RTK vs LiDAR vs Camera Robot Mowers UK 2026: What Actually Works

A technical UK explainer of RTK GPS, LiDAR and camera navigation for robot mowers — and how to choose based on your garden.

Wire‑free robot mowers are one of the biggest areas of buyer interest in 2026. The right question isn’t “which tech is best?” — it’s “which tech is stable in my garden layout?”

RTK GPS (and what it needs to work)

RTK systems use satellite positioning corrected by a base station. They can be excellent in open-sky gardens and flexible when you change borders. They can struggle in corners with poor sky view or near tall buildings.

LiDAR navigation (strengths and trade-offs)

LiDAR uses laser scanning to understand surroundings. It can help in gardens with partial canopy, but performance still depends on how the mower interprets objects and boundaries. It does not fix bumpy turf or muddy choke points.

Camera-based navigation

Camera systems can identify edges and obstacles, and may be cost-effective. Performance depends heavily on lighting conditions, edge definition and how cluttered the mowing area is.

For a broader decision, compare wired vs wire‑free in this guide.

Most common installation issues seen in UK gardens

• Docking reliability problems: the station is placed on a slope, in a tight corner, or on soft ground that shifts seasonally.
• Wheelspin and turf wear: wet clay plus repeated tight turns, especially during long wet spells.
• Missed strips and “uncut triangles”: raised borders, sharp corners and narrow passages limit how close the mower can work.
• Repeat “stuck” alerts: a single terrain hotspot that needs levelling or exclusion rather than repeated rescues.

What professional installers assess before recommending a setup

Installers listed in our UK dealer directory typically measure slope percentage, assess drainage, check narrow passages and turning zones, and plan a docking approach that stays reliable year-round.

Local context matters. Clay-heavy lawns and compact layouts are common in areas like West Midlands and West Yorkshire, which can change the “best” setup for traction, turning behaviour and schedule choices.

Manufacturer reality (neutral): brands such as Segway Navimow offer models aimed at different garden types, but your outcome is driven more by suitability and installation quality than by the logo on the mower.

Signal and “dead zone” reality in UK gardens

In urban environments — and some newer estates — tall buildings and dense hedges can create signal shadows. The problem usually shows up in corners, near walls, and under heavy canopy. If your garden is tight and enclosed, a feasibility check matters.

Our complex gardens guide explains how choke points and corners affect navigation.

What to ask installers about wire‑free systems

• Where will the base / reference be placed and why?
• Which corners are most likely to be unstable and what’s the workaround?
• How will exclusions and “no-go” zones be handled?
• What’s the plan if the mower repeatedly loses position in one corner?

If you’re considering switching from wired to wire‑free, see Switching from boundary wire to wire‑free.

Frequently asked questions

Is RTK always better than wired?
Not always. RTK can be excellent in suitable gardens, but wired installs are often more predictable in enclosed or heavily canopied layouts.

Does rain affect RTK accuracy?
Rain itself is usually not the main issue. Sky view, buildings and canopy are bigger factors. Wet ground can still affect traction during mapping runs.

What’s the best option for tight urban gardens?
Often a wired system or a wire-free system proven stable in enclosed conditions — feasibility checks matter.

A quick 5‑minute garden audit you can do today

Walk the boundary and mark anything the mower must not touch: steps, ponds, sharp drops, low windows, fragile borders.

Identify where the mower must turn: tight corners and narrow passages drive real-world performance far more than total area.

Take 6–10 photos for an installer: charging power point, narrowest corridor, steepest slope, wettest corner, and any raised edging.

How to compare quotes without getting tricked by ‘cheap’ installs

Ask what is included: boundary routing or mapping, station placement, app setup, first-week tuning, and follow-up support.

If one quote is far lower, it often excludes time-consuming design work (islands, exclusions, corridor tuning) that prevents future call-outs.

Get assumptions in writing. Good installers state what could change after a site survey.

The practical ‘set-and-forget’ target for

UK ownership

Aim for a schedule that keeps the lawn consistently short in daylight hours, then reduces runtime during very wet weeks to protect turf.

Treat the first week as tuning. Small boundary offsets and station adjustments are normal and usually solve repeat problems.

If the mower fails in the same place twice, fix the spot (level, firm up, exclude). Don’t hope it ‘learns’ out of it.

Feasibility checks that prevent expensive regrets

For RTK: check sky view in the worst corner, not the best open patch. Corners near buildings and under trees are where problems show up.

For camera systems: check edge definition and lighting. Low winter sun and heavy shade can affect perception in some gardens.

For any wire‑free approach: plan base placement with stable power and clear signal environment. A ‘convenient’ base location often causes recurring dropouts.

When a wired system is still the smart technical choice

If your garden is enclosed by walls, has dense canopy over key areas, or has corners that regularly lose satellite visibility, wired can be more predictable.

Wired also tolerates ‘busy’ environments: toys, seasonal furniture, and visual clutter have less impact on boundary definition.

If you want to change boundaries frequently, wire‑free can be worth it — but only if feasibility checks are positive.

Quick checklist for rtk vs lidar vs camera robot mower uk 2026

• Write down your steepest slope and narrowest passage.
• Identify any wet corner after rain and decide whether to exclude it.
• Plan a station location with a clean approach route.
• Get assumptions in writing from installers.

Notes for UK gardens in 2026

Wire‑free systems are improving quickly, but the deciding factor is still suitability: corners, canopy and docking approach. Treat setup as a design task and you’ll get a better finish with fewer interventions.

Corner cases: where each navigation method tends to struggle

RTK tends to struggle in enclosed corners with poor sky view. LiDAR can struggle when the environment changes frequently (moving furniture, seasonal clutter) if the system relies heavily on reference scans. Camera systems can struggle when edges are visually ambiguous (leaf litter, low contrast borders, heavy shade).

The practical point: don’t choose tech based on a headline feature. Choose it based on the worst part of your garden, because that’s where reliability is decided.

How to run a quick feasibility check without buying anything

Stand in your lawn corners and look up: is the sky mostly open or heavily blocked by buildings/trees? Walk your narrowest passage: is it wide and firm enough for repeated travel? Identify the wettest spot: could a mower traverse it after rain? If the answer is “no”, plan an exclusion or fix the area first.

What to send with your quote request (so you get useful answers)

• Photos of the steepest slope, narrowest passage, and wettest corner.
• Where power is available for the charging station.
• Any hazards: ponds, steps, drops, fragile borders.
• Whether you want day-only mowing (wildlife/pets) and any quiet-time rules.

Then use Get 3 quotes and compare the design approach, not just the price.

Technical note

For rtk vs lidar vs camera robot mower uk 2026, the reliable outcome comes from matching constraints (slope, drainage, corridors and edges) to a navigation approach, then tuning the first week. The mower should dock reliably, avoid repeat bumps, and maintain a consistent cut height rather than trying to “catch up” after missed days.

UK scenario examples (how these issues show up in real installs)

Scenario 3: The ‘invisible’ docking problem

Docking failures often look random because they happen after hours of mowing. In reality, the last metre of the approach route is soft or uneven. The mower arrives slightly off-line and can’t align. Level and firm the approach and most ‘mystery docking errors’ disappear.

Scenario 2: The narrow side return

The mower’s day can be dominated by one narrow passage. If it has to travel through a 90cm corridor with tight turns at both ends, it spends time correcting and turning rather than cutting. Reliability improves when you widen the corridor, firm up the surface, or decide that one small zone is better maintained manually.

Scenario 4: The edge expectation gap

If your borders are raised, a small strip is normal. The quickest improvement is either making one key edge flush (where you care most), or accepting that a quick trim pass every couple of weeks is part of ownership. Designing for reliability beats chasing perfect edges everywhere.

These scenarios are why suitability-first planning matters. If you want confidence before purchase, use Get 3 quotes and share photos of the tricky areas.