The world of robotics continues to evolve, now extending its reach to lawn care with the Sunseeker Elite X5, a robotic mower that employs artificial intelligence to navigate your yard autonomously. This innovative mower is designed to avoid obstacles such as pets and toys while efficiently maintaining your lawn.
Weighing 26.5 pounds and measuring 26.7 x 16.7 x 10.2 inches, the X5 is equipped with a 5 Ah battery that, during testing, provided just over an hour of mowing time before returning to its charging station. The manufacturer claims that it can manage a lawn area of up to 2,000 square meters and tackle slopes of up to 60 percent, although we were unable to confirm the latter.
The X5 features robust front wheels and a single rear steering wheel, which allowed it to handle the uneven terrain of our test area with ease. Cutting is managed by a floating cutting disk, capable of trimming a 22 cm wide strip of grass, with adjustable cutting heights ranging from 20 to 60 mm.
While nostalgic for a more interactive setup reminiscent of childhood toys, the X5 utilizes a smartphone app for lawn management, allowing users to set mowing zones and schedules. Establishing a mowing zone is as simple as walking the mower along the desired boundary and saving the configuration. Subsequently, the mower autonomously emerges from its charger at scheduled times to mow designated areas in orderly lines.
Similar to most robotic lawnmowers, the X5 does not collect grass clippings. The underlying idea is that frequent mowing will result in minimal residual clippings; however, this can be frustrating during the initial mowing cycle.
The advanced AI technology in the X5 is primarily employed for obstacle avoidance and boundary detection. The device”s internal processor can perform 10 Trillions of Operations Per Second (TOPS). In contrast, Microsoft”s AI-enhanced Copilot+ PCs require a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of 40 TOPS. Nonetheless, the X5 is unlikely to introduce unnecessary features to basic applications.
The manufacturers state, “Through the learning capability of the visual model, the Elite X5 can better recognize various scenarios it encounters. Algorithms enable analysis and reasoning to better identify obstacles, hazardous areas or boundaries, allowing the mower to determine its travel strategy.” In practice, it successfully avoided both the family cat and various toys scattered on the lawn.
Despite its impressive features, the X5 lacks the ability to stream live camera footage back to its controlling app. The marketing materials suggest a sophisticated satellite navigation system; however, the mower requires a separate base station for accurate location tracking. The manufacturer explained, “The X5 adopts physical RTK (real-time kinematic) technology. It uses real-time differential positioning between a base station and the mower to eliminate position errors, achieving higher positioning accuracy.” Future models are expected to utilize nRTK (network real-time kinematic) technology, which would eliminate the need for a dedicated base station.
The necessity of a base station is somewhat inconvenient, particularly as both it and the charger require independent power sources. Integrating the base station into the charger would have been beneficial, though the separate setup allows for versatile placement, such as on a shed roof.
During operation, the X5 is impressively quiet and effective, producing a tidy lawn with well-defined stripes. However, the requirement for manual adjustment of the cutting height and the need for two separate power outlets can be minor annoyances. The mower is well-suited for the UK climate, returning to its charger when it detects rain. With an IPX5 rating for water resistance, the mower can be hosed down, although pressure washing is not recommended. The base station has an IPX4 rating, ensuring it can withstand rain.
With a retail price of €1,899, the X5 is positioned at the higher end of the market, although it competes favorably against similar products. More budget-friendly alternatives, such as the Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15, may struggle in low-light conditions and on uneven surfaces. For those with both the lawn size and budget for it, the X5 proves to be a valuable addition to garden maintenance. While AI technology may be met with skepticism in various sectors, its application in this context appears to be a sensible advancement. And should the machines ever turn against us? The conveniently located STOP button will halt those whirling blades in an instant.
