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If you have a big and sloped lawn, you already know how unpleasant and tedious keeping it perfectly trimmed can be. Lawn mowing is a necessary chore, but this doesn’t make it any less unpleasant and time-consuming. Thankfully, there are robotic lawn mowers to keep lawns trimmed and tidy, plus they improve lawn care and produce better results. Robotic lawn mowers are steadily moving in to replace traditional gas-powered and electric walk-behind lawn mowers, and they really do an awesome job. And what’s even better is that there are tons of options available to choose from, but this also means that finding the best robot mower is a tricky business. Well, as someone who has some experience with robot mowers, I’m here to point you in the right direction. In this buyer’s guide, I’ve included the best robotic lawn mowers for hills and slopes, plus a comprehensive list of features to consider when choosing a robot mower, especially if you have a sloped lawn. What makes a Robot mower good for hills? Every buyer has a set of features they want, however, there are certain features you’d want in a robotic lawn mower designed to automatically and successfully maintain a lawn. If you’re in the market for the best robotic lawn mower for you, here are some very important considerations to have in mind. Lawn size: every robot mower has a maximum lawn size it can handle, and this is usually the first thing you should look for when shopping for a lawn mower. Wheel design: robust wheels with thick treads that ensure good traction on steep slopes. Drive system: most robotic lawn mowers are driven by 2-wheel, but there are also 3-wheel mowers and 4-wheel mowers. Slope rating (Maximum incline capability): the slope rating or maximum incline capability tells you the exact amount of slope gradient a robot can effectively handle. Safety features: robots often have a couple of safety features in place to prevent destructive accidents.Security features: pin codes and alarm systems are security features that most robot mowers come with to help prevent theft. Best robot mowers for slight inclines Husqvarna Automower® 115H Husqvarna Automower 115H robotic lawn mower is a smart home gadget that’s designed to manage medium-sized lawns of no more than 0.4 acre. It’s best suited for a flat and fenced-in lawn, but can manage slopes of up to 30% or 17 degrees within the working space and up to 15 degrees slope along the edges of the lawn. Husqvarna 115H uses 3 small razor-like blades attached to a spinning blade disc to slice through different types of grasses, reducing them to tiny clippings which are transferred back to the lawn. It’s compact enough to easily navigate lawns with narrow passageways. As you’ll learn in our Automower 115H robotic mower review it is controlled via a 12-button control panel and an LCD screen for customizing its settings, it’s also compatible with the Automower Connect@Home app with Bluetooth connectivity. Excellent cutting result on fenced-in lawnsVery quiet motorFree installationIntuitive mobile app and control panelAnti-theft protection No GPS trackingNo Wi-Fi connectivityNo rain sensors WORX Landroid range The Worx Landroid WR series is a range of smart mowing robots designed to manage private lawns. The WR series has various models that are built for different lawn sizes, from ¼ acre to ½ acre. These robotic lawn mowers are fully automated with the patented AIA (Artificial Intelligence Algorithm) which ensures intelligent and seamless navigation. High-efficiency brushless motors supply power to 3-razor sharp spinning blades, which reduce grass to tiny clippings. These robots also have the cut-to-edge function, which ensures that every part of the lawn (and edges) is evenly cut. The Landroid robots are built to handle inclines and uneven terrains, with a 20o (or 35%) slope rating and a floating blade disc. Worx Landroid robots are compatible with the Landroid smartphone app, you can control your robot and set mowing schedules from the app. Quiet motorEasy to programSafety features and GPS-tracking Auto-scheduling Weekly edge maintenanceA 3-year warranty Professional help with installation is not readily available.Anti-Collision System, Digital fence and Landroid garage all come at extra cost. GARDENA SILENO City, Minimo, Life range Gardena SILENO Minimo is a fully automated robotic lawn mower programmed to manage lawns of up to 2700 sq ft. The Minimo is fitted with a suite of sensors for detecting and avoiding obstacles on the lawn to avoid accidents. It has a battery runtime of 65 minutes, and it automatically recharges itself, so your help is not needed. This smart mowing bot quietly trims the grass without leaving streaks, even when it’s raining. It also has a slope rating of 35% and has no problem with climbing inclines within that range. Controlling the Minimo is easy via the Gardena Bluetooth App; you can schedule mowing times and easily configure your robot. Gardena SILENO Minimo ships with a complete installation kit and user’s manual for easy setup. Maximum lawn slope: 35%Very quiet with 57 dB maxBluetooth App controlled Not intuitive or easy-to-useTerrible customer support Best robot lawn mowers for medium slopes Husqvarna Automower 430XH You should consider the Husqvarna 430XH if you have a medium-sized, complex lawn with up to 24o incline. Automower 430XH is a sleek and beautifully-designed robot for lawns of up to 0.8 acres. It’s compact and can detect and easily navigate narrow passages, and it beautifully mows lawns with a 3-blade cutting system. Husqvarna 430XH has a battery runtime of 145 minutes on a single charge, and it automatically returns to the charging station when it’s low, thanks to the patented guidance system and GPS-assisted navigation. It can be controlled using your smartphone, Amazon Alexa, or Google Home devices. You can program your Automower 430XH to give a freshly-cut lawn every day, every other day, or as often as you want. Read more on this model in our Automower 430 XH review. Automower works silently and efficientlyIt’s compact with a waterproof designIt has a built-in theft protection with a unique pin code and alarm system Very pricey robotHusqvarna Automower Installation kit is sold separately Hondo Miimo Honda Miimo robotic mower comes in two slightly different models of identical size and design, the major difference is that the HRM 310 is designed for lawns of 0.37 acres while the HRM 520 is for lawns of up to 0.75 acres. The Honda Miimo can easily handle complex lawns with obstacles and slopes of up to 25o, it’s able to smoothly navigate through narrow passages like flower beds. These robot mowers use a 3-blade cutting mechanism with programmable cutting patterns; Random, Directional or Mixed, to optimize its performance on different lawn sizes and shapes. Miimo has an edge-cutting feature to keep the borders of your lawn perfectly cut, and a seasonal timer to automatically adapt to the season and grass growth rate. Miimo also has anti-theft features (a unique security code and an alarm system) to protect from theft. Easy to programQuiet, smooth & efficientTackles large/sloping lawns2-year warranty Relatively few features Ambrogio Robot Mower - L85 Elite Ambrogio L85 Elite is the premier robotic mower for a 21,000 sq ft with a maximum slope rating of 29o or 55%. It’s obviously a robotic lawn mower built for slopes and inclined terrains, with very robust wheels with thick treads to ensure good traction. The L85 robotic lawn mower has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a running time of an hour and 45 minutes – which lasts better than most competitors. This robot mower is built with a Smart Cutting Algorithm and Encoder Inclinometer Gyroscope to enhance its navigation system and complete lawn coverage. The L85 will mow back and forth with razor-shape spinning blades. A suite of sensors detects obstacles to prevent collision, it also has rain-sensors to avoid bad weather. Has robust wheel for slopesAccess pin code for securityLong-lasting battery (1hr 45 mins)2-year warranty Not great for very narrow areasBattery takes 2 hours to chargeDoesn’t mow edges Best lawn mowing robots for steep slopes and hills HUSQVARNA AUTOMOWER 435X AWD The Husqvarna Automower 435X is the high-end, all-wheel-drive robotic lawn mower designed for rough terrain and steep hills. This is one of the best robot lawn mower for hills with a slope rating of up to 70% (or 35o). The 435X can mow up to 0.9 acres lawns, and it uses a 3-blade rotating disc mechanism to cut grass. It’s powered by two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, with a runtime of 100 minutes and recharge time of 30 minutes. This robotic lawn mower is ultra-quiet and uses an onboard GPS system to create a map of the garden to ensure optimized lawn coverage, it also has an alarm system and GPS theft tracking to track your mower’s location in case of theft. Automower 435X can either be controlled manually or with the Husqvarna AutoConnect mobile app for Android and iOS devices. It’s compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, and IFTTT. Has a quality constructionVery quiet machineWeatherproof designIntuitive mobile-appGPS theft tracking No Wi-FiSteep price tag HUSQVARNA AUTOMOWER 535 AWD Similar to Husqvarna 435X AWD, Husqvarna Automower 535X AWD is an advanced and highly-intelligent robotic lawn mower with an all-wheel-drive system. The Automower 535X is designed to manage lawns up to 0.9 acres or 3,500 m², with steep inclines of up to 70% (or 35o) slope rating. It uses sharp, razor-like blades made of strong carbon steel mounted on a robust cutting disc system to reduce grasses to tiny clippings. The 535X smartly navigates lawns with built-in sensors using ultrasonic technology to detect objects and avoid hard collisions. Husqvarna Automower 535X AWD is protected by pin code, alarm system and GPS to minimize risk of theft. Lastly, you can control the 535X robot lawn mower from the AutoConnect app, and it’s easily programmable with a weekly timer. Cuts around edgesIt is quiet when it is runningHas a quality constructionWeatherproof designIntuitive mobile-appGPS theft tracking Very expensiveIt’s very heavy Ambrogio QUAD Elite Another great robot that was designed with slopes in mind is the Ambrogio QUAD Elite. Ambrogio QUAD Elite is a premium robotic lawn mower designed for lawns of up to 3,500 m2, it has a sturdy construction with a robust 4WD system. The QUAD Elite has electric-steering wheels with thick treads to provide excellent traction on slopes of up to 75%. To ensure a seamless mowing experience, the QUAD Elite has integrated RADAR sensors for detecting and avoiding obstacles on the lawn. Also, this smart robot uses GPS technology to ensure complete coverage of a lawn, using the SDM algorithm, it divides the lawn into tiles to increase mowing efficiency. As with most high-end robotic lawn mowers, the QUAD has a touchscreen display, voice assistants compatibility and remote control via the Ambrogio App. Robust constructionHandles steep inclinesHas very smart features2-year warranty Very expensiveInstallation kit is sold separately Buyer Guide & FAQs What to look for in a robot lawn mower Lawn size The size of your lawn is the first factor to consider when choosing a robot lawn mower, since every robot mower has a maximum lawn size it can handle. A small lawn next to your house will require a lawn robot made specifically for it, meanwhile a much larger lawn will need a robot mower built to mow large lawns. The battery capacity, ability to manage slopes, and pricing of a robot mower are all determined by the maximum lawn size it can cover. Robotic lawn mowers built for small lawns typically manage small slopes and are the most affordable. Unique lawn features While choosing a robot mower, it’s also important to consider the landscape features of your lawn. Landscape features to think about include narrow pathways, multiple zones, obstacles like flowerbeds, etc. The unique features of your lawn will help you to determine the ideal robot lawn mower for it. For instance, if your lawn has narrow pathways with flowerbeds, then you need a robotic lawn mower that is compact and able to maneuver through the narrow passages while effectively avoiding the flowerbeds. Also, if you have a multi-zone lawn, then your lawn mower should be able to efficiently cover every part of the lawn during each cutting session. Drive system/wheel design Drive system and wheel design are two very important features of a good robotic lawnmower. A 4-wheel drive system and a robust wheel design with thick treads are essential for maintaining good traction when traversing steep and uneven terrain. Most robotic lawn mowers are driven by 2-wheel, but there are also 3-wheel mowers and 4-wheel mowers. Robot lawn mowers with an AWD system are usually higher-end models, like the Husqvarna 435 AWD, which can handle up to 70% slope. Slope rating Any robot with 2 tires can drive through a flat land, but what if your lawn is inclined? This is why most robot lawn mowers can tolerate some degree of slope. Generally, most robotic lawn mowers will comfortably drive through and mow a sloped lawn, but each model has a specific slope angle it can tolerate. Entry-level and mid-range robotic lawn mowers will usually handle slopes of 8.5° to 19° (14% to 34%), while higher-end models can manage slopes of 25° to 35° (46% to 70%), depending on specific design features. Battery type and Auto-charging Robotic lawn mowers have batteries that need to be recharged every now and again. The batteries in robot lawn mowers take about an hour to charge, and each charge allows them to operate for several hours. When the battery is running out, the robot will automatically stop operating and return to its charging station to recharge. It’s also important that you pay attention to the battery type. Lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries are the two most frequent battery types found in robot lawn mowers. Lithium-ion batteries are clearly superior; they last longer, charge more quickly, are lighter, and have a higher energy density. While robot mowers powered by lead-acid batteries are less expensive, those powered by lithium-ion batteries are superior. Thes best robot lawn mowers have Lithium ion batteries. Weather sensors Robotic lawn mowers work outside and should be suitable for all types of weather. However, this isn't always the case. During inclement weather, such as heavy rain or snow, most manufacturers advise bringing your robot lawn mower indoors. However, some robot lawn mowers have built-in rain sensors and can react to bad weather on their own. When the sensors detect rain, the robot returns to its charging station to wait out the rain or snow. Edge-cutting/Adjustable Cutting Height Robot lawnmowers have a difficult time cutting the lawn's edges. Some robot lawnmower types, however, are better at cutting edges than others. Worx and Robomow are the best robotic lawn mowers that have sophisticated edge-cutting capabilities. That isn't to say that lawnmowers from these brands won't have difficulties with edges; they do, especially if the grass is surrounded by fences. The height adjustment options on robot lawnmowers allow you to select how low the grass will be when the robot cuts it. Cutting heights typically range from 20 mm to 60 mm, and you can choose your preferred height through the control panel or the bot's mobile app. Safety features Robotic lawnmowers have razor-sharp blades that would wreak havoc on anything they came into contact with. Consequently, these robots have a couple of safety precautions in place to prevent destructive accidents. There are collision sensors and tilt sensors, for example, which immediately stop the spinning blade if the robot is lifted or inclined to a specific degree. It’s important that you choose a robot with these safety features. Security features Because robot lawnmowers are used outside, anti-theft capabilities are essential. Pin codes and alarm systems are the most typical anti-features found in most robot mowers. Robotic lawn mower manufacturers include security pin codes that allow only the owner to program and control the machine. Some robot mowers have an alarm feature that goes off if the robot is carried outside its mowing area/perimeter wire, in addition to security pin codes. These features deter theft. Sturdy Build With Replaceable Parts When buying a lawn robot, it’s significantly important that you choose a robot with great build quality and easy-to-find replacement parts. You don’t want a crappy robot that will quickly fall apart because that's a complete waste of money. Replaceable parts, like the blades, cutting disc, wheels, battery, etc. should be readily available and easy to replace. Smart controls For added convenience, almost every household device you can conceive of now has Wi-Fi connection with smartphones, and there are some high-end robot mowers with these features. These robots can be operated and monitored via your smartphone, so you can get real-time information on your smart robotic lawnmower whether you're next door or a thousand miles away. FAQs Are robotic lawn mowers better for your lawn?Robotic lawn mowers are certainly better for your lawn because they save you lots of time, while helping you to maintain a very beautiful lawn. Robot lawn mowers also improve lawn care and produce better results.Are robotic mowers safe?These robots are very safe despite that they have very sharp spinning blades beneath them. Their design feature includes many tilt sensors and other safety sensors that turn the blades off whenever you tilt or lift the robot. Robot lawn mowers are generally safer than the gas-powered mower.Do robotic lawn mowers get stolen?Yes, however, robot mower theft is still relatively low because of the wide range of security systems built into these devices.Can robot lawn mowers cut long grass?The average robotic mower for residential use is best suited for short grass. But, there are also robotic mowers that are specially designed for taller grass with a cutting height of up to 100 millimeters.Can robotic lawn mowers do stripes?No, robot lawnmowers cannot do stripes. Stripes are created by rollers behind traditional lawn mowers. Lawn robots do not have rollers, and they randomly mow a lawn.How long do robotic lawn mowers last?With proper maintenance and since all parts are replaceable, you can expect your robot lawn mower to last for up to 15 to 20 years. On average, it will last for 10 years. Final thoughts Maintaining a neat and well-trimmed lawn is an ongoing investment of time, money and energy. But, you can be sure of your lawn always looking neat and freshly cut if you invest in a reliable robot lawn mower. We just discussed the key features to consider when buying a new robot lawn mower for hills, as well as reviewed the best products on the market, especially for inclined lawns.

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