u-blox secures significant project wins in the robotic lawnmower market

These wins are expected to generate over $100 million in revenue starting from 2024, solidifying the company's position as a key player in high-precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology and highlighting its strategic influence in the future of robotic lawnmowing.

According to a 2023 ABI Research report, the robotic lawnmower market is set to expand significantly, with projections of 2.6 million units by 2024 and an annual growth rate of approximately 18.5%. It is anticipated that high-precision GNSS technology will achieve a 33% market penetration by the end of the decade, indicating its suitability for a broad range of autonomous robotic applications in manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure monitoring, smart cities, and other Internet of Things (IoT) segments.

Traditional robotic lawnmowers, which generally use buried boundary wires to define the mowing area, are often cumbersome to install and maintain due to potential damage. These mowers, equipped with basic sensors, typically navigate in random patterns, and offer basic obstacle avoidance, leading to inefficient mowing coverage. This inefficiency not only consumes more time but also increases electricity usage, thereby elevating operational costs.

However, advances in GNSS technology, especially the development of real-time kinematic (RTK) GNSS systems capable of centimetre-level accuracy, have greatly enhanced the efficiency and sustainability of RLMs. Precise positioning and navigation eliminate the need for boundary wires, facilitate systematic mowing without overlap, ensure uniform mowing and desired patterns, protect sensitive areas such as flower beds, and improve the aesthetic appeal of lawns with precise stripe patterns or intricate designs. This high-precision positioning technology ultimately saves time, energy, and reduces operational costs.

Stephan Zizala, CEO at u-blox, said: “I am pleased with u-blox’s achievement in the robotic lawnmower sector and extend my gratitude to our partners for the trust they placed in us. Achieving centimetre-level accuracy in GNSS broadens the possibilities for implementing this technology across multiple markets. I am confident that we’ll witness a growing adoption of high-precision positioning technology in various products. With u-blox's technological edge in the field, we will continue collaborating with our customers on innovative solutions.”