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iRobot's Terra Mower Will Make Lawn Care a Breeze

Terra 'mows like people do...cutting efficiently in straight, back-and-forth lines.' It also uses iRobot's Imprint Smart Mapping technology to learn its environment.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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iRobot's robot vacuums can already help you eliminate one chore from your life: cleaning your floors. Now, iRobot wants to remove another task from your to-do list: mowing the lawn.

The Roomba maker on Wednesday unveiled its latest consumer robot, and it can cut your grass. Launching later this year, Terra "mows like people do, intelligently navigating a yard cutting efficiently in straight, back-and-forth lines," iRobot wrote in a news release.

iRobot Terra

The robot mower uses iRobot's Imprint Smart Mapping technology to learn its environment. Here's how it works: you place wireless beacons around your yard, then simply drive the robot around the perimeter once—no need to install costly boundary wires.

From there, just schedule a mow via the iRobot Home app, and it will get to work at your specified time—day or night. From the app, you can even control the height it cuts your grass. iRobot says it can operate in inclement weather and over tough terrain.

iRobot Terra

"Users have total control over where the robot goes and where it doesn't go, so it will stay on the lawn and out of flowers," the company added.

Terra can remember where it's already mowed and where it still needs to go over. When its battery starts getting low, it returns to its base to recharge. When it's all juiced up, it picks up where it left off, iRobot said.

"With its ease of use and premium mowing features, Terra is poised to give consumers a whole new way to think about how they take care of their lawn," iRobot CEO Colin Angle said in a statement.

There's no word yet as to how much Terra will cost. iRobot said it will be available in Germany and as a beta program in the US at some point this year, but did not yet specify when.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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