How to Choose the Right Ambrogio Robot Mower Model

Ambrogio has the widest range of robot lawn mowers in the industry, which is great because the robot can be "optimized" for each yard's unique characteristics: flat vs. hills, dense vs. sparse grass, large vs. small, etc. But the down side is it can make the selection process daunting. This post will simplify the selection process.

The first step toward selecting your robot is to find a knowledgeable local dealer. Dealers are trained to help you make the right choice. You may not find a dealer near you yet, so the next best is buy over the internet. When making your purchase online, beware. Many retailers are effectively clerks who don't know anything. Good luck getting your questions answered or support after your purchase. Make sure you interview each seller to determine their knowledge and responsiveness prior to your purchase. If you do choose to purchase from a less knowledgeable seller, be sure to buy my Ambrogio robot mower installation guide on Amazon so at least you will be able to install your robot properly on your own.

How to Estimate the Total Mowing Area for a Robot Lawn Mower

The second step is to estimate the total mowing area. You will know a maximum area easily by understanding the property lot size. Take a look at your property via satellite and estimate how much needs to be mowed by guessing the percentage of the area that is actually grass (i.e. minus the house, driveway, pool, landscaping, etc.). If you want a more precise measurement use the satellite measurement method described in my Ambrogio installation guide. Or, if you plan to make your purchase from Paradise Robotics or one of our dealers, call (847) 960-8520 and we will make the measurements for you at no charge.

The total mowing area is the most important factor for narrowing down the choices and selecting the optimum robot for your lawn. But it is not an absolute requirement, because except for the very large commercial robot, all Ambrogio models are suitable for small lawns. That is, you can always put a robot lawn mower for a very large area on a small lawn and run it less often. Even the L350i that can maintain up to 1.75 acres can be used on a lawn as small as 0.2 acres or even less. You may have a specific reason for wanting to do this, such as it has a larger blade, it will catch-up faster after being paused, you have a second robot in another area and you want both robots to be the same model, you like how it looks, etc.

Ambrogio 350i Elite

And, the reverse is true for certain models that have the Infinity System. Up to 8 Infinity System robots can be set-up to mow within one perimeter wire loop. You could start with a robot lawn mower model that might not keep the lawn maintained to your satisfaction over the life of the battery and plan to add a second robot after the battery ages.

Ambrogio Robot Lawn Mower Large Yard Considerations, 2 Acres to 5 Acres

By the way, you might be wondering what the deal is with large yards, such as 2 acres or more. A thorough analysis by your dealer is required. It is very likely the 400i multi-acre robot will not be recommended. Generally speaking, this model works best on sports fields. 

It is much better to use multiple wire loops to cover an area of any size, or use multiple robots in one loop on the Infinity System due to the terrain, obstacles and other reasons. Residential properties are usually not a good fit for L400i or L450i. The assistance of a local dealer is required for complex multi-acre properties.

Robot Lawn Mower: Total Mowing Area Close to Robot Specification

If the total mowing area is close to the specification of the robot lawn mower you are interested in, always choose the higher capacity model, or choose an Infinity System model so you will be able to add a second robot later if the performance does not meet your expectations. 

Factors such as extra dense grass, regular sprinkling/fertilizing, a high number of obstacles, a need to define more than 3-4 areas, narrow strips of grass, a narrow property shape often mean a higher capacity robot is warranted vs trying to select a model close to the maximum area the robot can maintain. 

Generally the maximum area specification is for an open field with no obstacles. If you can accept unmowed grass in areas or patchiness in part of the lawn, one way to stretch the capability of a robot model is to add blocking wires so it can be trapped in key areas where you want the lawn to look perfect, such as near the house or the front yard. Then have it mow less often in areas far away that are not generally seen. Your lawn will still be cut but it might not look as perfect in those far-away areas as a larger capacity robot would be capable of maintaining.

Ambrogio Robots for Lawns with Very Steep Slopes

Measure the slopes and check them against the robot's specifications. This is very easy to do with an app on your smartphone. Be sure to use an app that measures in the appropriate units (angle vs percent slope). Angle is more intuitive so if the measurement seems off, check the units.

All Ambrogio robot lawn mower models tolerate gradual slopes within the lawn really well. Typical models can mow slopes up to 24 degrees. 24 degrees is really steep! A gradual slope is a slope that continues for 3 feet/1mt or more. L85 Elite can mow steep slopes up to 29 degrees and Quad can mow ridiculously steep slopes up to 37 degrees. 

Ambrogio robot lawn mowers include an inclinometer sensor that measures the angle of tilt and the changes in slope as the robot is mowing. Except for L85 Elite and Quad, models that use a perimeter wire need to have the wire placed on mainly flat ground (a slight slope of 11 degrees is acceptable). L85 Elite and Quad can have the wire placed on a slope if less than 19 degrees and 31 degrees, respectively. If your lawn has slopes at its edges that slope down (away from the lawn) always check out L85 Elite or Quad first. 

Ambrogio L85 Elite

Ambrogio Quad Elite

If the slope on the lawn perimeter or interior is too steep for L85 Elite or Quad, it will be necessary to move the wire onto a less steep or flat part and mow the sloped areas another way. Or, replace the grass with plants, wildflowers or something else. Surprisingly, in actual installations, slopes at the edges that are steeper than 11 degrees but slope into the lawn proved to function even though the slope was closer to the maximum specification for inside the lawn. In general the robot may experience more errors in this case. And, it should be noted that operating a robot outside its specifications may invalidate the warranty.

A few side notes: sharp slopes over shorter distances can activate the robot's tilt safety mechanism, which will cause the robot to reverse its direction. Mature trees with flanges at the bottom will cause the robot to detect a sharp slope; the robot will climb the tree before reversing. These trees need to be excluded from the mowing area. Use the wire, vertical borders, sturdy stakes, etc. that are 4-8" tall, depending on the model and material used.

Ambrogio Robot Lawn Mower with No Perimeter Wire

Ambrogio offers two robot lawn mower models with no perimeter wire but they are strictly for very small lawns, 0.25 acres or less.

How to Choose Ambrogio L60

The L60 Elite S+ and its cousins, L60 Elite and L60 Deluxe robot lawn mowers that don't use a perimeter wire, use humidity sensors for detecting non-organic lawn borders (such as concrete), cliff sensors (for detecting curbs) and bump sensors (for mowing inside a fenced area and to detect obstacles). This perimeter-wire free robot has many advantages:

• It is very easy to use. Turn it on, press play. Charge. Repeat.
• Mows 1/4 acre in 2-3 charges 
• Lightweight, comes with easy-to-use handles 
• Compatible with invisible dog fences

But there are a few important things to keep in mind: 1) it is not fully automatic. Charge the robot in your garage, place it in the grass. 2) it is not a good fit for you if you like your grass tall 3) if your grass is connected to your neighbor's grass, it will mow your neighbor's lawn 4) your flowerbeds or trees may need a ring of river rock around them. River rock is low cost, it comes in many colors and is and ideal for activation of the humidity sensors which will cause the robot to reverse its direction.

Ambrogio L60

How to Choose Ambrogio Twenty ZR No Perimeter Wire Robot Lawn Mower

Twenty ZR is a great choice because it is much simpler to set-up than a robot lawn mower with a perimeter wire. Like the L60, it uses humidity sensors with optional automatic charging via the included base recharging kit. When the recharging kit is installed, the robot mower uses a guide wire to find its way back to the base. The level of precision and the total length of the guide wire compared to a perimeter wire is like night and day, that is, it is much easier to install the single guide wire vs the perimeter wire around the entire property.

Ambrogio Twenty ZR

This robot lawn mower includes radar for obstacle detection and humidity sensors for detection of non-organic surfaces. Obstacles that are perpendicular to the ground and at least 3.5 inches/9 cm tall will be detected by its radar. This dramatically reduces wear and tear vs mechanical or wheel resistance bump sensing that is available on all other robots on the market. Non-organic surfaces such as concrete, pavers, river rock, flagstone, etc. will be detected by the humidity sensors, causing it to reverse its direction.

The key technical parameters to enable choosing Twenty ZR are to first pay attention to the obstacle vertical height requirement. The robot mower will climb trees that flare at the bottom because eventually the tires will ride up the flare like a slope. Add ground stakes or river rock to enable the robot lawn mower to sense the tree. It also cannot navigate over exposed tree roots (like all robots). These can be cut with a chain saw or delimited with rock or pebbles.

Then determine if the lawn has any secondary areas. These are areas blocked by narrow passages such as a flowerbed next to a walkway with at least 5 feet/150cm in between. If blocked area has obstacles such as trees on its sides, then for fully automatic mowing the distance must be increased to 6.5 feet/2 mt. Otherwise the area will be a "closed area" that the robot mower does not find on its own, you will place the robot in those areas. If you have this situation and don't want to carry the robot lawn mower to various places in the yard, then a robot mower with a perimeter wire is a much better choice. Twenty ZR supports up to 4 areas.

And, of course, like L60, this robot lawn mower requires a non-organic border such as river rock next to bed edges and it will mow your neighbor's yard unless you create a border, add a fence or install a 4" tall physical barrier the radar can detect.

Why Choose an Extra Simple Ambrogio Robot Mower

Ambrogio still offers its classic robot lawn mower models that do not require the use of a smartphone app. Get them while you can because the trend is certainly to require the use of a smartphone for all low cost models. If you don't own a smartphone or don't want to get one, models such as L85 Elite and L210 Elite robot lawn mowers are perfect for you. These robots are extremely durable, like all Ambrogio robots. They do a lot for the money and they get the job done, just like their fancier cousins. They use the motto of KISS: "Keep it Simple, Stupid". 

If you just want your lawn mowed, don't hesitate - purchase a classic Ambrogio robot lawn mower. L85 Elite mows up to 0.6 acres. L210 Elite mows up to 0.75 acres.

An Airtag or GPS tracking device can be used for theft recovery of the simplest and lowest cost Ambrogio models.

Ambrogio L85 Elite Blade

Ambrogio L210

How to Choose your Ambrogio Based on Mowing Height

If you love to mow your grass high and can't be talked out of it, then Ambrogio's 4.0 High Cut robots are an excellent choice. They mow from 2.8"-3.7". There are six models to choose from to help you optimize your budget. 4.0 Basic High Cut mows up to 0.6 acres. You can select Light, Medium or Premium as appropriate for the size of your lawn. 4.0 Elite High Cut mows up to 0.85 acres and is available as Medium, Premium or Extra Premium (with inductive charging). 

Ambrogio 4.0 Elite High Cut

In operation, the 4.0 High Cut seems to perform better when the wire is on the slope than 4.0 Standard Cut robot lawn mower. This is anecdotal and is not supported by the manufacturer's specifications. Therefore, be prepared to move the wire if there are issues.

If you can accept the mowing height a little lower, then check out the L250 line, available as 250 Deluxe, 250i Elite or 250i Elite S+. Ambrogio Quad is another model to take a look at. These models mow up to 2.8".

Ambrogio L250i

Do you have St. Augustine grass? Ambrogio 4.0 High Cut was specifically designed for this grass. 4.0, 250i and 350i are good choices for very dense grass such as Bermuda grass.

Why Choose a Robot Lawn Mower that Cuts Low vs. High

For my tall-grass readers who are willing to consider a standard-height robot that has a maximum mowing height of 2.4", here is how I explain why the shorter-than-typical mowing height is actually ideal. Bear in mind your robot is mowing daily, unlike a standard mower that is used weekly. The grass never has a chance to get tall. Unlike traditional mulching mowers with large clumps of clippings, Ambrogio's clippings are so fine, they are invisible.  Why does this matter? The grass now puts its energy to the roots, making it healthier, more drought tolerant and more resistant to weeds because its density gradually increases due to the fertilization of the clippings. I even wrote an article many years ago about how the frequent cutting of a robot lawn mower is a method to reduce thatch. Plus it's the only way achieve the manicured look by avoiding "grass blade droop". Many owners of high-cut robots end up lowering the blade after owning the robot awhile. Did I convince you??

Can Ambrogio Robots Trim Edges?

Considering how much trimming will be left to do is certainly important and may sway the choice toward one model or another. First bear in mind that Ambrogio robots can actually do all of the trimming, but, since most yards were not designed with a robot in mind, this most likely cannot be achieved without some "mini landscaping projects" first. The software includes a "Border Cut" mode that enables deliberate edge trimming on a schedule you choose.

Ambrogio Robot Lawn Mower - Mulch Bed Trimming 

Generally speaking, all Ambrogio robots can mow over mulch if conditions are acceptable. A hard driving surface is always best, but that does not mean driving on mulch won't work at all. The best way to verify whether the robot can dependably drive on top of mulch is to set up a test loop prior to installing the wire. Run it for an hour or a week for a more thorough test. If the robot gets stuck, move the wire away from the mulch as indicated in the owners manual and plan to trim along the mulch beds. Or, improve the bed edges to eliminate the trimming. 

For example, if you want the robot to do the trimming along beds, first get rid of the "evil plastic landscape edging" that interferes with the robot's ability to navigate. The robot can drive with one wheel on the mulch if the wire is placed 2 inches/5cm away from the mulch. Best case is to "harden" the driving surface in some way. Loose mulch over hard ground works, but it decays (maintenance required). It becomes soft when it rains. Deep spade edges do not work. Consider that the front wheels might go over the edges while mowing which can tear-up the bed edges. Leveling the mulch with the edge solves this problem. My Ambrogio Installation Guide contains several suggestions for how to harden mulch bed edges. 

Ambrogio Robot Lawn Mower Reducing Trimming Next to Physical Objects

All Ambrogio robots have the blade well inside the robot's chassis for safety reasons. Then if the robot drives next to something physical and the grass grows next to the object (house, tree, mailbox, etc), there will be some number of inches of unmowed grass. This grass will need to be eliminated with a landscaping project or trimmed periodically. Certain models were designed with this in mind and leave less uncut grass next to physical objects. 

It is easy to calculate the relative amount of unmowed grass between different models when the wire is placed next to something physical. The required wire placement distance is in the robot's user manual. Generally it is 8"/20cm for very small robots and 14"/36cm for most of the medium-sized robots (other than L400). Take the robot's blade diameter from the user manual or the Ambrogio model page's technical specifications chart and divide it by two. Subtract this number from the physical object wire placement distance in the manual. 

I did the calculations and found the amount of unmowed grass varies quite a bit per model, anywhere from 2.8"-8.3". But it is also true that this calculation is misleading. It should only be used in a relative sense, to understand the relative difference in the blade's closeness to the robot's body between the models. While the robot is mowing, it approaches the wire at all angles and goes over the wire to some degree, the amount is programmable for some models. This also trims the edges. There will be significantly less unmowed grass than the calculation in reality. Generally you can expect around 4" for medium-sized Ambrogio robot models and 2" for very small robots such as Twenty Elite or Twenty ZR.

Twenty ZR Blade Close to Edge

Ambrogio Models with Flexible Programmability

The best way to use Ambrogio and have the lawn stay mowed always is the "let it do its thing" and don't try to overly control the mowing pattern. For some cases, however, it can be desirable to keep the robot trapped in one area vs another such as to reduce the probability of a theft or to reduce proximity to a busy street, pedestrians, children or pets. If there is no fence, it will be necessary to add "zone gates", a special shape of the perimeter wire, to trap the robot. This ensures it does not wander into the undesired area by random chance. Homeowners in dense, suburban neighborhoods often choose a robot model with a touch screen for this reason.

Whenever taking advantage of a touch-screen model's programming flexibility, it is important to choose a model with extra capacity because the extra time required to navigate to each mowing area detracts from the total coverage the robot is capable of.

Here are some popular models that have a version with a touch screen: 4.0 Elite, 4.36 Elite, 250i Elite, 250i Elite S+, 350i Elite, Quad Elite.

How to Keep Ambrogio Robot Lawn Mowers from Being Stolen

Thankfully theft rings that target robot lawn mowers do not seem to exist. But realistically, when there's a will, there's a way. Nothing will stop a thief who is intent upon stealing your robot. Add property insurance to your homeowners policy as added protection. Common sense cautions minimize thefts and the latest technology takes thefts to another level, by actually helping law enforcement catch thieves.

Robot Lawn Mower Theft Protection Common Sense Approach

Keep your charging base in an inconspicuous area and program your robot to mow at times when people are not around. This is the safer approach, anyway.

Robot Lawn Mower Theft Protection Technology: Built-in or Added Later

Ambrogio models that include the "Connect" feature, have built-in theft notification and recovery. It uses GPS and will detect if the robot leaves your neighborhood. The app provides and alert and the current location. The robot cannot be powered down easily by the thief. First, confirm the robot is actually no longer present. Then call 911 to report a robbery in progress. Provide the coordinates of the robot and send the police to retrieve it.

Ambrogio models that do not include the "Connect" feature can be protected with an Airtag or a GPS tracking device. There are multi-year battery GPS tracking devices that can be polled when the robot is no longer on the property. These devices are waterproof and can be easily mounted to the robot externally with Gorilla Glue or Gorilla Tape.

Choosing the Right Ambrogio Model Step by Step

1. Determine the total mowing area. Large yard > 2 acres? Find a dealer.
2. Determine the slopes at the lawn edges and within the lawn
3. Is there a desire to mow the grass taller?
4. Narrow down the list of appropriate models considering 1-3.
5. Can you use the L60 or Twenty ZR wire-free models?
6. Consider simplicity vs interacting with a smartphone (L210 Elite/L85 Elite)
7. Consider the desired mowing height importance
8. Consider grass density, e.g. specialty grasses such as Bermuda Grass or St Augustine grass. Choose a high cut robot for St. Augustine/Floratam and a heavier robot for Bermuda grass.
9. If there are many vertical obstacles, consider a model with radar or mechanical bumping vs an outer cover bump mechanism. 
10. Consider the size and complexity of the lawn. Will the installation have more than four zones? Choose a larger capacity model.
11. Consider the "must have" features and options such as notifications from the robot, Geofence for theft recovery, Amico and spiked wheels for better traction on slopes.
12. Consider your budget, your purchase habits (only want the best vs mid-range), the style and color, more durable vs less durable, etc.

Once 1-12 are understood, there will only be a few models left to choose from. 

How to Choose Ambrogio Robot Model Summary

The charts in this section summarize the capabilities of the Ambrogio robot lawn mower model range. Some models are not included for brevity.

Ambrogio Robots' Maximum Coverage Including Multi-Acre Yards 3 Acres+

Ambrogio robot lawn mowers are ideal for all lawn sizes, including large yards with 1 acre, 2 acres, 3 acres or more. Use the maximum coverage chart to understand the maximum a robot can maintain considering it is maintaining an open field without obstacles. Allow for 20% less in reality, which is a general rule of thumb that accounts for zones, obstacles and dense grass. The robots are shown as "platforms" to enable grouping similar robots together. This chart facilitates steps 1-3.

The next two charts facilitate steps 4-12. In these charts, models are indicated but some models are not included for brevity. Generally the models not shown have the same great quality but might not have notifications/geofence built-in. They typically have lower prices. An Airtag or GPS tracking device can be used for theft recovery for the lower cost models. View all additional models on the Ambrogio robot lawn mower site.

If you are still confused and plan to purchase from Paradise Robotics or one of our dealers, call (847) 960-8520. We are glad to assist you with your purchase.