Founded in January 2022, the company Mammotion has become a reference in the market for robot lawn mowers, in particular thanks to its Luba range, innovative and very popular with the public. Far from resting on its laurels, the brand has worked on a second generation of the product with better navigation and superior obstacle management, as well as even more efficient mowing. We also find all-wheel drive on the Mammotion Luba 2 AWD which should give it the ability to mow on steep and rugged terrain.
The Mammotion Luba 2 AWD is available in three versions 1000, 3000 and 5000, capable of covering such areas. The least expensive model is priced at €2,200, while the Luba 2 AWD 3000 is sold €300 more expensive. The most autonomous version costs €3,000.
All three models are sold with the RTK antenna, essential for installation. However, the garage, the wall mount for the antenna and the solar power panel for the latter are sold separately.
Equipment and installation
The Mammotion Luba 2 AWD asserts its adventurer side with a design that sets it apart from the competition. This robot is indeed mainly covered in white plastic, with a slimmed-down body at the front and back, leaving the imposing wheels exposed. The fact of leaving certain mechanisms visible, such as the suspension arm, is a bias which gives the Luba 2 AWD this side offroad which makes it unique.
A large front bumper, placed in front of the wheels, allows the robot to detect obstacles that may be in its path. Of course, a 3D vision module equipped with two cameras completes the detection of obstacles by allowing the robot lawnmower to anticipate their presence and not touch them.
On the upper part, there are a few controls, including the traditional STOP emergency button, as well as four others to turn on/off, start/stop mowing and return the robot to its base. Mammotion chose simplicity by skipping a screen, which could have made it possible to interact with the robot more intuitively. We also notice the absence of a manual cut selector, this being configured electronically from the app.
The rear part is not very pleasing to the eye, as it lacks symmetry. A sort of orange key fits on the left, without which the robot cannot operate, while a waterproof hatch on the right allows you to insert a SIM card for 4G connectivity.
Despite its unflattering design, the Luba 2 AWD benefits from excellent build quality, which is essential for a robot intended for rough terrain. In addition, its IPX6 certification gives it rain protection, which will also facilitate its maintenance, since you just need to rinse it with a low-pressure water jet to remove mud and grass.
The Luba 2 AWD comes with an RTK antenna which ensures its good positioning, but it is also not very discreet and quite imposing. It can be installed on the mast supplied with the robot or mounted on the front for more discretion. The antenna power supply is independent, which allows it to be placed quite far from the robot lawn mower. A solar panel is available as an option to eliminate the need for an external socket for the antenna.
Installing the Mammotion Luba 2 AWD mower is intuitive. The RTK antenna and charging station can be placed anywhere in the garden, unlike some models which require the lawn. However, you will have to install the 3D vision module yourself, which requires removing a cover, plugging it in and screwing it to the robot. The process is fortunately quite simple, but a little surprising.
The pairing and mapping process is done directly from the Mammotion app. The Luba 2 AWD and the RTK station communicate via LoRA technology by default. For large gardens, Internet communication is also possible, in particular thanks to the integrated SIM port.
The creation of mowing zones, paths and prohibited areas is carried out by moving the robot along the edges of the lawn. Depending on the machine version, it is possible to create up to 10, 20 or 30 zones. Their modification is relatively simple, since it is enough to move the robot to retrace the segment to be modified. However, despite the presence of the 3D vision module, Mammotion does not offer automatic mapping, as the Ecovacs GX-600 does.
Ergonomics and use
The Mammotion app offers many configuration and customization features, which can make it complex to use. However, once understood, it allows fine control of the robot and its mowing parameters. In particular, it suggests starting an overall mowing of the lawn or only certain areas. Each mowing parameter is individually adjustable per zone, whether cutting height, speed or even strip spacing. The same goes for the cutting mode, which can be in strips, crossed or random.
Scheduling can be weekly, at a predefined interval every X days, or finally scheduled for a specific date. An option also allows you to ignore the programming in case of rainy weather. Simply set a start time and the Mammotion Luba 2 AWD will automatically return to the station once its task is completed.
While mowing, the app displays progress and remaining time. The robot’s route is displayed on the map, including the path taken. However, obstacles are not displayed, even if they are actually avoided. This model also offers access to live video streaming, allowing it to be used as a camera to monitor the garden.
The app is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, offering the possibility of creating automations and controlling the robot by voice using a connected speaker.
The Luba 2 AWD is quite quiet, producing around 60 dB. Although slightly noisier than some competitors, it remains very discreet and is forgotten during its work.
Mowing efficiency and quality
The Mammotion Luba 2 AWD has two separate mowing discs, each with three blades. It offers a cutting width of 40 cm, which is 8 cm more than most models on the market. Efficiency is improved, particularly in wet or thick grass, thereby avoiding accumulation and blocking of the blades. The cutting height can be adjusted from the app, ranging from 25 cm to 70 mm in 5 mm increments. It can be adjusted independently for each zone, allowing shorter grass in certain areas. The orientation is also adjustable, either at a relative or absolute angle, or randomly, which stimulates the health of the lawn.
Mammotion also offers exclusive lawn printing technology to create shapes or text. Concretely, its robot lawn mower avoids certain areas, thus training them. The rendering is quite effective, but this functionality remains of little use on a daily basis. It also requires a large lawn and can mainly be used for events or receptions.
When mowing, the Mammotion Luba 2 AWD works meticulously. Grass is cut precisely across the entire lawn, including along edges and hard-to-reach areas. Its behavior is quite unique, in the sense that it seems to mimic that of a human. It may therefore slow down to better understand certain areas that are difficult to access, or even move back and forth in order to properly cover the entire mowing area. The edges are well managed, with the robot getting as close to the edge as possible to cut it as best as possible. However, a quick switch to the trimmer remains preferable, as Mammotion does not yet offer a model with an integrated trimmer. Angles are also well taken care of with a multi-point rotation option that can be activated depending on the needs and characteristics of the lawn.
In terms of navigation and positioning, the Luba 2 AWD also performs with flying colors. The mower can be oriented without difficulty or satellite positioning delay. It detects and avoids obstacles precisely. Four sensitivity levels are available between total avoidance or light contact, for example to brush against hanging branches or leaves and mow underneath. In the majority of cases, the cameras detect obstacles even before the robot touches them. However, in the event of night cutting or reduced visibility, the front bumper is responsible for stopping the mower to avoid an accident. When faced with a weakened signal situation, especially under trees or near a building, the Luba 2 AWD merges RTK and 3D Vision information to find its way, allowing smooth navigation and no interruption in performance.
The main specificity of the Luba 2 AWD is its ability to handle difficult terrain. Thanks to its all-wheel drive, it can climb slopes of up to 75% with remarkable ease. He even gives the impression of having fun tackling the steepest embankments! Likewise, uneven terrain poses no problem, the robot easily overcomes small bumps and hollows.
Finally, maintaining the Mammotion Luba 2 AWD is very easy. It is designed to be cleaned with a low-pressure hose to quickly remove grass, dirt and debris, without tools or special effort.
