Remember when Saturday mornings meant spending hours pushing a noisy mower across your lawn? Those days might finally be over – and your back will thank you. After seeing Segway’s latest robotic lawn wizard in action during a recent trip to France, I’m convinced this robotics technology is going to change weekend routines for homeowners across America.
Segway has officially launched its Navimow X3 Series in the US. This heavy-duty lawn guardian can tackle large properties up to 2.5 acres, making it ideal for suburban homeowners with larger lots who are tired of spending precious weekends maintaining their lawn.
During my visit to a sprawling estate outside Paris last month, myself and a group of journalists from around the world watched as the X3 navigated around a lawn and around some small objects – and it was “magnifique!”.
That said, robot lawn mowers are not a new concept. As a matter of fact, Segway’s Navimow series has become very popular in countries like France and Germany. And now their newest, most advanced series of robotic lawnmower has arrived in the U.S. at Lowes.
The X3 Series operates at double the average speed of other robotic mowers on the market, covering up to 5,000 square feet (about 1.25 acres) in just 24 hours. For perspective, that’s roughly the size of a football field — all being mowed while you’re sleeping, watching TV, or just enjoying your weekend.
It also tackles slopes up to 27 degrees (that’s steeper than most residential driveways) without hesitation.
If you’ve looked into robot lawn mowers before, you might recall that early models required burying boundary wires around your property–which could become a weekend project in itself. However, with the X3 series, Segway has eliminated that hassle with their EFLS 3.0 navigation system, which uses the same technology found in precision agriculture and surveying equipment.
That means the X3 knows where it is and where it’s going without you laying down a single wire. During my France visit, the local Segway representative talked about how the system combines satellite positioning with visual navigation cameras to create a detailed map of the property. So even under dense tree cover where satellite signals typically fail, the X3 maintained perfect tracking. The system is also certified by TÜV Rheinland for efficiency, making it the first robot mower to earn that distinction.
The X3 comes equipped with three wide-angle cameras and a special sensor that gives it 300-degree vision. It can also identify over 200 types of obstacles, from low-hanging tree branches to pets.
During my demonstration in France, I watched the X3 detected a dog stuffed animal, pause its operation, and navigate around the “pup” with a generous buffer zone.
After seeing the X3 Series in action on that beautiful French estate, I came away convinced that robotic mowers have finally reached the point where they’re a practical solution for American homeowners with larger properties.
Fortunately, you don’t need to travel to Europe to get your hands on this tech. The Segway Navimow X3 Series is available right now at retailers across the US, including Lowe’s.
Models range from the X315 at $2,299 (handling yards up to 0.4 acres) to the X390 at $4,999 (tackling estates up to 2.5 acres). So no, it’s not cheap, but consider how many weekends of yard work you’ll reclaim over the next decade if you purchase one.