EcoFlow Blade: A Wire-Free Robotic Lawn Mower

EcoFlow Blade: A Wire-Free Robotic Lawn Mower with Exceptional Performance

EcoFlow Blade Investing in a robotic lawn mower often entails the tedious task of laying perimeter wires to guide its movements. However, the EcoFlow Blade, priced at $2,899, offers an enticing alternative. This innovative mower excels at cutting your lawn without the need for wires, thanks to its utilization of Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS technology for navigation. Although it presents certain setup requirements, such as a clear view of the sky, it could be a cost-effective choice for those with the right yard conditions, especially when compared to the more expensive wire-guided Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD priced at $3,999.99.

EcoFlow Blade: Sleek Design and Strong Connectivity

The EcoFlow Blade boasts a modern design with an aluminum alloy body, omnidirectional front wheels, and rugged all-terrain tires. Its appearance is more reminiscent of a Mars rover than a traditional lawn mower. Measuring at 17.0 by 26.0 by 12.0 inches (HWD) and weighing 35.7 pounds, it is slightly smaller and lighter than its competitor, the Husqvarna Automower 435X (11.4 by 21.7 by 36.6 inches, 38 pounds). Furthermore, it offers a wider cutting width of 10.2 inches, outperforming the Husqvarna’s 8.7 inches. However, its mowing coverage of 0.75 acres is slightly less than the Husqvarna’s 0.90-acre capacity.

The EcoFlow Blade features two slim LED headlights at the front, and its top houses a rechargeable battery compartment, providing up to 240 minutes of operation. When the battery is depleted, the mower autonomously returns to its docking station for a 130-minute full recharge. The LED headlights indicate the mower’s status: solid blue when operational, pulsing green during charging, and blinking red when the battery level drops below 20%.

At the rear of the mower, a taillight indicates the GNSS antenna status. It pulsates orange while searching for a satellite signal, flashes blue when it has a strong signal, and blinks red when there is no signal. The rear also features power, start, stop, and recharge buttons, as well as a port for attaching the optional Lawn Sweeper Kit, available separately for $699 or bundled with the mower for $3,199. This kit effectively collects leaves, twigs, and debris from your lawn as it follows behind the mower.

The Blade’s cutting platform offers

The Blade’s cutting platform offers an adjustable height range from 0.8 to 3.0 inches and comprises a single disc with three rotating blades. Powered by a brushless motor with a maximum sound rating of 65dB, it offers three operating modes with varying disc speeds: Gentle (0.89mph), Normal (1.34mph), and Quick (1.78mph).

This IPX5-rated mower employs an all-wheel drive (AWD) power train, enabling it to navigate lawns with slopes of up to 27 degrees and surmount obstacles like small rocks and branches. Embedded with an RGB camera and several sensors, the Blade avoids larger obstacles, such as lawn furniture and landscaping rocks. It is also equipped with a rain sensor. Connectivity-wise, it includes Bluetooth, cellular, GPS, and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radios. Bluetooth handles pairing and close-range communications with your smartphone, while Wi-Fi enables remote control from anywhere. The GPS and 4G cellular radios facilitate wireless navigation, real-time monitoring, and anti-theft tracking through the mobile app. EcoFlow offers a complimentary year of cellular connectivity via eSIM, with an annual renewal fee of $29.99 to retain these features.

Revolutionary RTK Navigation Unlike most robotic mowers that rely on perimeter wires and electronic sensors for guidance, the Blade employs wireless RTK technology for precise navigation. It receives signals from GPS satellites, forming part of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), to calculate its position with centimeter-level accuracy (0.032 feet). In contrast, standard GPS typically provides accuracy within a range of 2 to 10 meters (6 to 32 feet). The Blade’s GNSS antenna, mounted on a four-foot pole with three securing spikes, must be positioned around 6 feet away from walls or structures and have an unobstructed view of the sky. This specific requirement could pose challenges in certain scenarios, as discussed later.

EcoFlow Blade App Integration

Included in the package are a base station measuring 28 by 20 inches (HW) with connectors for the GNSS antenna and the power adapter, a 28-foot antenna cable, a 28-foot power cable, securing spikes for the base station, power cable, and antenna cable, three spare blades, and a setup guide.

The Blade operates through a mobile app available for both Android and iOS devices. This app is consistent with other EcoFlow products, including the Wave Portable Air Conditioner, and offers a dedicated panel for seamless control and monitoring of the mower.

In the top right corner, you’ll find a gear symbol that leads you to the settings page. Here, you can rename your mower, grant app access to others, check work history, view set rules, and activate features like Rain Delay (where the mower returns to its base during rain) and Edge Working (which allows the mower to work around the yard’s boundary for a set number of rounds). Additionally, the app lets you design and modify lawn maps, update the mower’s software, and track the mower’s real-time location.

The app also offers a range of advanced settings: an Anti-Theft alarm (triggering an alarm and deactivating the mower if it exits its designated area), a Low-Height Obstacle Detection (enabling the mower to sidestep obstructions below 4 inches tall), and a U-Turn mode (enhancing the mower’s turning circle to minimize skidding during pivots).

EcoFlow Blade: Full View of the Sky Required

The Blade’s no-need-for-perimeter-wire setup made its installation faster compared to other robotic mowers I’ve previously examined. However, the process wasn’t entirely smooth.

I started by downloading the EcoFlow app, setting up an account, and choosing ‘Add a Device’ on the main interface. I picked the Blade mower and proceeded as per the assembly guidelines for the antenna and base station. While I positioned the base station at the usual spot where I test all mowers, the antenna failed to pick up a satisfactory signal nearby. It became clear that both the base station and the antenna demanded a clear view of the sky. Given the tall trees flanking my house and a few smaller ones out front—common suburban features—this was a challenge.

Despite several unsuccessful attempts to find a signal, I finally settled for setting up both components along my lawn’s edge, closer to the road. This meant resorting to an extension cord to power the base station. While the arrangement wasn’t unsightly, the antenna pole and base station were conspicuous enough to earn a bit of displeasure from my next-door resident. Additionally, I had reservations about placing the equipment so close to the public road.

An Ideal Smart Mower for Unobstructed Yards

The EcoFlow Blade stands out as an intelligent, wireless solution for lawn maintenance, boasting state-of-the-art connectivity for precise navigation. It’s designed to navigate challenging terrains and offers a generous cutting width. However, the need for its base station and antenna to have a clear view of the sky can pose challenges for those with trees or substantial shrubs on their premises. If that’s your situation, the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD might be more suitable due to its blend of perimeter wire and GPS navigation. While it comes at a higher price point, it might be worth considering if the EcoFlow Blade’s requirements prove too restrictive.