Dreame A1: Precise robotic lawn mower without wires

The setup of the Dreame Roboticmower A1 is relatively simple: After removing the transport locks, you only need to set up the charging station and connect it to a power source. An optional roof can be purchased for the station, but in our case, the robot easily drives under the carport. Control is accessible via the large emergency stop button on top of the robot, and it can also be operated without the app using a rotary push-button. However, the app is essential for the initial setup.

During the setup, the robot is remotely controlled via a smartphone. All edges must be driven around once so that the robot can subsequently orient itself within these boundaries. The control requires some practice, especially for straight edges. However, once set up, the robot’s navigation works wonderfully.

The robot is protected by a PIN and has an alarm that is triggered when it is lifted. Thanks to its IPX6 certification, it is protected against strong water jets. The robot is not equipped with four-wheel drive and can only work to a limited extent on steep slopes. The mowing direction can be automatically rotated by 5 degrees, which effectively reduces striping on the lawn. The robot automatically detects obstacles and marks them in the app.

In operation, the Dreame A1 is extremely quiet, allowing it to be used at any time of day or night – it even worked flawlessly in the dark. A schedule can also be set via the app, determining when and how often the robot should mow the lawn.

The cutting result is clean and flawless for us, despite the relatively small blades. The exact height can be set via the app. We gradually reduced it from 6.0 to 4.5 centimeters. Over the past few weeks, the robotic mower has been able to achieve a consistent result. The blades can be reordered at a low cost, which was personally very important to me.

We are already familiar with LIDAR orientation from Dreame’s vacuum robots. The operation and zone creation in the app work similarly here. Areas where the robot should not mow can also be set. Additionally, the map can be saved and reloaded after unsuccessful adjustments.

We can summarize the following points:

• LIDAR technology: Wireless navigation without boundary wires or beacons.
• Sensors: Rain and frost sensors protect the lawn.
• Battery life: Over two hours of mowing time per charge, with a charging time of about one hour.
• Advantages: Quiet, wireless positioning, weather-resistant.
• Disadvantages: Sensitive obstacle detection, unsatisfactory edge cutting, app-controlled setup requires practice.

Despite its many strengths, the Dreame Roboticmower A1 also has some weaknesses. The obstacle detection is very sensitive, which can be helpful in certain situations, but it often reacts too sensitively. This results in the mower prematurely turning around near edges or obstacles like bushes and low-hanging branches, leading to unsatisfactory cutting results along the edges. To compensate for this, it is advisable to create clear boundaries and remove obstacles as much as possible.

The app integration of the Dreame Roboticmower A1 works very reliably, as is typical for Dreame, and is optimized for various environments. Since not everyone has a stable Wi-Fi connection in outdoor areas, the mower first connects to the app via Bluetooth. Through a Wi-Fi connection, the robot can then also be monitored and controlled from greater distances.

For users without Wi-Fi coverage, there is an optional add-on module that enables a cellular connection, which we did not need. In our case, the robot regularly moves within the range of the Wi-Fi network, so the current status in the app always remains relatively up-to-date.

If the robot gets stuck somewhere, it sends out an emergency signal through any available connection. The app always provides us with current push notifications, which can, of course, be disabled if desired.

As a beta feature, a 3D map can also be accessed through the app. The LIDAR sensor can create a very precise image of its surroundings. In our case, the house, carport, trees, and all relevant outlines are clearly recognizable. LIDAR is known for its high precision and, in my opinion, represents the future of smart device navigation, whether it’s for vacuum cleaners or lawn mowers.