Should you let a robot mow your lawn? | The Vergecast

《The VergeCast》节目邀请了高级智能家居测评师詹妮弗·帕特森-图伊（Jennifer Patterson-Tui）和智能家居测评师布兰登·道尔（Brandon Doyle），深入探讨了机器人割草机不断演进的世界，评估了它们目前的能力、取得的进步以及尚存的挑战。 帕特森-图伊首先回忆了她过去使用这些设备时令人沮丧的经历，那段经历伴随着炎热、汗水，甚至（对她丈夫造成的）轻微擦伤。然而，两位测评师都认为，在过去两年里，机器人割草机已经取得了长足的进步，现在它们“能满足你约95%的需求”，尽管仍需要一些维护和“照看”。 导航技术是其取得巨大进步的主要原因。早期型号依赖边界线或RTK（实时动态）GPS系统。RTK通常需要在院子里安装一根能看到开阔天空的天线杆，这在树木茂密的区域被证明是个问题。布兰登回忆说，尤其是在房屋密集、树木繁多的郊区，寻找信号非常困难。詹妮弗生动地描述她“在后院插了几个小时这些天线”，结果却被她家的南方橡树完全阻碍。 最新一代通过结合多种技术解决了这个问题。许多现在使用激光雷达进行地图绘制，并使用V-Slam或摄像头进行物体识别，这与扫地机器人类似。这使得它们即使在GPS信号微弱的情况下也能导航。更重要的是，一些公司采用了Net RTK，它连接到区域性天线，而不是需要现场安装天线杆。虽然这消除了对专用院内天线的需求，但它引入了一个潜在的未来隐忧：初始免费期过后的订阅费用。 安全性和避障功能也取得了显著改善。两位测评师都报告说，他们的测试设备成功避开了宠物和障碍物，布兰登指出他的狗和詹妮弗的鸡群都安然无恙。他们澄清说，这些刀片不是大型旋转式刀片，而是安装在切割盘上的小型剃刀刀片。詹妮弗甚至指出，新型号的刀片周围都用聚苯乙烯泡沫塑料包装，这可能是为了回应早期的安全担忧。 尽管取得了进步，挑战依然存在。这些设备体积较大，仍然会卡住，需要人工干预。詹妮弗讲述了一次“被埋的机器人割草机”事件，以及她从另一个国家远程操控一个机器人割草机回到自家院子，因为它陷在她邻居车道上的“无限循环”中。地形也一直是其历史性障碍；老型号在沙土和不平坦的地面上表现不佳。新型全轮驱动型号，如Momotion Luba 3 All-Wheel Drive和Navimo X430，提供了更好的牵引力，尽管布兰登提醒说，过大的牵引力可能会损坏小型草坪。 一个重大的即将到来的障碍是美国联邦通信委员会（FCC）对未经特殊豁免而在美国住宅和商业区运营的移动机器人实施的新禁令。这可能会减缓创新，限制新型号的上市，意味着消费者可能只能选择目前市售的型号。 从积极的一面看，机器人割草机提供了意想不到的好处。正如詹妮弗和布兰登都观察到的那样，它们持续、细小的修剪有助于形成更健康、更绿、更“蓬松”的草坪。一些先进型号甚至可以制造草坪条纹或“涂鸦”，就像布兰登在他后院创造的心形图案。速度和效率也得到了提高，一些型号提供可调节的速度。包括Ecovacs GOAT A3000 Pro在内的几款型号现在配备了修剪附件，减少了手动修边的需求，尽管围栏和花坛仍然可能造成问题。詹妮弗还强调了Dreamy A3全轮驱动Pro能够兼作安全摄像头，在夜间巡逻，这增加了显著价值。 詹妮弗称赞Momotion Luba 3的Net RTK功能，以及Dreamy A3的全轮驱动、安全摄像头和边缘修剪功能。她对Navimo X430的独特能力印象尤其深刻，它的前轮可以90度转弯并原地掉头，使其操控性极强，即使在她树木繁多的后院也能灵活操作。布兰登的首选包括Luba 3和Ecovacs GOAT A3000 Pro。他还指出，AnthBot对于小型草坪来说是一个令人惊讶的好选择，价格低于1000美元。 他们观察到，许多领先的扫地机器人制造商（Dreamy、Roborock、Ecovacs）现在正大举进军机器人割草机市场。展望未来，自动开门（Navimo的开门系统）等创新功能正在涌现，尽管两人都质疑，与简单地为不同院子区域配备两个机器人相比，这些复杂的解决方案是否总是更优。他们总结说，虽然机器人如今很有用，但它们还没有达到人人都需要的地步，考虑到它们目前的局限性，对它们“接管一切”的担忧仍然是没有根据的。他们认为，未来的重点将越来越多地放在特定用途而非通用型家用机器人上。

The VergeCast, featuring senior smart home reviewer Jennifer Patterson-Tui and smart home reviewer Brandon Doyle, delves into the evolving world of robot lawnmowers, assessing their current capabilities, advancements, and lingering challenges. Patterson-Tui opens by recounting her past frustrating experiences with these devices, marked by heat, sweat, and even minor injuries (to her husband). However, both reviewers agree that robot lawnmowers have come a long way in the past two years, now reaching "about 95% of what you're looking for," though some maintenance and "babysitting" are still required. A major leap in improvement is attributed to navigation technology. Early models relied on boundary wires or RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) GPS systems. RTK often necessitated an antenna post in the yard with a clear sky view, proving problematic in tree-heavy areas. Brandon recalls the struggles of finding a signal, especially in suburban areas where houses are close and trees abound. Jennifer vividly describes spending "hours in my backyard sticking these antennas" only to be foiled by her Southern oak trees. The latest generation addresses this by combining multiple technologies. Many now use LiDAR for mapping and V-Slam or cameras for object recognition, similar to robot vacuums. This allows them to navigate even when a GPS signal is weak. Crucially, several companies have adopted Net RTK, which connects to regionally located antennas rather than requiring an on-site post. While this eliminates the need for a dedicated yard antenna, it introduces a potential future concern: subscription costs after an initial free period. Safety and object avoidance have also seen significant improvements. Both reviewers report that their test units successfully avoided pets and obstacles, with Brandon noting his dogs and Jennifer's flock of chickens were unscathed. The blades, they clarify, are not large spinning types but small razor blades on a cutting disc. Jennifer even points out that new models are packaged with polystyrene around the blades, perhaps in response to earlier safety concerns. Despite the advancements, challenges remain. The devices are large and can still get stuck, necessitating physical intervention. Jennifer recounts a "buried robot lawnmower" incident and remotely steering one back to her yard from another country after it got stuck in an "endless loop" in her neighbor's driveway. Terrain has also been a historical hurdle; older models struggled with sandy soil and uneven ground. Newer all-wheel-drive models, like the Momotion Luba 3 All-Wheel Drive and Navimo X430, offer much better traction, though Brandon cautions that excessive traction could potentially damage a small yard. A significant upcoming hurdle is the new FCC ban on mobile robots operating around homes and businesses in the U.S. without special waivers. This could slow down innovation and limit the availability of new models, meaning consumers might be restricted to currently available units. On the positive side, robot lawnmowers offer unexpected benefits. Their consistent, tiny cuts contribute to a healthier, greener, and "fluffier" lawn, as both Jennifer and Brandon observed. Some advanced models can even create lawn stripes or "doodles," like the heart Brandon created in his backyard. Speed and efficiency have also increased, with some offering adjustable speeds. Several models, like the Ecovacs GOAT A3000 Pro, now include trimmer attachments, reducing the need for manual edging, though fences and garden beds can still pose issues. Jennifer also highlights the Dreamy A3 All-Wheel Drive Pro's ability to double as a security camera, patrolling at night, which adds significant value. Jennifer praises the Momotion Luba 3 for its Net RTK capabilities and the Dreamy A3 for its all-wheel drive, security camera, and edge trimming. She was particularly impressed by the Navimo X430's unique ability to turn its front wheels 90 degrees and spin on a dime, making it highly maneuverable, even in her tree-filled backyard. Brandon's top picks include the Luba 3 and the Ecovacs GOAT A3000 Pro. He also notes the AnthBot as a surprisingly good option for smaller yards, priced under $1,000. They observe that many leading robot vacuum manufacturers (Dreamy, Roborock, Ecovacs) are now making significant inroads into the robot lawnmower market. Looking to the future, innovative features like automatic gate opening (Navimo's gate system) are emerging, though both question if such complex solutions are always preferable to simply having two robots for different yard sections. They conclude that while robots are useful today, they are not yet at a point where everyone needs one, and fears of them "taking over" remain unfounded given their current limitations. The focus, they believe, will increasingly be on purpose-built rather than general-use household robots.