Hey guys! Welcome to Robotobzor. Today, we’ll test and review the first robot lawn mower that I got to see. This is a new 2021 model – Robomow RT300. A little history behind it, the Israeli company Robomow was established in ‘95, and has been making robot lawnmowers now for over 25 years. The manufacturers made a lot of updates from the previous RX20. Most importantly- a better battery, a front wheel for better stability and a new wheel protector, which allows the robot to go cross-country. Later on I’ll test the robot in full and tell you if you should get this model, or a robot lawnmower at all. Again, this model cost around $1000. And now, let’s get cracking!
Package
Let’s start with the box.
Besides the robot I found:
- Charging station base.
- The base station’s head.
- The power supply unit.
- An extension cord measuring 10 meters (32 feet).
- The manual.
- 125 meter (425 foot) loop wire.
- Pegs for attaching the loop wire.
- A ruler to measure the distance from the edge of the lawn to the loop wire
- A loop wire connecting kit.
- Pegs for the base.
- A tool to take out the wheels and razor.
This model has everything you need to operate the robot. You won’t need to buy anything extra, which is great.
Design
Let’s see how our robot looks. It came in dark green and somewhat reminds me of a turtle.
On the outer shell we see the Robomow logo and control panel. On it are waterproof buttons: STOP, which stops the cycle and brings the robot back to the station, and a green one, which starts the cycle. In between are lights that indicate the robot’s status.
On the back side there is a handle for caring robot around.
On the front there is a docking window with contact plates. And on the side you can find a grass mowing height adjuster. Let’s talk about it a bit more.
Robomow RT300 has a grass height regulator. There are 4 modes, which are easy to change by pressing and rotating the knob. The shortest height is only 15 mm (1/2 inch). And the highest mode reaches 60 mm (2.3 inches) and this is obviously the highest you can go. Here is how the razor moves when the height is changed.
Well, here are the wheels. They are pretty big and have a good tier threads. Getting ahead of myself here, but I will say that Robomow RT300 works great off road.
Next I would like to bring your attention to – the ignition key. You can find it right above the docking window. This key completely shuts off the robot when it’s removed from the keypad, so without the key you can’t use the robot.
Don’t forget to take out the key when you are cleaning the robot, especially the razor. In addition to the pin-code it also has an anti-theft system.
I’ll also note that the robot’s shell has some very important warnings, so make sure to read them. Make sure to keep out of reach of children, make sure to follow the instructions, and make sure to stay out of the robot’s way. Basically, just make sure to read the safety instructions before use.
Now let’s flip it and take a look at the bottom. The main thing you should notice is the blade, located in the center, as well as the mulch cleaner, which cleans the robot from grass while mowing.
As I said before, this model got a back wheel to better stabilize the robot while mowing.
So, that’s all regarding the parts. But, let me add some more info about the base. The base head has a port to plug in the charging cable. The head can be attached like this. The charging works from the prongs attached to the robot. Basically nothing is too complicated, quite simple.
I have a pretty good first impression. The plastic is solid, it works well, and the robot itself looks pretty cool.
Technical features
The main features of Robomow RT300, mentioned by the company:
- Battery Li- Ion 10200 Milliamps.
- Power usage 6 KPH.
- Works for 75 mins.
- Charging time up to 180 mins.
- Recommended lawn size up to 300 square meters (984 square feet) Grass length 15-60 mm (1/2 inch-2.3 inches)
- Grass width up to 18cm (7 inches)
- Maximum slop steep during cutting 30% / 16.5°
- Maximum steepness: 10%/ 6° Noise level up to 69 dB
Functionality
Now let’s look a bit closer at the general functions of Robomow RT300. The robot is controlled through the Robomow app. The robot is connected to the phone via Bluetooth, which sadly means it only works from short distance, so you can’t use the robot from work. Older models also have this setback. Downloading the app is super easy and hassle free, just follow step by step instructions.
The battery life is displayed on the top of the main operating panel, below you can enable a mowing schedule. When setting up the schedule, you can choose the time and days for the cycle, as well as the number of mowing cycles and the starting point: from the base or from a given point. I’ll come back to this. Well, in addition, you can choose the length of the mowing cycle: 30, 60 or 75 minutes.
Let’s go back to the control panel. Here you can view the mowing history, start manual control of the robot if necessary, or send the Robomow RT300 to the base for charging.
In the “menu” section, you can change the name of the robot, set a password for the lawn mower so that intruders cannot use it if they steal it from your site, and also configure the parameters of the lawn. This section needs to be discussed later in more details.
You can set an approximate lawn area and set a starting point. This is necessary if you have several mowing zones. In my case, there are two of them: the main site and a playground with a narrow path leading to it. So that the robot could mow the lawn in this area with high quality, I made a starting point and when setting up the schedule, I started the robot to mow the main area, and then mow the playground area. Here is how it went down:
Robomow RT300 follows the wire to the necessary point and starts cutting the grass from the point that was set by you. That is super cool!
Additionally, you can turn on child lock, set up notifications and choose one of three signal types to eliminate interference if other robotic lawn mowers are nearby. You can also set the time, date, area units and language. If necessary, you can update the app and contact support.
And, on the main working panel, if you click on the big button “Start”, the robotic lawn mower will start. Before doing this, you must choose the starting point and the length of the mowing cycle.
That is basically it regarding Robomow RT300, not a lot to add. Again, there is nothing to compare this mover with, therefore, as a first-timer, I have nothing to say about its abilities, specifically, what is missing.
Installation
Getting ready the robot for launch took me several hours. First of all, I planned out where the base station would be located and made blueprints of route for laying the perimeter wire. At this step, my recommendation is to carefully study the instructions, as everything is in there, in details.
For the route of the perimeter wire, I manually mowed the grass to comfortably lay the wire on the ground.
After that, I led the wire around the perimeter and connected the ends of the wire, as well as the power supply to the base station. The indicator lights up green, which means you did everything right. Good job! I put the robot on the base and was getting ready for my first launch.
Testing
A detailed video review with all the tests:
Robomow RT300 vs high grass
And finally, let’s move on to the test. I haven’t cut the grass in over a month on purpose to test what the Robomow RT300 is capable of. As you can see, the weeds have grown much higher than knee-high. The manual indicated that the height of the grass should be no more than 15 cm (4 inch), but it is interesting what will happen to the robot in such rough conditions, and if its efforts will be worthwhile.
To my surprise Robomow survived these conditions. It rammed through like a tank, breaking the tall weeds and trying to knock them down with its razor. The razor stops, and the robot gets tangled in the tall grass, but after a few minutes of resistance, it still manages to get out of the brush and continue its mowing cycle. It surprised me with its off-road ability and perseverance! In such conditions, its efficiency is extremely low, so I decided not to overwork the robot and decided to make it easier for him to achieve normal conditions. I used the trimmer to cut the grass to the recommended 15 cm and continued testing.
So when mowing low grass, the Robomow RT300 copes with its main task much better. After each attempt, a skinny trails were left behind. The movement algorithm of the robotic lawn mower is chaotic, it moves in a free direction, without leaving the guards of the boundary wire. On the first day, the looks of the lawn didn’t really change, but you should not expect quick results right away. I set up the mowing schedule and started the robot on the main lawn, then in the additional area on the playground. And here are the results after 2 weeks of daily attempts:
As you can clearly see, the grass has been given a fresh look, and the lawn loos flat, trimmed and visually good looking. Only the edges, along the curb, fence, as well as around the bushes and trees, which are protected by a perimeter wire, remained un-mown. In reality, it is good to move the boundary wire as closer to the edge as possible. But unfortunately, this is the current setback of robotic lawn mowers. They cannot mow the area along the fences as the blade gets damaged on the obstacles and damages bushes, tree trunks and other objects.
In older models, this problem is partially solved by moving the razor to the edge of the case. And in the case of the RT300, this section will have to be mowed manually with a trimmer. Although if your lawn edge is conjoined to the rest of the flat areas of the soil, with the correct laying of the perimeter wire, there may not be any un-mowed zones at all.
Now I’ll show you how the robot automatically returns to the base to charge. I will simulate the situation by pressing a button. Robomow RT300 moves towards the edge, finds the laid boundary wire and follows it towards the base. The plug in is neat, and the charging is automatic. Very convenient.
And finally, let’s take a look at your robot after the mowing is done:
As you can see, there is no grass left, meaning the mulch cleaner does its job effectively.
Robot lawnmower and the rain
Before expressing a personal opinion about the Robomow RT300, at the request of my subscribers, I would like to pay special attention to the operation of the lawn mower under irregular conditions. This mainly being the rain. You can safely run the robot under rain, as nothing will happen to it, it is well protected from moisture getting inside from above. The base and charging pins will also function normally and pose no danger. Everything is safe and even if you or a child touch the exposed charging pin, even in the rain, nothing will happen. But it’s safer to not verify this with a test. Remember to follow safety precautions.
Though personally, I do not recommend running the robot in the rain. Wet soil and clipped grass will cause the robot to slip, grass to stick, and create dirt on the protectors, which can render it unusable and entail manual intervention. It is much better to run the robot in dry weather, as it will mow the lawn more efficiently and will not require any help.
Safety
Robomow RT300 does its job safely, but still requires you to comply with safety regulations. Importantly – do not rinse the bottom and Razors with water, the bottom of the robot is less protected from moisture and may fail if soaked. Pull out the key or set the mowing prohibition from the application if there are strangers on the site, especially children or pets.
In the winter, it is recommended to store the robot and the base in a dry, heated storage room. Before doing this however, fully charge the battery and turn off the power. The perimeter wire and base station can remain outside, nothing will happen to them, even under a layer of snow.
If you have accidentally damaged the perimeter wire, for example, with a shovel, you will not be electrocuted. The voltage is safe for humans. For these purposes, the manufacturer recommends additionally to protect the power line of the mower with a surge protector.
If you missed something or have any questions, write in the comments below. If relevant – I will prepare a separate video about the Robomow RT300 robotic lawnmower and answer the most interesting and important questions.
Personal Opinion
After a month of operating the Robomow RT300, I have formed an opinion about this model and, in general, about this type of device as a robotic lawn mower. Here are the advantages it presented to me:
- This is an extremely effective robot, which keeps your lawn up in a good state, if properly used of course.
- Has a great anti-theft system.
- Has the ability to customize mowing according to the schedule, which makes the device completely automatic.
- The perimeter wire really helps protect trees and other objects in the area.
- This model has a good grass height regulator.
- Really quite.
- Robomow RT300 is waterproof.
- Good even off-road. The more you use it, the better it will cope with knee-high grass.
- 9. Multi-Zone mowing capability.
The largest disadvantages of the Robomow RT300 are:
- Chaotic movement and, as a result, the amount of time to get the lawn in order can reach several weeks. In my opinion, if the robot cleaned with a snake-like pattern and along the perimeter, like robot vacuum cleaners with advanced navigation, it would be better. But in robotic lawn mowers, things are not so simple. You can’t put a camera in them for navigation. And the LIDAR scanner is not so easy to put here, as the site may not have vertical boundaries. As a result, the robot has to work within the boundaries of the laid perimeter wire and move less thoughtfully. However, the manufacturer claims that the Robomow RT300 has a movement algorithm and this is not just chaotic mowing. In practice, the main thing is that the effect of the robot is there and the lawn is really well mowed after several dozen cycles.
- Another disadvantage is the non-mowing area along walls and objects. Here again, the main problem is not to damage the Razor and objects when clipping closely. But in my opinion, it would be possible to implement something like a side brush, for example in robotic vacuum cleaners. Instead of a razor, install a reel of fishing line, as in trimmers, and so that the inaccessible areas are mowed with the fishing line.
- Well, and the third remark, which relates directly to this model – control over Wi-Fi is not provided. Any actions can be performed only within the range of the Bluetooth connection, which is no more than 10 meters (32 feet). As a result, there is no way to launch the robot remotely. Although the manufacturer indicates that control via GSM is available as an option. Though in practice, if you correctly set up a cleaning schedule, you will not need to approach the robot except for periodic visual inspection and cleaning.
Honestly, for me personally, the advantages of the Robomow RT300 outweigh the disadvantages, and I believe that the robot is definitely worth its money and does a good job. It’s efficient, self-contained, safe and really unproblematic. I definitely recommend buying.
On this note, I would like to end the review. If you have any questions, ask them down below in the comments. Enjoy your shopping. Bye!
