Orbbec unveils four vision systems for robotic mowers

Orbbec has introduced four vision systems for robotic lawnmowers, targeting different lawn care settings.

The range covers stereo VSLAM, LiDAR and vision fusion, vision and RTK fusion, and monocular vision.

Orbbec is seeking to expand its position in robotics vision as robotic mower manufacturers look for better navigation, obstacle detection, and deployment. The market increasingly requires machines that can handle shaded gardens, irregular lawn edges, and larger open spaces without buried boundary wires.

The first product is a stereo VSLAM system designed to operate without GPS, RTK, LiDAR, or boundary wires. It uses stereo visual localisation and mapping with wheel odometry, loop closure detection, and global bundle adjustment to estimate a mower's position and reconstruct its surroundings in real time.

According to Orbbec, the system is intended for complex residential gardens where trees, walls, or other obstructions can limit signal reception and complicate navigation. It also supports edge mowing and resume functions after interruptions.

A second option combines LiDAR with camera vision. This approach brings together 3D point cloud data from LiDAR and RGB image data to improve spatial awareness and semantic recognition in outdoor environments.

The product is positioned as a way to avoid some of the weaknesses of single-sensor systems. LiDAR provides structural depth information across different lighting conditions, while camera imagery helps a machine distinguish turf, obstacles, and hard landscaping.

A third system combines stereo vision with RTK positioning for larger properties. The setup is intended for extensive turf management where operators need more precise coverage over open land.

The RTK and VSLAM combination allows automatic mapping and supports functions such as geo-fencing, anti-theft alerts, and 4G cloud tracking. That places the system closer to commercial or estate-scale use than the consumer garden market.

The fourth product is a monocular RGB vision system aimed at small and medium-sized lawns with fewer obstacles. It includes wire-free boundary detection, animal detection, obstacle avoidance, multi-zone management, and return-to-charge functions in rain or low-light conditions.

Manufacturing plans

Alongside the product launch, Orbbec outlined its manufacturing strategy for robotics customers. It is building production capacity in China and Vietnam as lawnmower companies seek faster product rollouts and greater supply chain flexibility.

Its manufacturing base in Shunde, Foshan, is being used for contract manufacturing and joint design manufacturing services for robotics companies. Through that operation, Orbbec says it has worked with more than 5,000 enterprise customers worldwide.

The group is also developing an overseas factory in Vietnam as part of a wider international production footprint. The site will replicate manufacturing services already used in China for localised volume production.

New Product Introduction work is a central part of that offer. Orbbec describes the process as support for design for manufacturing, process optimisation, and production ramp-up for customers moving from prototype to mass production.

Orbbec says its multi-site manufacturing model is designed to support flexible allocation of production across locations, with expected annual capacity of more than 6 million robot units.

The move highlights how robotics suppliers are increasingly trying to combine hardware, software, and manufacturing services in a single offering. For lawn care equipment makers, that can reduce the need to source sensing systems, integration support, and production expertise from separate suppliers.

Competition in robotic mowing has intensified as demand grows for autonomous garden equipment that can operate reliably across varied terrain and weather conditions. Manufacturers are also under pressure to reduce installation complexity, particularly by cutting dependence on wires and manual setup.

By presenting four sensor configurations, Orbbec is addressing different price points and operating environments rather than promoting a single technical approach. The range spans lower-cost monocular vision for simpler gardens to combined positioning and sensor systems for more demanding sites.