We tested the RockMow Z1 LiDAR robotic lawnmower: a 4×4 beast designed for large and complicated gardens

Lawnmower robots have been promising for years to forget about garden maintenance, but the reality is that many still have problems when the terrain is complex, there are trees in the way, unevenness or narrow areas. The new Roborock’s RockMow Z1 LiDAR precisely wants to differentiate itself there: by offering a much smarter and autonomous experience even in difficult gardens, betting on advanced navigation technologies and a 4×4 traction system designed for demanding terrain.

Just take it out of the box to understand what we are talking about: more than 21 kilos of weight in a robot of considerable dimensions: 66 x 47.5 x 33 cm. A beast loaded with technology that we have been able to test for a few days and of which we are going to share some first impressions with you.

One of the most striking points of this model is its navigation system based on 360-degree 3D LiDAR combined with VSLAM. Translated into everyday life, this means that the robot is capable of reconstruct the garden in detail and move with millimeter precision, even in areas with shade or dense trees where other systems that depend on satellite signals often fail, capturing up to 200,000 points per second to understand the environment in real time.

Added to this is a binocular camera system on the front and a support light that allows you detect obstacles both day and night. It not only avoids fixed objects while mowing, but also recognizes people and animals to safely detour. It’s a much more advanced approach than many traditional robots, which simply crash or rely on more basic sensors.

Another interesting aspect is the installation. The RockMow Z1 LiDAR eliminates the need for perimeter cables or RTK antennas, something that usually complicates the initial assembly of this type of product. The process is quick and intuitive. After connecting it to the Wi-Fi network, you can create the map manually by guiding the robot from the mobile (driving it with a joystick as if it were a remote controlled car) or let the automatic mapping system with artificial intelligence detect alone the boundaries of the garden. Afterwards, the user can adjust the map from the app if necessary, so the latter is the option that we recommend a priori.

In terms of performance, this is a robot clearly aimed at difficult terrain. Its all-wheel drive system with four drive wheels allows you overcome slopes of up to 80% gradient and obstacles of up to 8 centimeters. In addition, it incorporates a patented active steering system on the front wheels that greatly improves maneuvering in tight spaces and reduces damage to the grass during turns, something quite common in other models with passive steering.

It also highlights its dynamic suspension system. The rear axle has independent springs that allow each wheel to adapt to the terrain individually, helping to keep the robot body and cutting disc stable even on uneven surfaces. In practice, with the tests we have been able to carry out, this translates into more uniform cuts and fewer problems in gardens with potholes or unevenness.

The cutting part is also quite careful. Uses six blades with double-sided design and a disk that automatically changes the direction of rotation to distribute the wear. The cutting height can be adjusted between 20 and 70 mm and the floating system adapts the disc to the terrain’s relief to maintain a homogeneous finish.

Among its functions it also draws attention anti-theft protection with alarm, PIN lock and real-time 4G location from the app (including three years of free data). When covering such large spaces – up to 2,000 square meters – this point is interesting. Of course, it also has IPX6 certified water resistance, which even allows washing with a hose.

The Roborock ‘app’, where the robotic lawnmower shares space with the rest of the brand’s connected devices, maintains the same ‘look and feel’, intuitive and comfortable to use, allowing you to control many functions in a very advanced way: set schedules, mark independent zones, make specific cutting settings andeven, manually control the robot to send it to specific areas from the garden. Although we have not been able to test it, the company also promises that it will have real-time video monitoring, allowing you to see what is happening in the garden by controlling the robot and its camera remotely.

Overall, the RockMow Z1 LiDAR is a device that more than meets the requirements, although it is aimed at a very specific user profile. Its combination of LiDAR navigation, all-wheel drive and intelligent functions make it one of the most powerful proposals in this category. However, its price (2,699 euros) limits its audience, since, in addition, some interesting functions such as the PreciEdge edge cutting system are sold separately as an additional accessory. The good news is that Roborock has expanded the family and also has the RockNeo Q1 and RockMow S1 models, which expand the price range and bring this garden care technology to a wider audience.