Ambrogio L15 Deluxe Robotic Lawnmower Review (2020)

 

Ambrogio L15 Deluxe A015DE0 robot mower is designed for lawns up to 600 m² (or 0.148 ac.) wherein the slopes are no steeper than 11.31° (20 percent) at perimeter wire. It’s otherwise an autonomous robotic lawnmower using a 25.9 V 2.5 Ah lithium-ion rechargeable battery running on electric power. It’s got a solid blade shaped like a star with 4 sharp tips making up the cutting system which mulches the grass, and the primary mowing pattern is random. The robot mower operates quietly (up to 57 dB) and maintains your lawn at a cutting height of 25-70 mm (or 0.98″ to 2.75″).

With that out of the way, the more advanced features of Ambrogio L15 Deluxe (600 m²) include delimitation of obstacles with a perimeter wire, edge cutting function, rain sensor, perimeter corridor width setting, secondary area coverage, 3 options for re-entry to charging station, and spiral mowing as secondary mowing pattern, along with a few more things like ECO mode sensor wherein the robot mower recognizes where the lawn is cut and where it’s not. It otherwise, like most robotic mowers, has all the essential mowing, safety, and security features. The only downsides, if you can call them that, are the aesthetics of the robot mower and that the remote control is limited to Bluetooth connection.

These things are pretty quiet and have saved me a lot of time pushing the more traditional one around every single week of the summer. Although the initial cost may seem daunting, the running costs have been so low I’ve almost forgotten about this thing keeping my lawn in check. It’s one of those things you don’t actually see the merit of unless you’ve experienced it yourself.

You can check its price here: Ambrogio L15 Deluxe.

Quick Overview for the Hasty

Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robot lawn mower measures 42 cm x 22 cm x 29 cm / 16.54″ x 8.66″ x 11.42″ (length x width x height) and weighs 7.1 kg (or 15.65 lbs).

Here’s a useful overview of robot mowers in general: “Robot Lawnmower Buying Guide”.

At base value, Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robotic mower features tilt, lift, rain, and collision sensors. If you looked past some advanced features like the spiral mowing, delimitation, edge cutting, secondary area coverage, corridor width handling, eco mode, etc, it’s otherwise like a typical robot mower. It also features remote control which you need to gain access to those more advanced features, but it’s limited to Bluetooth connection only.

For extra cost you can install a GPS module to it.

Pros:

• simple, practical – gets the job done
• able to mow for a longer period per 1 charge

Cons:

• advanced settings only via the app (remote control)
• remote control limited to Bluetooth only
• adjusting cutting height is inconvenient
• aesthetics… (subjective)

 

Who’s Behind Ambrogio L15 Deluxe Robotic Lawnmower?

Ambrogio is a brand of Zucchetti Centro Sistemi Spa Company which is part of the Zucchetti Group, one of the most important Italian companies in IT sector.

This Italian-based company boasts a wide range of robotic lawn mowers (18 currently) since the year 2000. They’ve categorized their robot mowers as GREEN Line (4), PRO Line (4), PRO Line “i” (5), and NEXT Line (5). Note that the one talked about in this article is Ambrogio L15 Deluxe which belongs to the GREEN Line of robot mowers wherein the “V.2019” version of this robot mower is the predecessor of the “V.2020” version.

 

What Are the Specifications of Ambrogio L15 Deluxe?

• Dimensions – 42 cm x 22 cm x 29 cm / 16.54″ x 8.66″ x 11.42″ (length x width x height)
• Weight – 7.1 kg (15.65 lbs)
• No load speed – 4200/min (rounds per minute)

• Max cutting area – 600 m² (0.148 ac.)
• Maximum slope for cutting area – 24.23° (45 percent)
• Max incline for perimeter wire – 11.31° (20 percent)
• Battery pack – 25.9 V 2.5 Ah lithium-ion rechargeable battery
• Mowing time – 120 min (avg.)
• Charging time – 60 min (avg.)
• Cutting width – 18 cm (7.08″)
• Cutting height – 25-70 mm (0.98″ to 2.75″)
• Cut height positions – ∞
• Volume level – up to 57 dB

 

What Are the Features of Ambrogio L15 Deluxe Robot Mower?

Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robot lawn mower has quite a few features to it.

1) General:

• autonomous charging and mowing
• silent operation (up to 57 dB)
• Bluetooth connectivity
• low running costs

2) Control System:

• manual control panel keypad
• remote control with app
• alert messages

3) Navigation system:

• random mowing pattern
• spiral mowing pattern
• relies on a perimeter wire
• methods of re-entry
• recall on wire
• delimitation with wire
• edge cutting function
• departure points for secondary area
• Scheduling options (4)
• ECO mode sensor
• collision sensor
• rain sensor

4) Charging system:

• charging station

5) Cutting system:

• mulching system
• cutting height adjustment
• star shaped solid blade with 4 tips

6) Safety features:

• emergency STOP button
• collision sensor
• tilt sensor

7) Security features:

• pin code
• no-signal sensor

 

1) General Features

Automatic charging and mowing cycle 
SinceAmbrogio L15 Deluxe robotic lawnmower is not much different from other robot mowers in the sense that it’s autonomous. Assuming everything is set and ready, the robot mows and recharges all on its own automatically as per the schedule.

Silent operation (up to 57 dB) 
Compared to the traditional push mowers that roar at around 90 dB, robot mowers whirl at around 60 dB. Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robotic lawnmower sound levels go up to 57 dB unless something’s wrong. You can read more here: “How Loud Are Robot Mowers?”

Over-air connectivity
Ambrogio L15 Deluxe has a built-in Bluetooth device which you can connect to on your smartphone via an app called (at the time of writing this) ‘Ambrogio Remote App’ with which you can remotely control the robot mower. Note again that it’s limited to Bluetooth only. There’s always the manual keypad on the robot mower itself in case you weren’t able to make use of remote control for one reason or another.

Low running costs 
The initial overall cost can be daunting, but the running costs afterwards tend to be not really a problem at all. The main running costs come from the use of electricity and certain replacement parts. The battery will last anywhere from 2 to 6 years while the blade needs changing as well. When it comes to electricity, just for a rough estimate, a 25.9 volt 2.5 Ah battery uses roughly 0.0648 kWh (calculated here). Costs a few cents to keep it running 1 whole day, that’d make a few tens of bucks per mowing season if you didn’t give it much rest.

 

2) Control System

Control panel keypad 
Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robot mower’s control panel keypad is limited to only a couple of basic functions like start/pause and the like, and there you’ll also find a big red emergency STOP button. The keypad along with the stop button are located at the very top of the robot mower. Note, again, that you need to use the Ambrogio Remote App if you wanted to use the more advanced features.

Remote control 
As already mentioned, in order to use the more advanced features and set security measures, you ought to pair the robot with your smartphone (iOS or Android) using Bluetooth. At the time of writing, the app is called ‘Ambrogio Remote App’ which allows you to configure working schedules, rain sensor functions, set departure points for secondary area coverage, change the password, send various operation commands, receive notifications and even guide the robot during operation, and more.

 

3) Navigation System

Mowing pattern: random & spiral 
Most robot mowers mow in a random pattern while some more sophisticated mow in parallel rows. Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robot mower mows mainly in a random pattern, but when it detects a spot with more grass, it occasionally starts a spiral mowing pattern instead. Additionally, the robot mower tends to know where it has cut thanks to what they refer to ECO mode sensor making the random pattern not entirely random.

ECO mode sensor 
This can either be enabled or disabled and allows the robot mower to detect if the lawn surface has already been mowed already to then reduce working time in that area to ultimately mow the lawn faster. This is a pretty neat yet simple solution to systematically cover more ground.

Relies on a perimeter wire 
As is with most robot mowers that don’t cost a fortune, Ambrogio L15 Deluxe also relies on a perimeter wire to define the cutting area. It’s an electrified wire (not harmful) that makes a loop around the cutting area and connects to the charging station. It also helps the mower find its way back to the charging station. The wire can be installed either tightly against the ground or dug under the ground (buried up to 3 cm or 1.181″ deep).

Methods of re-entry 
In other words, configurable ways it returns to the charging station after mowing. Those include the distance from the perimeter wire (0, 25, or 50 cm), and/or whether the mower should follow the wire “on the wire” or in “V-meter” method. In the latter case the mower still follows the wire but from a distance whilst touching the wire every now and again. The approach with more distance is good for avoiding tracks from forming and the 0 cm on the wire approach is better for more complex gardens. (refer to the picture)

Recall on wire 
If you chose to use V-meter method of re-entry, you also ought to install the wire in a special way called “recall on wire” just before narrow passages wherein the robot mower, when it recognizes going over the “recall on wire” section, will get closer to the perimeter wire and continue moving more slowly and accurately for a short while before continuing whichever re-entry method you chose. Note again that “recall on wire” section ought to be created for narrow passages if you planned on using the V-meter for re-entry method.

Delimitation with wire 
This method of installing the perimeter wire allows you to delimit or extend the perimeter wire around obstacles you don’t want the mower to run into whilst allowing the robot mower to still pass the wire where you want it to (refer to the picture). As an example, a tree you don’t need to delimit because it can withstand a little bump from the robot mower and the robot mower’s collision sensor allows it to go around it. But if that tree had on-the-ground roots that might damage the blades, you either need to delimit this area, cut the roots (might kill the tree) or block the path to these roots somehow else.

Edge cutting function 
It’s a fairly basic function that tells the robot mower to run along the wire and cut the edge of the lawn. You ought to activate this function manually and let it run its circle when need be. It’s not really a magical solution to cutting the lawn to the very edge for real – there will still be some uncut grass left afterwards because the chassis of Amrogio L15 Deluxe robot mower is wider than the cutting blades can reach. Add to the latter the fact that the perimeter wire is not installed close enough to the edge to cut it all anyway.

Departure points for secondary area 
Cutting areas are divided into Primary, Secondary, and Closed areas. Primary area is the main cutting area and needs no more explaining. Secondary area is an area that can only be accessed via a narrow passage which makes the chances of the robot mower randomly ending up there too slim. The solution for that is to set a departure point in the settings for the robot mower to follow the perimeter wire up to that area from where it breaks off from the wire and starts mowing. Closed area is where the narrow passage is less than 70 cm (27.56″) wide and the mower just can’t ever reach there autonomously and you ought to carry the mower there manually whilst turning on Manual Mode.

Scheduling options 
There are 4 different working time schedules (T1, T2, T3, T4) along with 4 corresponding working areas (A1, A2, A3, A4) you can set for each day of the week. So for example T1: 08:00 – 12:00, A1, A2, A3, A4; and T2: 15:00 – 17:00, A1, A2.

Collision sensor 
Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robotic lawnmower has a collision sensor, a sort of front bumper that recognizes when it’s hit an obstacle higher than 10 cm (or 3.94″) after which it will back a little, turn and starts mowing in a different direction.

Rain sensor 
The rain sensor can be toggled on or off. When enabled and rain is detected, the robot mower simply returns to the charging station and continues mowing after charging. You can also set a “delay” timer that forces the robot mower to sit in the charging station for the set amount of time before going out to mow again. Note that it may be rain resistant, but if it rained so much that ponds of water formed on your lawn that were too deep, the chances of this robot mower surviving that is not that great. Also, if you’re an avid user of water sprinkles, those too can ultimately damage the mower’s electrical components as the water is fired up its uncovered ass*.

 

4) Charging System

As was mentioned earlier, the charging and mowing cycle is automatic. That means you can just watch or do whatever and the mower takes care of the lawn by itself to some extent autonomously unless you instructed it to do otherwise, say for example you didn’t set a proper mowing schedule and the grass outgrows the rate at which the mower was set to mow the lawn.

 

5) Cutting System

Mulching system 
Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robot mower mulches rather than straight up cuts grass which means it basically fertilizes grass at the same time as the clippings are small enough to fall down to the soil. If you wanted a truly healthy looking lawn, pretty much all that’s left for you to do is aeration.

Cutting height adjustment 
Adjusting the cutting height of Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robot mower is not very convenient, I must say. Instead of just turning a knob on top of the mower which most robot mowers have, with this one you ought to flip the mower upside down and use the “key” (a screwdriver, essentially) to turn the bracket near the cutting blades and lift or lower the cutting height to the level you want. The key has graduated scale which allows you to measure the height as you go about it. Though you do get a more dynamic range of heights anywhere from 2.5 to 7 cm (or 0.98″ to 2.75″) rather than a few fixed height positions in-between a lesser range of heights.

Star shaped solid blade with 4 tips 
It boasts a solid type of a cutting system instead of the pivoting razor-like blades most robot mowers tend to go with. The solid blade cutting system, although a little louder and tiny bit less energy efficient, is on the other hand more powerful at cutting things and is thus able to cut grass more efficiently.

 

6) Safety Features

Emergency STOP button 
Apart from Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robot lawn mower having a big emergency STOP button, being fairly quiet (up to 57 dB only), moving relatively slowly, and having a considerably weaker motor when compared to your regular lawn mower, meaning it will have a harder time with anything other than grass, along with blades being small and tucked deep under the chassis, there are a few more tricks under its belly (learn more: “Robotic Lawnmower Safety”).

Collision & tilt sensors 
Collision sensor (a.k.a bump sensor) helps the mower navigate around obstacles and not get stuck behind them, but this sensor also acts as a safety measure as it won’t allow the mower to just force its way to cutting things it shouldn’t be attempting to cut. Tilt, but also lift sensors will stop the blades almost instantly when the mower is tilted, lifted or when it rolls over.

 

7) Security Features

Pin code 
When purchasing, the default PIN code is “0000” which you ought to change when using the Ambrogio Remote App mentioned earlier. And try not to forget the PIN code once you’ve created it!

No signal sensor
If there is no signal, the robot mower will just stop.

 

Additionally, you could:

Hide from bypassers
Try installing the charging station somewhere hidden from bypassers for added protection.

Use a sticker
You can custom make a sticker with fake information about its security features and put it on the mower for the potential thief to kindly return the mower once they notice it – once they realize that they can’t do anything with it without knowing the PIN code, instead of just leaving it somewhere, they might return it knowing they could still get off easy. They might…

Fake surveillance system
Putting a camera, even if fake, in an obvious easy to spot location overlooking the area will at least make the potential thief think twice.

 

What’s Included In the Ambrogio L15 Deluxe Package?

Robotic Mower
Charging Station
Installation Manual
100 m Boundary Wire
Boundary Wire Staples (100)

The key, power supply & cable, connectors, and the like.

And yeah, you probably need way more boundary wire to cover a max capacity area.

 

Should You Buy the Ambrogio L15 Deluxe Robot Lawn Mower?

This robot mower is relatively cheap whilst performing a little better than an average 600 m² (or 0.148 ac.) coverage robot mower in this price range. The negativity I’ve seen going around is mainly to do with people not understanding how robot mowers work in general. These are not “robots” with artificial intelligence able to compensate for the user’s mistakes when setting things up.

You will have to go through a little bit of hassle when installing it on your lawn, but that’s to be expected with every single robot mower out there.

It might not be for you if your garden layout was way too complex and/or consisted of more than 4 hard-to-reach zones or the slopes were steeper than 24.23° (or 45 percent) or 11.31° (20 percent) at the perimeter wire and you wanted cut height to be less than 25 mm (0.98″) or more than 70 mm (2.75″). Another thing is that you need to have a smartphone with Bluetooth connectivity or else configuring settings manually will be limited to only the most basic functions. Advanced settings seem to be accessible only via the app.

You can check its price here: Ambrogio L15 Deluxe.

 

How To Install Ambrogio L15 Deluxe?

Luckily the installation of Abrogio L15 Deluxe robot mower isn’t a rocket science and pretty much only involves laying down & connecting the perimeter wire as well as placing down the charging station as per the instructions. The whole process can take a few hours (check with installation manual).

When it comes to the perimeter wire, here’s a few quick tips. You can place the wire tightly against the grass using the pegs or dig it up to 5 cm (1.96″) deep instead. Initially it’d be better to not dig it anywhere and simply lay it against the ground and let robot mower run a few weeks in order to kick out all the quirks. Once everything works as it should (fully autonomously), then you can start the digging.

Another thing is the charging station. Setting this up is fairly straight forward (check with installation guide), but I’d like to point out a few key things still. They’re mainly to do with the charging station placement requirements:

• It must be close to a wall socket;
• preferably under shade & cover;
• install on a relatively flat surface outdoors;
• install it somewhere out of sight from bypassers;
• install on top of the wire at an outer edge of the cutting area (not in the middle of cutting area).

 

How To Take Care of the Ambrogio L15 Deluxe Robot Mower?

As is with all robot lawn mowers, Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robotic lawnmower, too, requires very low maintenance:

• clean regularly;
• replace cutting blades when need be;
• replace rechargeable battery when it seems almost dead;
• install charging station in shaded area to protect the mower from the elements;
• don’t forget to unplug the power supply connected to the charging station you left outside for winter;
• when storing the robot mower itself, charge fully, turn off, clean, and place in dry indoor conditions, and avoid leaving in freezing temperature.

 

Conclusion

Ambrogio L15 Deluxe A015DE0 robot mower is designed for lawns up to 600 m² (or 0.148 ac.) wherein the slopes are no steeper than 24.23° (or 45 percent). It’s otherwise an autonomous robotic lawnmower using a 25.9 V 2.5 Ah lithium-ion rechargeable battery running on electric power. It’s got a solid blade shaped like a star with 4 sharp tips making up the cutting system which mulches the grass, and the primary mowing pattern is random. The robot mower operates quietly (up to 57 dB) and maintains your lawn at a cutting height of 25-70 mm (or 0.98″ to 2.75″).

With that out of the way, the more advanced features of Ambrogio L15 Deluxe (600 m²) include delimitation of obstacles with a perimeter wire, edge cutting function, rain sensor, perimeter corridor width setting, secondary area coverage, 3 options for re-entry to charging station, and spiral mowing as secondary mowing pattern, along with a few more things like ECO mode sensor wherein the robot mower recognizes where the lawn is cut and where it’s not. It otherwise, like most robotic mowers, has all the essential mowing, safety, and security features. The only downsides, if you can call them that, are the aesthetics of the robot mower and that the remote control is limited to Bluetooth connection.

Ambrogio brand
It’s a solid brand from Italy that’s often compared to the likes of Husqvarna. The models they have have been updated almost yearly, too.

What’s in the package
Ambrogio L15 Deluxe robot mower package includes the robot lawn mower itself, a charging station, 100 meters (approx. 410′) of perimeter wire, 100 boundary wire pegs, and a manual, but also the power supply & cable, screws, nails, the key, wire connectors, and the like.

Where to buy
It’s simple, buy here: Ambrogio L15 Deluxe.

 

EXTRA READING

Best Cheap Robot Lawn Mowers in 2022 | post | Lawn Story
Robot lawn mower care & maintenance | post | Lawn Story
How much do robot mowers cost? | post | Lawn Story
How long do robot mowers last? | post | Lawn Story
Robot lawn mower buying guide | post | Lawn Story
How do robot mowers work? | post | Lawn Story
Robot lawn mower safety | post | Lawn Story