If your Navimow robot lawn mower is missing any areas in your lawn, there is something wrong with the mapping, positioning, internet connectivity, etc. To fix the issue, you need to find the root cause and land on the appropriate solution.
In this article, we will share some common reasons for missed areas. It will help you determine the root cause of the issue. Moreover, we will also share some effective solutions with step-by-step procedures to help you fix the problem on your own.
Reasons for Missed Areas
Mapping Issues
Navimow mowers mow your lawn according to the map you have created. If there is any issue with the map, they might miss some areas.
For instance, you might have forgotten some areas while creating multiple zones. And that’s why the mower leaves that area as it is.
Moreover, if there is a sharp turn, less than 90⁰, the mower will leave some area while trying to make a smooth turn.
Internet Issues
To navigate the lawn precisely, mowers require a stable internet connection. If the Wi-Fi signal is weak or the internet connectivity has an issue, the mower might leave some areas of the lawn.
Moreover, due to unstable internet connectivity, the mower fails to load the map properly. It might load certain areas of the lawn. Therefore, it misses areas that didn’t load while mowing.
Inaccurate Positioning
The mower needs to know its accurate GPS position to navigate the lawn and precisely mow every corner. If the positioning is inaccurate, it results in missed areas.
Inaccurate positioning could be due to multiple reasons.
If you are using RTK, then incorrect positioning of the antenna could be the main culprit. You should place it in an open area where there are no walls blocking views in any direction. Make sure there are no obstructions, such as trees or a roof, between the antenna and the sky.
Otherwise, the mower won’t be able to receive signals in parts of the lawn. It will cause an error in the positioning, which is why the mower might miss some areas.
The placement of the charging station is also important. The mower uses the charging station’s position to correct the error in GPS positioning. If it is unable to connect with the charging station, it won’t be able to move precisely.
If you are using Network RTK, you don’t need any antenna. However, you need to ensure that NRTK coverage is available in your area. It is a navigation technology, which is why it is necessary for accurate positioning.
Network RTK is unavailable in certain regions due to limited service. Navimow is expanding to more regions by collaborating with new service providers.
Non-grass Area
If there is a non-grass area in the lawn, such as stone roads and utility holes, the mower might consider it an obstacle. When it goes near such areas, it reroutes and misses those areas.
It’s a common problem that lawn owners face. All you need to do is set a 'VisionFence-Off' zone for the non-grass area, and it will solve the issue. We will explain the step-by-step process later in the article.
Long Grass/Weeds
If you are witnessing certain left-out areas in the lawn, inspect those areas. Check if the grass is relatively long compared to other parts of the lawn. Because Navimow mowers might consider long grass as an obstacle and leave those areas.
Secondly, if the grass height is fine but there are long weeds in certain areas, they are just like obstacles. They keep the mower away.
Dirty Camera Lens or LiDAR Sensor
Navimow mowers have a built-in camera to visualize the lawn and navigate precisely. If the camera lens has accumulated dust and grime, it won’t be able to see the lawn clearly.
It could result in false obstacle detection. Even if there is nothing in the lawn, the mower will reroute from certain locations because of the dirty camera lens. It will leave random areas in the lawn.
If your mower has a LiDAR sensor, you should check whether it is clean or not. Dust and grime affect obstacle detection accuracy. False detection could cause missed areas.
Narrow Passage
Navimow mowers could miss narrow passages. If the walls are too near, their multi-directional obstacle detection considers them as obstacles. The mower returns before it enters the passage.
Secondly, these walls also block signals of the antenna and affect the connectivity with the base station. Thus, the mower can’t determine its position in the lawn.
You can deal with narrow passages by using multi-zones or a VisionFence™-Off zone. We will explain how you can do it later in the article.
Obstacles
Sometimes there are hidden obstacles in the lawn. There could be small stones, toys, sprinklers, and other things hidden in the grass. These objects prevent Navimow mowers from mowing. They will divert after sensing the obstacle.
Similarly, toys, twigs, water hoses, and other objects can prevent mowing in the specific area. It’s one of the most common reasons the area is missed.
Animal Detection
When an animal, such as a bird, cat, dog, rabbit, mole, or skunk, is on the lawn, the Navimow mower will keep a safe distance from it. Even if it senses a bird, it will reroute and mow other places first.
Don’t worry if this is the case. If the mower has left that area because of a bird or any other animal, it will return for mowing. The area is not missed until the mowing progress is 100%. So, wait for it, and the mower will cover that area on its own.
How to Fix Navimow Missing Some Areas?
Get Rid of Obstacles
The first thing you should do is inspect the missing areas. If you see any obstacles, such as stones, twigs, toys, water hoses, or anything, get rid of them. Clean the area thoroughly so that the mower can work without any obstructions.
Also, shorten the grass if it is longer than other parts of the lawn. Overgrown grass is a kind of obstacle for these mowers. Once you mow them and bring them to a suitable height, the robot mower will maintain it automatically.
Another issue is long weeds. Identify the type of weed you have in the lawn, and then get rid of it through the appropriate procedure. For more details, check out how Types of Weeds and How to Deal with Them.
Restart the App and Mower
If you have witnessed missing areas for the first time and the mower was working fine before that, try restarting the app and the mower. It will hopefully resolve the issue.
You can close the app. Restart it again. If this didn’t work, you can uninstall the app and reinstall it.
Turn off the mower for a while. Let it charge fully and then restart it.
Update the App and Firmware
Often, the application is outdated. Check if there is any update available. Just go to the App Store or Play Store. Search for the app, and you will see the update button if there is an update available.
Secondly, you need to keep the firmware up to date. Go to Settings > Mower > Device Management > Firmware version. You can update the firmware from here.
Just make sure the mower is on the charging station, it has stable internet connectivity, the battery is more than 20%, and there is no mowing schedule in the next hour. Otherwise, the update will be interrupted.
Edit the Map
To fix issues with the map, you can edit it directly in the app. You don’t need to map the whole area again; just add or remove to solve the issue.
At first, ensure the missed area is included in the app. If it was missed, you create a new zone or add it to any other zone you have.
If the missed area is a narrow passage, you can split the area into two separate zones. It will solve the issue.
Here’s how you can create a new zone.
Step 1: Open the Navimow application.
Step 2: Go to the map you have already created. Tap Add More.
Step 3: Tap Boundary. Move the mower to the point from which you want to start the zone. Tap “Reached starting point.” Now map the area by moving the mower. Make sure there are no turns less than 90⁰. Try to mow in a straight line to ensure perfection.
Step 4: Tap Add More > Channel. Move the mower to the starting point of the channel. Take it to the boundary of the other zone. It will automatically create a channel.
Step 5: Tap Done and save the map.
Follow these steps to edit a zone and corners.
Step 1: Open the Navimow app. Go to Settings > MOWER > Mowing > Map Management.
Step 2: Select the zone you want to edit. Tap Edit.
Step 3: Select the starting point from which you want to edit the boundary or corner. Reach the position and tap “Reached starting point.”
Step 4: Map the area again. Try to draw a straight line. If there is a sharp corner, you can make the angle greater than 90⁰.
Step 5: After making all changes, tap Save.
Create a VisionFence™ Off Zone
VisionFence™ zone is a special area where the Navimow mower does not sense obstacles. It just mows the area like a blind mower. For some areas, this is an exceptional feature.
If you have a non-mowing zone, like a stone path, and the mower isn’t passing it, you can make it a VisionFence™ off zone. Similarly, if the missed area is a narrow passage, turning on the VisionFence™ off zone will allow the mower to go in and mow without any hassle.
You can follow the steps below to enable VisionFence™ Off.
Step 1: Open the Navimow application.
Step 2: Go to the map and tap Add More.
Step 3: Select VisionFence™ off zone.
Step 4: You will see a rectangle in the lawn map. You can move it to the missed areas. Adjust the size of the rectangle as you like.
Step 5: You can add multiple VisionFence™ off zones. After completing all, save the map.
Keep in mind that you should only create VisionFence™ off zones in safe and predictable areas. Do not make it in areas where kids and pets roam around. Moreover, try to keep the zone according to the needs or as small as possible.
Improve Wi-Fi/Internet Connectivity
Your Navimow mower requires a stable internet connection to work perfectly. If the Wi-Fi router is far away and signals are weak, you can either upgrade the Wi-Fi router or use a Wi-Fi extender. It is necessary for the quick loading of the map.
Also, check the coverage of NRTK in your area. If NRTK has issues, you can switch to RTK. You only need to install the given antenna in the lawn.
Correct Antenna Positioning
For RTK users, the correct positioning of the antenna matters a lot. Without it, the mower might not know its accurate position in the lawn.
You need to select a place in the lawn without any obstructions. It should be an open and wide area at least 6.6ft away from trees and buildings.
You can also place the antenna on any wall or roof of your house. The idea is to ensure proper coverage and signal strength so that the mower can move without any issues.
Improve Charging Station Area
The placement of the charging station also determines how accurate the positioning is. Select a soft and flat surface for the charging station. It should be an open area without trees and high walls to prevent signal blockage. Keep the charging station at least 6.6ft away from trees, house walls, fences, and other structures.
The area around the charging station should be clear. Maintain at least 1.6ft clearance on the left and right sides and 6.5ft at the front.
Clean Camera Lens and LiDAR Sensor
For accurate detection of obstacles, the camera lens and LiDAR sensor should be clean.
Over time, dust and grime accumulate on the camera lens. It affects the visibility of the camera. Therefore, the mower might falsely detect obstacles.
Also, clean the LiDAR sensor if there is one on the mower. Anything over the sensor blocks the field of view.
You should clean the camera lens and LiDAR sensor on a regular basis.
Still Facing Issues? Contact Navimow Support
If you are still facing issues after trying solutions, you can reach out to customer support at "navimowsupport-us@rlm.segway.com."
You need to provide the following details:
- Serial Number (SN) of your Navimow mower
- App version number
- Phone’s model and operating system version
- The date and time the issue occurred
- A video or photo showing the problem
Final Words
Navimow mowers navigate with precise navigation technologies. They cover every corner, edge, and area of your lawn. But if it is missing some areas, there could be unstable internet, a mapping issue, a hidden obstacle, or any other problem. We have shared some common reasons why Navimow mowers miss some areas. It will help you find the actual cause. After that, you can try the solutions we have shared to fix the issue and enjoy artisan-level mowing.
