GPS-RTK models use two GPS receivers — one on the mower, one on a reference antenna — to reach centimeter-level positioning accuracy. They deliver the clean parallel mowing lines you see in demo videos and handle open lawns beautifully. The requirement is sky view: dense tree canopy blocks the satellite signal, causing the mower to pause or wander. If your lawn is mostly open with a few trees at the edges, GPS-RTK is often the best experience.
LiDAR models use spinning laser scanners to map their surroundings in three dimensions. They work under trees because they do not depend on sky signal — the laser bounces off nearby objects regardless of canopy. They also handle moving obstacles (kids, pets, garden hoses) better than the other systems. The tradeoff is cost: LiDAR pushes prices toward the premium tier of the category, and the sensor housing looks industrial on the mower.
Vision-based models use one or more cameras plus computer-vision software to identify lawn versus not-lawn. They fall between LiDAR and pure GPS on tree tolerance — they can work under partial canopy where there is still ambient light and clear ground contrast. Vision struggles in low light, so nighttime mowing may be unavailable or degraded. Many newer models combine vision with GPS-RTK to get the best of both.
The short mapping: mostly open lawn — GPS-RTK is fine and often cheapest. Some tree canopy, moderate budget — hybrid GPS-RTK plus vision. Dense tree cover or premium budget — LiDAR. If a salesperson tells you their GPS-RTK unit handles heavy shade fine, ask for the return policy in writing.
MowerIndex · Updated Sep 2026