Mechanically, most robot lawn mowers are surprisingly similar. In your garden they look a bit like a tiny car, about the same size as an upturned washing-up bowl, with two large wheels to control movement and one or two coasters to add stability. They tend to cut the grass with sharp steel blades that closely resemble razor blades, which you will find attached to a spinning disc on the underside of the mower’s chassis. Are they difficult to set up? The LawnMaster VBRM16 is a robot mower that is simple in its design and operation but doesn’t scrimp on performance. If you’re looking for something that won’t break the bank and will be a cinch to setup and use, then this is a mower I would highly recommend. Main Features You also need to lay a boundary wire around the edge of the area you want your robot to mow. This is usually supplied on a reel, is connected to the charging station at both ends and carries a low voltage, which the mower uses to detect when to stop and turn around. You can bury this wire, or peg it down and eventually it will bed down into the grass. Maximum lawn size: Larger lawns tend to need a smarter and more expensive mower, so measure your garden before you buy, to the nearest 100 square metres.

As I mentioned, I tried this machine out on my 100m² front lawn and within three hours, it had as good as completed the entire thing with power to spare. Typically, you’ll get around four hours out of a single charge, but this does depend on the conditions such as whether there are any slopes or how bumpy the ground is. In the event that the LawnMaster VBRM16 completes the mow but has missed any spots, you can use the spot cut mode to tidy these up. While the LawnMaster VBRM16 is a simple robot mower, it does come with a couple of essential safety features that make it a great tool for all homes, even those with children. Lift and Tilt SensorsAs with all robotic lawn mowers the LawnMaster VBRM16 is a mulching mower. This essentially means that it doesn’t collect the clippings as this simply wouldn’t be feasible with such a compact machine. Most robot lawnmowers have to be connected to Wi-Fi if you want to control and schedule their activities using a smartphone app. The Honda Miimo 70 Live is a bit different because it has a mobile internet connection built in. As you will see in my YouTube video, I tested the LawnMaster VBRM16 on my front lawn which is around 100 square metres; the perfect size for this mower. Instead of being guided by a wire, the mower uses a camera mounted on the front of the device to scan the lawn in front of it. If it sees a surface that isn’t grass, it turns round and heads off in a different direction. Because of this it doesn’t need a perimeter wire or a charging station – when it’s cut enough you simply switch it off and put it away. The battery is removable and is charged in a separate charging unit. Designed to mow once or twice a week during daylight hours in dry weather, cutting and dropping the grass clippings as a natural fertiliser. The 3 pivoting blades can be adjusted to cut grass any height from 20mm to 60mm. Deep tread wheels and powerful drive system grips slopes of up to 35%.

The blades on any lawn mower have the potential to cause a serious injury so I was pleased to see that the LawnMaster VBRM16 comes with a lift and tilt sensor.Rain detection: It’s better to let your grass soak up excess moisture before mowing it. A rain sensor will send your robot home if it starts to rain, and can delay mowing until it’s dry again. For people who want a robot mower that is lightweight (6.6kg) and easy to store, the LawnMaster VBRM16 makes an excellent choice as it’s so compact. What’s more, it comes with a carry handle so moving it around is even easier. For safety, the mower detects and avoids obstacles using the camera and ultrasonic sensors. It also features a safety key preventing use by children, and sensors which stop the blades when the machine is lifted. Honda’s Miimo is also more efficient at mowing than most rivals. It cuts in a sensible pattern, breaking the lawn down into sections, then cutting in stripes, much like you would if you were mowing manually. This means the risk of it missing a bit is significantly lower than with mowers that move around your lawn randomly.

I found that, when testing the LawnMaster VBRM16, it detected the perimeter of my lawn very easily and would stop and turn in good time. However, my front lawn, as you will see in the video review, does have well defined boundaries.

There’s no complicated setup, no need to update software and no need to install a boundary wire. All you need to do is charge the battery, insert it and then press the ‘on’ button and choose your mowing mode. There is an auto-mow or a spot cut mode; just press and hold the button to select your mode and the robot will do the rest.

PART OF THE MX 24V SHARED BATTERY SYSTEM: Expand your LawnMaster cordless garden power tool collection without having to buy a new battery and charger every time with the MX 24V Shared Battery System. SAFETY: Using the camera and ultrasonic sensors the mower detects and avoids obstacles such as garden furniture. A child safety key prevents unauthorised use, and sensors stop the blade when the mower is lifted. Key specs – Size: 445 x 364 x 202mm (WDH); Weight: 7.6kg; Cutting height: 30-50mm; Maximum lawn size: 700m²; Maximum incline: 27%; Replaceable battery: Yes YEAR GUARANTEE: Buy with the confidence of knowing that your new LawnMaster robot mower and battery comes with a two-year guarantee and UK based customer support team.Object avoidance: A feature that all robot vacuums have but rarely seen on robot mowers, certainly at the lower end of the price spectrum. A good safety feature for those with pets or kids who play in the garden unsupervised.