Spring is here, and with it the return of garden maintenance! While we enjoy spending time in the garden, we have to admit that maintaining it is a chore that keeps coming up. If you're like me, you've probably dreamed of a magical solution that would take care of your lawn while you quietly sip your mint Diabolo on the patio. We've already had the opportunity to discover many robot lawnmowers that make our task much easier. But the Mammotion Yuka, which I'm introducing you to today, goes even further than anything we've seen before.
I've had the opportunity to test this little technological gem since the end of last summer, with a period of use during the fall, and I must say the experience was, to say the least… surprising! But before revealing my impressions, let's first get to know the company behind this innovation.
Mammotion: A Young Company with Big Ambitions
In the field of robotic lawnmowers, we're used to well-known brands like Husqvarna or Bosch, for example. So it's legitimate to wonder about Mammotion, which is arriving from who knows where. It must be said that the company is very young, having been founded in January 2022 in Shenzhen (a Chinese company, of course). This company's mission is to transform our outdoor lifestyle by making it smarter, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly. Despite its youth, the company benefits from solid technical expertise, as its team is composed of former members of companies specializing in robotics and drones. What's particularly interesting is that Mammotion has inherited seven years of experience from AgileX Robotics. , a company founded in 2016 that has developed more than 1,500 robotic programs in 26 countries. This technological heritage is clearly reflected in the Yuka's design quality.
With over 150 team members, Mammotion has quickly established itself as an innovative player in the robotic lawnmower market, a booming sector expected to reach $3.5 billion by 2026, with annual growth of approximately 12%. And when you see what they offer with the Yuka, you can see why!
Unboxing the Mammotion Yuka
For this review, the brand provided me with the Mammotion Yuka, along with its collection basket and the solar panel for its antenna.
Note the famous “IF Design Award” logo, an award given to products for their design.
Inside, everything is perfectly protected, which is reassuring when you have to face the challenges of transport :p
The Yuka comes fully assembled. No need to play mechanics for hours; just take it out of the box, configure it, and start it up. As you can see, the package is very complete:
In the box, you'll find:
- The Mammotion Yuka robot
- An additional set of blades
- The charging station and its power supply
- The RTK antenna, its power supply, and its stake
- An RTK extension cable
We'll talk more about the famous scanning kit later.
From the moment you pick it up, you're struck by the build quality. The Yuka gives off a reassuringly solid impression. Its white body is well-finished, with touches of yellow that give it a modern and dynamic look. You feel like you're dealing with a premium product, built to last.
The robot is equipped with two large cog wheels at the rear that allow it to navigate even on wet terrain, and a small swivel wheel at the front for steering.
I'm not usually a fan of robots with a “small” front wheel, but this one is still quite large. And above all, this model's propulsion power isn't hindered by a small front wheel :p
On the top, there's a control panel with several buttons: on/off, start, mow, and return to base. There's also a clearly visible emergency stop button, which is mandatory on this type of device.
An interesting feature of the Yuka compared to other models: the cutting height adjustment is done manually via the rotary knob on the top, with a range from 20 mm to 90 mm. This is one of the widest adjustment ranges I've seen on a robot mower!
Next to the “Stop” button is also a small magnetic key, which allows you to lock the robot if desired: without it, it won't start. Simple but effective if needed.
We also have a camera on top that helps with navigation when the GPS signal is weak, for example, under a tree.
But what immediately catches your eye is the front camera equipped with a small wiper (yes, you read that right!). This camera is part of the UltraSense AI 3D vision system that allows the robot to detect obstacles.
Turning the robot over reveals two rotor discs, each equipped with three blades. This configuration ensures an impressive cutting width of 32 cm, allowing the Mammotion Yuka to efficiently cover large areas. This is the first robot I've tested with two decks.
The cutting system is floating, allowing it to adapt to uneven terrain for an even cut.
Another detail: the presence of a rain sensor on top of the robot. Practical for avoiding mowing in the rain and maintaining optimal mowing quality.
We also appreciate the large handle on the back, making it easy to carry the robot if necessary.
Installing the Mammotion Yuka: Simple but Requiring Some Precautions
Installing the Mammotion Yuka is relatively simple, but it still requires some thought regarding the positioning of the various components.
The first step: installing the charging station. It's important to place it in a location where the robot will have enough space to maneuver. You must allow at least 2 meters of clearance in front of the station so that the robot can park properly. With only 1.50 meters, parking can be problematic, especially if the robot is equipped with a leaf collector. This is a point not to be overlooked!
Other than that, installing the station is relatively simple. The two parts of the station are assembled using the provided screws:
Then it is secured to the ground, again using the provided (plastic) screws, to anchor it securely to the ground when the robot moves back and forth.
All you need is a sufficiently clear and level area.
Then you can connect the station to its charger, and the charger to an electrical outlet. All the connectors are waterproof.
Next comes the installation of the RTK antenna, which is the heart of the Mammotion Yuka's navigation system. This antenna can be fixed to the ground using the provided fork, or mounted on a wall using the optional bracket.
The important thing is that it has good visibility of the sky to capture as many satellites as possible.
An interesting detail compared to other competitors: there's no need to position the antenna close to the station, since it has its own power supply and can therefore be completely separate.
An interesting accessory offered by Mammotion is a solar panel to power the RTK antenna.
This is an eco-friendly option that helps offset the system's power consumption, estimated at around 2W for the antenna.
Once the charging station and RTK antenna are installed, you need to download the Mammotion app on your smartphone. The app is available on iOS and Android, and it's through it that you'll configure and control your robot. As is often the case, you start by creating a user account.
Then, you request to add your device by selecting it from the list.
Connecting the robot to the app is very simple via Bluetooth. Simply press and hold the robot's start button, then follow the instructions in the app. The Mammotion Yuka then connects to your Wi-Fi network, allowing it to receive updates and be controlled remotely.
The same procedure is followed to add the RTK antenna, which is a separate device.
A crucial step is updating the robot's firmware and the RTK antenna. These updates are important to ensure the system's proper functioning and fix any bugs. Especially since the manufacturer is very attentive to user feedback and regularly offers updates.
Next comes the terrain mapping stage. This is where the magic happens! Unlike traditional robot lawnmowers, which require installing a perimeter wire around your garden, the Mammotion Yuka uses RTK GPS technology to navigate.
To define the boundaries of your lawn, simply manually guide the robot around the area to be mowed using the app, as if you were driving a remote-controlled car. The robot records the path and creates a virtual map of your garden. You can define up to 10 different zones with the 1000 m² model and up to 20 zones with the 2000 m² model.
You can also define “no-go zones” for areas you don't want the robot to mow, such as flower beds or areas around a swimming pool.
The practical side of this system is that if you change the layout of your garden, you can simply recreate the map, which is much simpler than digging up and repositioning a perimeter wire.
Installing the Mammotion Sweeping Kit
If you opted for the sweeping kit (which I highly recommend), its installation is also very simple. The kit comes complete:
All you need to do is assemble the basket:
As you can see, this one has a motorized brush, like the one we saw on the Ecoflow Blade model (sadly discontinued):
Since using this additional motor will inevitably have an impact on the robot's battery life, the manufacturer includes a second battery with the sweeping kit! Then, you need to remove the screwdriver (provided) to remove a cover underneath the Yuka:
There, you'll find the battery already in place, and space to insert a second battery:
Then, simply connect the new battery and insert it into the compartment. There's no risk of making a mistake, as the connectors are all different.
Close it, and you're done. The last small modification to our robot: attaching a counterweight to the front to compensate for the weight of the bin. Mammotion has really thought of everything.
Simply remove the white cover at the front of the robot, just above the rear camera.
And screw in the counterweight that comes with the sweeping kit.
All that's left is to attach the sweeper and bin to the back of the robot.
Don't forget to plug in the sweeper's power cable, otherwise it won't work!
Once everything is installed and configured, all that's left is to define the mowing parameters in the app: mowing frequency, schedule, grass collection, etc. And there you have it, your gardening assistant is ready to go!
Use and feedback: impressive performance
After several months of using the Mammotion Yuka, I can say that this robotic lawnmower has truly impressed me with its performance and versatility.
Let's start with navigation. Thanks to RTK GPS technology, the Yuka moves with remarkable precision. It follows perfectly straight and parallel lines, giving your lawn a manicured appearance, as if it had been mowed by a professional gardener. The accuracy is within a few centimeters, which is truly impressive!
Even in areas where GPS reception is less good, such as under trees or near walls, the robot performs well thanks to its 3D camera. Mammotion recently upgraded its system to allow the robot to navigate up to 75 meters without a GPS signal, compared to 25 meters previously. This is a major improvement that makes the robot much more reliable in complex environments.
The mowing quality is impeccable. The two cutting decks ensure an even and precise cut. I was particularly impressed by the slow mowing speed (0.2 m/s), which produces a truly perfect result, like a carpet. If you're a perfectionist, this is the setting to choose!
The robot also handles slopes well, up to 45% without the sweeping kit. With the kit, it's limited to about 18% slope, as the additional weight at the rear can cause the front of the robot to lift on steep slopes. This is something to consider if your garden has significant changes in elevation.
Now let's talk about the sweeping kit, which I think is one of the Mammotion Yuka's most innovative features. This system allows the robot to collect grass clippings, as well as dead leaves and even small twigs up to 3.2 cm in diameter. While mulching can be preferred in the summer to allow the lawn to benefit from this nutrient, and thus avoid using the bag, it's particularly useful in the fall when the leaves begin to fall.
The most impressive feature is that the robot can automatically empty its bag at a location you've previously defined in the app. You can create up to 100 different emptying points, allowing the robot to always find an accessible place to unload. It's really practical and eliminates the need to manually empty the bag.
I've found that for optimal collection, it's best to set the emptying interval based on the amount of grass or leaves to be collected. For wet grass, which is heavier, emptying every 5 to 10 m² is recommended. For dry leaves, you can go up to 15 or 20 m².
If you have a large yard, you can set multiple bin emptying points. The robot will then automatically empty its bin at the nearest point.
An important point to note: currently, the robot's firmware does not allow mowing edges when the sweeping kit is installed. This is a safety measure to prevent the sweeper from hitting walls or getting caught in vegetation. Mammotion has promised an update that will enable or disable this feature depending on your terrain configuration.
Obstacle detection works very well. I tested the robot with various objects (balls, garden hoses, fallen laundry) and it avoided them all thanks to its 3D camera. It's perfectly reliable for ensuring the safety of people, animals, and objects in your garden.
The Mammotion app is intuitive and comprehensive. It allows you to control all aspects of the robot: scheduling mowing, creating and modifying zones, adjusting settings, tracking mowing history, and more. You can even draw patterns on your lawn! Imagine your neighbors' faces when they see a heart or your name drawn in your lawn…
So at first, you might think it's a gimmick. Yes and no: some professionals, particularly in the hotel industry, buy this robot solely to draw their logo on the lawn in front of the hotel. A service that's normally complicated and expensive, but which becomes child's play with the Yuka!
The robot is also compatible with Alexa and Google Home, allowing it to be controlled by voice commands. “Alexa, ask Yuka to mow the lawn” and that's it!
Among the practical features, I also really like the ability to pilot the robot in FPV mode, like you would with a drone, for example. This makes it possible to control the robot from your smartphone, like a remote-controlled car or a drone, while seeing what the robot sees through its camera (and it's even possible to switch from the front camera to the rear camera if necessary!). The point? Definitely not to mow manually! But to take a quick look around your garden to see if everything is okay from a distance. It's useful for checking if an alarm has gone off outside the home, for example.
In terms of battery life, the Yuka is equipped with a 4500 mAh battery, which can be doubled if you add a second battery (the one supplied with the sweeping kit or purchased separately). With two batteries, you have 9000 mAh, allowing the robot to mow large areas without interruption. And if the battery runs out while mowing, the robot automatically returns to its base to recharge, then resumes work exactly where it left off.
The noise level is another strong point of the Yuka. It is extremely quiet in standard mowing mode. With the sweeper, the noise is a little more pronounced due to the collection mechanism, but it is still much quieter than a traditional mower.
Finally, in terms of safety, the Yuka is well-equipped. It has a zone exit alarm that sends you a notification if the robot leaves its defined boundaries. It's also equipped with a GPS tracking system that allows it to be found in case of theft (provided you have installed a SIM card for 4G connectivity).
And even if someone managed to steal it, they wouldn't be able to use it because you're registered as the sole owner in the app.
Conclusion: An impressive new-generation robot
After several months of testing the Mammotion Yuka from every angle, I'm convinced that this robotic lawnmower represents a major breakthrough in the field of garden maintenance. Although the company seems to be emerging from nowhere, facing brands that have long been well-established in the field, it has achieved the feat of reinventing the robotic lawnmower.
Its strengths are undeniable: precise wireless perimeter navigation, exceptional mowing quality, an innovative automatic collection and emptying system, efficient obstacle detection, and a comprehensive and intuitive app. All in a robust and well-designed package.
Of course, like any product, it has some areas for improvement. The Bluetooth range is a bit limited during manual mowing, requiring you to stay within 3 meters of the robot (but frankly, it's a feature we never use). Standby power consumption (13W) could be optimized. And the grass catcher emptying system could be further improved to more efficiently handle large quantities of wet grass.
But these minor flaws are more than offset by the Yuka's many strengths. Mammotion has also demonstrated its commitment to continually improving its products with regular firmware updates, which is reassuring for the future. Its robot range has evolved very quickly thanks to user feedback and the developers' responsiveness in developing firmware that incorporates these improvements.
In terms of price, the Mammotion Yuka is positioned in the premium segment of robotic lawnmowers, with a price that varies depending on the model chosen (1000 m² or 2000 m²) and accessories. The 1000 model is sold for €1,399 (or €2,098 with the sweeping kit), compared to €1,699 for the 2000 model (€2,398 with the sweeping kit). It's a significant investment, certainly, but one that quickly pays for itself when you consider the time saved and the quality of the results.
I particularly recommend it to owners of medium to large gardens (up to 2000 m²), relatively flat or with moderate slopes. If your land has significant unevenness, the Luba 2 with its four-wheel drive might be more suitable.
The Yuka is also ideal for those looking for an all-in-one solution for maintaining their garden, particularly with the sweeping kit that allows for efficient management of fallen leaves in the fall. It is, in fact, the only model to offer this option.
Note that Mammotion recently launched a “mini” range suitable for 600 and 800m² plots. Priced at €898 and €1,098, they compete directly with the excellent Navimow i105e and i108e.
The Mammotion Yuka undoubtedly represents the best currently available in terms of perimeter wireless robot lawnmowers. It combines artificial intelligence, navigation precision, and innovative features to offer an exceptional user experience. It's a garden assistant that could very well change the way you care for your lawn, giving you more time to enjoy your outdoors rather than tending it.
And isn't that every garden owner's dream? Having a perfect lawn without spending hours on it every weekend? With the Mammotion Yuka, that dream becomes a reality.
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