ren says. With built-in sensors and more information, the robot can operate stably even when the GPS signal is temporarily weak.
A map in the app can be used to define precise zones and boundaries. In other words, where Navimow should work, where the boundaries are, and which zones in the yard it should avoid.
“Once the working area has been defined, Navimow does not criss-cross, but rather determines a systematic mowing path thanks to its intelligent navigation algorithm and follows it," Ren says.
Intelligent support
Navimow is designed for a lawn area of up to 3,000 square meters. According to Segeway it is the “quietest mower on the market” at only 54 db.
The Frequent Soft Cut System (FSCS) ensures that the lawn is cut from above and the desired height is reached gradually. Offset blades allow cutting as close as possible to edges and corners. Obstacles such as flower pots are automatically detected by the unit and bypassed. If children or pets get too close, Blade Halt technology immediately kicks in and the blades stop spinning.
"With its five-centimeter-thick rubber all-terrain wheels, Navimow also easily masters inclines of 45 percent," Ren says.
The robotic lawnmower also features an IPX6 water resistance rating, meaning it can withstand rainfall, heavy splashing and high-pressure water jets, as well as spilled drinks. An installed rain sensor guides Navimow back to the charging station on rainy days. If necessary, however, the sensor can be switched off via the app and the robotic lawnmower can continue to work. If new exclusion zones, such as flower beds are added, they can also be conveniently created via the app.
