Short answer: This page explains 30 terms you will see on robot lawn mower pages, in plain words and in alphabetical order. Each entry is one or two sentences, with a link to a longer article when there is one.

How do I use this glossary?

Scan the list for the word that confused you, read the short entry, and follow the link if you want more. Where we quote numbers, they come from our catalog of 378 robot lawn mowers (data as of 2026-10-07). They are what the makers claim, and they only cover the models where the maker gave that figure.

What do the terms mean, A to Z?

  • 4G / cellular: A mobile phone connection built into the mower, so it can reach the internet without your home Wi-Fi. Makers use it for remote control and tracking, and it usually needs a data plan. See Do robot mowers need Wi-Fi or an app?
  • App: The phone program used to set up and control the mower, such as drawing the lawn, starting a job or changing the schedule. Some mowers can also be used with buttons on the machine. See Do robot mowers need Wi-Fi or an app?
  • AWD (all-wheel drive): All four wheels are powered, which makers say helps on slopes and wet or uneven grass. Models without it drive only some of the wheels.
  • Base station: A fixed antenna you put up in the yard, often on a pole or the house, that sends corrections to the mower so it can work out its position more precisely. Only some mowers need one. See RTK vs LiDAR vs vision.
  • Blade: The part that cuts the grass. Robot mowers use small blades that spin and are meant to be swapped now and then. See How often to replace blades.
  • Bluetooth: A short-range wireless link between your phone and the mower, often used during setup or when you are standing near the machine.
  • Boundary wire: A thin cable laid around the lawn edge, on or just under the grass, that the mower senses so it knows where to stop. See Boundary wire explained.
  • Charging dock: The small station the mower drives to for charging and parking. Some makers call it a charging station.
  • Cutting height: How long the grass is left after mowing, usually set in millimeters. Among the 328 models with a claimed minimum height, the middle value is 20 mm. Among the 327 with a claimed maximum, it is 70 mm.
  • Cutting width: The width of the strip the blades cut in one pass. Among the 331 models with a claimed width, the middle value is 22 cm, with a range from 16 cm to 62 cm.
  • Edge cutting: Mowing close to walls, fences and flower beds. Makers describe different ways of doing this, and a hand trimmer is often still needed for tight spots, so check the manual.
  • Geofence (anti-theft): A virtual fence around your property. If the mower is moved outside it, an alert can be sent or the mower can lock itself, depending on the model.
  • GNSS / GPS: Satellite positioning. GPS is the best-known system, and GNSS is the general name for all of them. Ordinary phone-grade GPS is not precise enough on its own for tidy mowing, which is why mowers add other aids. See RTK vs LiDAR vs vision.
  • IPX rating: A code for how well a device resists water. A higher second digit means more water resistance, for example IPX4 for splashes and IPX6 for strong jets, but it is not a promise the mower can be left in any weather. In our data, 139 models list IPX6 and 80 list IPX5. See Rain and winter.
  • LiDAR: A sensor that sends out laser pulses and measures how long they take to bounce back, building a picture of the space around the mower. See RTK vs LiDAR vs vision.
  • Lift sensor: A sensor that notices when the mower is picked up or tipped, which makers commonly use to stop the blades. Never rely on it alone; follow the safety steps in the manual. See Safety for kids and pets.
  • Mapping: The mower builds or follows a digital map of your lawn, so it knows which parts to cut. Some mowers make the map while you drive them around the edge, others learn it on their own.
  • No-go zone: An area on the map the mower is told to stay out of, like a flower bed, pond or play area. With a wire system, this is usually done by laying wire around the spot instead.
  • Obstacle detection: The mower's way of noticing things in its path, using cameras, laser sensors or touch bumpers. Makers claim different levels of detection, so look for what the maker says about small objects.
  • OTA update: A software update sent over the internet ("over the air"), so the mower can get new features and fixes without a visit to a shop.
  • PIN lock: A code that must be entered before the mower can be used or switched off, meant to deter casual misuse or theft.
  • Rain sensor: A part that detects rain so the mower can pause and return to its dock. Not every model has one, and our catalog does not track it, so check each maker's page.
  • Return to dock: The mower drives itself back to the charging dock when its battery is low, a job is done, or the weather turns.
  • RTK: A method that uses a nearby fixed reference point to correct satellite positions, which makers say gets accuracy down to a few centimeters. See RTK vs LiDAR vs vision.
  • Schedule: The days and hours you allow the mower to run. Because robot mowers cut a little at a time, they are usually set to work often.
  • Slope percent: How steep a hill is: the rise divided by the run, times 100. A 25% slope is about 14 degrees, 45% is about 24 degrees, 80% is about 39 degrees, and 100% is 45 degrees. See Mowers for slopes and hills.
  • Virtual boundary: A lawn edge set on a map in the app, with no wire in the ground. See Wire-free mowers explained.
  • Wi-Fi: Your home wireless network. A mower that uses it can talk to the app and receive updates, as long as the signal reaches the mower. See Do robot mowers need Wi-Fi or an app?
  • Wire-free: A mower that does not need a boundary wire. Instead it uses satellites, cameras, lasers or a mix to find its way. In our catalog, 292 models are marked wire-free and 85 are not. See Wire-free mowers explained.
  • Zone / multi-zone: A separate part of the lawn, such as a front yard and a back yard, that may be joined only by a narrow gap. Multi-zone support means the mower can be set up to handle more than one area. See How to measure your lawn.

What this means for you

You do not need to learn every term. Most buying choices come down to a few: how the mower finds its way (wire-free or wire), how big and steep your lawn is, and how it connects. The rest are details you can look up here when a spec sheet uses them.

Next step: Answer a few questions about your yard in the Help me choose quiz, or read How to choose a robot lawn mower.

Quick answers

Is GPS enough for a robot mower? Makers who use satellite positioning usually add a correction method such as RTK, plus cameras or other sensors. Phone-grade GPS alone is not precise enough for neat lines.

Does IPX6 mean I can leave it out in a storm? Not necessarily. The rating describes water resistance of the machine, and makers still give their own advice on weather. Read the manual.

Is a base station the same as a charging dock? No. A base station is an antenna that improves positioning. A charging dock is where the mower parks and charges. Some systems have both, sometimes in one unit.

Do all mowers have an app? Many do, but features differ from model to model. Check the maker's page for what works without the app.