Ecovacs Goat O1200 LiDAR Pro: testing the robot lawn mower with integrated edge trimmer
The domestic robot sector is becoming increasingly popular, but while indoor robots like vacuum cleaners are already quite widespread, lawn mowers are still showing dizzying numbers. There is one name that has gained a reputation over the years with all kinds of robots, and we are obviously talking about Ecovacs.
In the past, we had already tested products from the GOAT series, specifically dedicated to lawn mowing, and we were quite impressed. Now the company is taking a step forward by introducing perhaps the most complete models ever. Among these is the GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro, which we tested on our usual testing lawn, and you can see how it performed in our video.
Why is it the most complete?
Ecovacs GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro features simplified installation, an effective mowing phase, and now adds edge trimming to the equation, effectively reducing manual lawn work to zero. No more touching up certain areas, no more uncut strips of lawn; the robot truly handles everything.
Dual LiDAR and artificial intelligence
But let’s go in order. Over the years, we have seen various technologies used to indicate space and position to the robot, and the new GOAT O1200 probably utilizes the best combination available today. The name clearly suggests that the LiDAR sensor is the protagonist (yes, the same one used in self-driving cars), but here we find it in a dual formation. The HoloScope 360 system uses a rotating 360° LiDAR mounted on top of the robot and a front 3D-ToF LiDAR. This way, the map made of thousands of points reproduces the surrounding environment with extreme precision, recognizing everything: walls, porches, hedges, plants, and even what is on the neighbors' grounds.
Once the environment is reconstructed, it is essential to recognize various types of obstacles, and this is where the front camera, enhanced by artificial intelligence, comes into play to combine data and identify over 200 common obstacle types, including domestic and wild animals. The GOAT approaches, recognizes the obstacle up to 5 cm away, and avoids it, continuing its ideal mowing path.
Automatic mapping, it does it itself
These same systems also simplify installation. In fact, once taken out of the box, you need to do nothing but plug the base into a power outlet and pair the new robot with the Ecovacs app, the same one that includes the floor cleaning or window cleaning models. At that point, the GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro can perform reconnaissance of the lawn, autonomously identifying the lawn area and generating a map without human intervention. The system works, but perhaps it needs some refinement on the edge precision, which is why we opted for traditional manual creation. As in the past, a virtual joystick on the app allows us to guide the robot along the boundary, indicating where it should cut.
Once the mapping procedure is complete, the robot is immediately ready to work. It uses the classic rotating disk, located in the center, with three floating blades. The traction wheels are at the back, while the front ones are just support wheels, omnidirectional. On top, in addition to the LiDAR, stands the usual stop button and three small buttons for basic functions, along with a service display.
The cutting height adjustment is electronic, controlled via the app, between 30 and 80 mm. The base can be placed on the lawn or just outside, as in our case. It is also possible to choose a preferred cutting direction, or leave it up to the robot to change it periodically.
As soon as activated, our O1200 moves away from the base, takes a moment to orient itself, and then begins its work with parallel passes and U-turns for super-efficient cutting in terms of time. Sometimes it may seem like it accidentally avoids strips of grass, but you can follow everything on the app in real time, only to realize that every centimeter left behind is eventually recovered, according to a work speed logic determined by the algorithm. At the end of cutting, there is then the edge trimming pass, following the perimeter counterclockwise. This is because on the other side the protrusion you see is the one that includes the edge trimmer. It is indeed a true edge trimmer, featuring its spool, which normally rests partially hidden under the casing. If the edge finishing procedure is activated, the cylinder with the electric motor lowers into position, and the rotation of the head with the wire begins, protected by a cover and soft bristles at the end.
It then starts the clockwise rotation, with the trimmer near the edge, to automatically do what the owner would do with a manual edger. In areas where the grass is level with a paved surface, there is also a slight overlap for very precise work. Near hedges, we found that the LiDAR is slightly disturbed and can interpret a protruding branch as an obstacle. Perhaps a future update could make this phase more precise, but even now, manual work is reduced to almost zero. There are only a few stretches where the edge is not trimmed, at extreme corners and if there is an obstacle too close to the edge of the lawn, like the pots you see in our video.
In case there are very noticeable uncut parts, and the owner does not own an edger, they could most likely avoid buying one altogether. This is because Ecovacs has included, in this model as well, the option to manually control the robot, just like a remote-controlled device. Again, a virtual joystick appears on the app, and we can move the GOAT, via Bluetooth signal distance, wherever we want, activating both the cutting disc and the edge trimmer. This is how we finished the trimming around light poles or around a tree, but the same function can also be used if you want to better cut a specific area. And for those concerned about the edge trimmer in the presence of children or pets, when the AI recognizes a living being too close to the robot, it immediately stops all operations.
An app to control all home robots
Diving deeper into the application, it actually does not change compared to the previous products, with necessary updates for the different and evolved technologies. We still have the ability to create a dense weekly schedule, even at night. However, it is possible to prevent the GOAT from working when wild animals come out in the dark, and the robot will resume from where it interrupted operations the next day. Similarly, the rain sensor alerts of adverse weather, and from the app, we can indicate how many hours it should wait after the rain ends before resuming interrupted cutting. The map can also be divided into multiple zones or allows for combining areas that were originally separate, with specific planning for each zone, choosing height and frequency of cutting. If the GOAT needs to pass through narrow spaces, it can do so starting from a width of 0.8 meters. The final cherry on top is the IPX6 protection rating, allowing it to be washed with a non-pressurized water jet.
Conclusion of our testing days
So how did our testing days go? Let’s start from the assumption that GOAT series robots had never let us down in the past and that the ecosystem in which all Ecovacs products operate is now very well-tested. Obviously, the O1200 LiDAR Pro performed as expected. Lawn cutting is very precise, effective even after the first pass, despite the grass being far from well-kept. You can see this clearly from the video; the lawn became uniform in a couple of days, with edges treated very well, except for minor imperfections. The feeling is that really with such a model, manual intervention is minimal, allowing the robot to handle everything, saving a lot of time and effort. Some details may need refinement over time, but Ecovacs has accustomed us to periodic software updates, and so it is normal to expect the same for this product.
Pricing and Availability
For those interested in the GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro, it can be found directly in the Ecovacs store, with a price starting from 999 euros. The robot is also available in more accessory-laden bundles, such as one that includes replacement blades and wire spools for the edge trimmer, for 1,099 euros. There is also a garage to better protect it from the elements, costing 129.99 euros. The name suggests a working capacity for surfaces up to 1,200 square meters, but other models that go beyond this or simpler ones for smaller lawns can also be found in the store. If you prefer, the same products are available on Amazon, with similar prices and packages.