Segway Navimow H510 Pro lawnbot gets extendable robotic arm for edge trimming

TechRadar reported that trimming lawn edges has long been difficult for robotic mowers, and manufacturers have recently tried side-mounted modules for that task. Segway Navimow instead mounts the main blade on a robotic arm. When the mower reaches the lawn perimeter, the arm can extend up to 2.9 inches (7.4 cm) so the blade reaches grass other mowers may miss. The publication saw a demonstration at IFA, including a clip of the blade retracting after the edge cut.

The arm is guided by software called EdgeSense. According to TechRadar, it adjusts the arm’s movement to the kind of boundary it is trimming, with different responses for hard edges such as walls and patios, soft edges such as flower beds, and irregular edges such as table legs.

Segway Navimow says that because the edge trimmer and main mower share the same cutting deck, the result should be more consistent and even than with two separate systems. The company says its aim is to close the gap between robotic convenience and truly finished results.

To handle the safety risks of a blade outside the mower’s body, the H510 Pro has a side shield as a barrier against the blades. It also has live-detection protection, which the publication said will stop operation immediately when a human or animal comes near. The detection system partly relies on heat sensing to recognize a live creature.

The mower also uses Segway Navimow’s Xero-Turn technology, introduced at CES in January. That system turns the wheels to move the robot sideways around bends, limiting damage to grass. The H510 Pro has four independently powered wheels for precise movement and rear-wheel suspension to keep contact with the ground on uneven terrain.