Running up that hill: Roborock’s new robot mowers tackle 80% slopes and 1.2-acre yards

Roborock has unveiled three new robot lawn mowers at IFA 2025, expanding beyond its popular vacuum cleaners into outdoor maintenance with AI-powered mowing technology. The RockMow Z1, S1, and RockNeo Q1 models feature all-wheel drive systems and can handle steep terrain up to 80% inclines, positioning the company to compete in the growing robotic lawn care market.

What you should know: The flagship RockMow Z1 demonstrates impressive technical capabilities designed for various yard sizes and challenging terrain.

• The Z1 features four independently controlled wheels for all-wheel drive performance and can handle yards up to 5,000 square meters (roughly 1.2 acres).
• During live demonstrations, the mower successfully traversed an 80% slope without slipping or losing traction, both ascending and descending the steep incline.
• Auto-mapping technology allows the device to learn yard layouts independently, while on-border trimming capabilities help maintain clean edges.

Key details: Roborock is taking a measured approach to the US market launch while emphasizing practical accessories and AI integration.

• The RockMow Z1 will debut in Europe before reaching US consumers, though pricing remains undisclosed.
• An accessory edge trimmer helps the mower get within 3cm (about 1 inch) of fences and boundaries for precise lawn maintenance.
• AI technology balances obstacle avoidance with cutting coverage to optimize mowing patterns.

The big picture: Roborock’s entry into robotic lawn mowing represents a natural extension of its indoor cleaning expertise to outdoor applications.

• The company is leveraging its experience with autonomous navigation and mapping from robot vacuums to tackle lawn maintenance challenges.
• Early impressions suggest the RockMow Z1 combines features from established competitors like the Eufy E18’s auto-mapping and the Segway Navimow X390’s performance characteristics.

Why this matters: The robotic lawn mower market is expanding as homeowners seek automated solutions for outdoor maintenance, creating opportunities for established robotics companies to diversify their product lines beyond indoor cleaning applications.