I’d be interested if a route optimization mode could be added to “Minimize Turns”. Instead of checkerboard or parallel or spiral, it would be “back and forth” or “forward and backwards”. Where the Yarbo wouldn’t turn around at the end of each line, it would simply drive backwards at a slight angle allowing it to come forward on a new line. Like pong, but the yarbo travels backwards on every other path. If mowing can be performed backwards, it would provide overlap, if the blade would need to be turned off for safety or cut quality, that would be ok too. [Bounce Path] You lose the front bumper when driving backwards, but there is a rear camera and sonic sensor. I don’t mind if it takes longer or if I need to do multiple runs, I’m just looking to reduce the number of (even smart) turns that are tearing grass.

Currently there are no bumpers on the rear and the rear camera doesn’t have obstacle avoidance as far as I know. So backwards mowing may currently be dangerous.

23 has rear sonics and a bumper, but the 24 does not. Rear obstacle avoidance is enabled in the newest firmware except when the tow hitch is attached as per the recent release notes.

Still not updated… so I’ll take your word for it…

See: U-turn that alters pathing for continuous drive …which showed up in the later responses for this one: Display area size while creating areas

Thank you for sharing your idea—we appreciate your thoughtful suggestion. At this time, we may not be able to consider this feature in the short term, as we’re continuing to optimize rear obstacle avoidance. Efficiency is also an important factor for many users. However, if more users express interest in this feature, I’ll be glad to pass it along to our product team for further consideration. Thanks again for your input!

This should be considered for the multiple dead ends concept. I could see it used for mowing straight up steep hills. It mimics what I would do on a riding mower for steeps.

I mowed by remote control using this bouncing method and it absolutely fixed the problems I’ve been having with tread wear from frequent turn areas. I tried to reproduce the remote control mowing with multiple dead-ends and end up with the attached screenshot (where each adjacent dead end becomes longer allowing for the Yarbo to begin the next dead end without massive turns. It occurred to me that dead-ends could be improved with a simple settings option to “extend reverse by X” where X is the number of feet (maybe 0 to 5) Yarbo would drive backwards past the end of the dead end to put itself in a good position to begin an adjacent dead end. I’ll post it as a separate feature request, because what I’d really like is a bouncing route path in this feature request, but with TONS of work, I can replicate some of that if I had “extend reverse by” option. The blades also turn off for about 10 seconds between each dead end, so I’d also like to see a “keep blades on for 20 seconds after completing dead-end” option in the dead end. But… baby steps. [IMG_9380]

Other option, which does not work, but could - Start them all from the same spot. The Dead-End creation should include a “test” button that is part of the settings (where speed and mower height is selected). When pressed, the core would traverse to the start of the DeadEnd, execute it, and return to the start of the DeadEnd. If the user accepts the behavior, they’d save it as is normal, and the core would be at the location where the next DeadEnd could be started without moving. I tried replicating this idea the hard way, but no luck. Half the time it spun around and ran them backwards.

[image] steve: Half the time it spun around and ran them backwards. If the rear of the core is closest to the entrance of the dead end when it executes that dead end per plan, it will just back down the dead end instead. I think this is a poor design choice but Yarbo confirmed it was intentional to minimize the turns and wear on the lawn.

I’m definitely interested! I also ask that the mower not do so many turns in front of the docking station. It should just back on the first time and not drive on forward first.

Minimize Turns Path Mode via Backwards Driving

Suggestion and Feature Requests

mwilliams October 14, 2025, 4:51pm 14

Just wanted to link the similar back-and-forth mowing idea here:

Topic		Replies	Views
Dead-end reverse extension Suggestion and Feature Requests	2	171	July 3, 2025
Back-and-forth mowing pattern Suggestion and Feature Requests lawn-mower , currently-under-review	5	334	August 1, 2026
Manual pathing (i.e. deadend without reverse) Suggestion and Feature Requests yarbo-app , mapping , currently-under-review	21	649	September 29, 2025
Deadends and lift. Suggestion and Feature Requests lawn-mower	4	153	June 24, 2025
Dead-end in reverse? Why? Software Issues lawn-mower	8	302	May 12, 2025

Minimize Turns Path Mode via Backwards Driving

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