Suitability Requirements
Volta Lawn Intelligence Inc.
A Delaware Corporation · United States of America
Effective Date: May 6, 2026 · Last Updated: May 6, 2026
Overview
These Suitability Requirements define the environmental, physical, and infrastructural conditions under which the Volta Lawn Companion™ is designed to function correctly and safely. They form part of the Volta Terms of Service and are incorporated by reference into Section 2.3 thereof.
By completing your purchase, you represent and warrant that your lawn and property meet all applicable conditions listed herein. Refund and replacement eligibility under Section 6 of the Terms of Service is assessed against these conditions using Telemetry Data as the primary factual record.
The two conditions most frequently underestimated by new owners — and the two most frequent root causes of perceived "the device doesn't work" reports — are addressed first.
1. WiFi Connectivity
The Lawn Companion™ is a connected device. WiFi reaching the charging base is mandatory. WiFi covering the rest of the operating area is strongly recommended — telemetry, Lawn Intelligence™ insights, and OTA updates work continuously while the device is out mowing, and gaps in coverage degrade those features even though autonomous mowing itself can continue offline.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| WiFi standard | 802.11 b/g/n |
| WiFi frequency | 2.4 GHz only (5 GHz networks are not supported) |
| Coverage at base | Mandatory — −70 dBm or better |
| Coverage across the lawn | Strongly recommended — for full Lawn Intelligence™ functionality |
| SSID format | Standard SSID, no captive portal, no enterprise authentication |
| VPN on home network | Must be disabled during setup and routine operation |
1.1 Mandatory: signal at the base
The base must have a stable WiFi connection at all times. Setup, pairing, OTA firmware updates, telemetry sync, and Lawn Intelligence™ uploads all happen while the device is docked. A base without WiFi is a base where the device cannot complete activation and cannot deliver the service.
WiFi that reaches your living room is not necessarily WiFi that reaches the charging base outdoors. Walls, distance, and outdoor positioning all attenuate signal substantially. Customers must verify signal strength at the base location, not at the router, before activation. A WiFi extender, mesh node, or outdoor access point is the standard solution; installation is the customer's responsibility.
1.2 Strongly recommended: signal across the full operating area
While the device is out mowing, continuous connectivity allows it to upload navigation data, receive Lawn Intelligence™ updates, and remain controllable from the app in real time. A lawn where the WiFi signal extends to the perimeter and across all crossings will get the full benefit of the service. A lawn where WiFi only reaches the base will still mow autonomously, but real-time features are reduced.
Customers with larger lawns, lawns split by buildings, or lawns far from the home router should plan for a mesh node or outdoor access point covering the operating area.
1.3 What is not covered
Connectivity failures resulting from the Customer's network changes, ISP issues, VPN configurations, or insufficient signal at the base are outside the Suitability Requirements, are not covered under Infinite Care™, and do not constitute grounds for refund, credit, or replacement.
2. Lawn Condition at Handover — The ≤ 60 mm Rule
The Lawn Companion™ is designed to maintain a lawn, not to recover one. The customer's single, non-negotiable preparation responsibility is to hand over the lawn at the right starting height. Once that is done, the Lawn Companion™ takes over and keeps it there — every day, automatically, for the duration of the 24-month plan.
2.1 Before activation: the entire lawn must be cut to ≤ 60 mm
Before activating your package, the entire lawn — not just the area around the base, not just the visible portions — must be cut to 60 mm (2.4″) or below. This is the maximum cutting height of the Lawn Companion™, and it is the height at which the device begins its work.
A lawn handed over at the correct starting height will be maintained by the Lawn Companion™ thereafter. A lawn handed over above 60 mm cannot be brought down by daily micro-cuts — that is not how the device is designed to work, and attempting to use it that way will not produce the expected result.
The customer's preparation checklist before activation:
- Mow the entire lawn down to ≤ 60 mm using a conventional mower or a lawn service. The lower end of the operational range (around 30–40 mm) is recommended for a clean handover.
- Remove all long clippings, leaves, twigs, and debris from the surface. These clog blades, foul the camera, and trigger lift/tilt alerts that pause the device.
- Confirm the lawn is in maintainable condition — turf coverage established, no extensive bare patches, no severe neglect, drought stress, or active pest damage.
After this single act of preparation, the Lawn Companion™ assumes responsibility for keeping the lawn at the cutting height set in the app. Daily micro-cuts hold the lawn at that height indefinitely; the customer never needs to mow again for the duration of the 24-month plan.
A lawn that is handed over above 60 mm, heavily thatched, or in a state of severe neglect is outside the Suitability Requirements. Volta will not refund or credit a package on the basis of "the lawn looks worse" or "the device isn't catching up" if the lawn was not handed over in the prepared state described above. Recovery is the customer's responsibility; maintenance is ours.
2.2 The 3-meter radius around the base — the most important square footage on your property
The area within a 3-meter (10-foot) radius of the charging base is the most operationally critical surface on the lawn. It is where the Lawn Companion™ docks, undocks, calibrates its camera, performs its first orientation rotations of every session, and re-establishes its position after every charge cycle. This area must satisfy all of the following at activation and throughout the 24-month plan:
- Flat, with no slope — gradient ≤ 5% within the 3-meter radius. Even modest slope around the base interferes with docking accuracy and battery contact.
- Maintained at the lower end of the cutting range — set the app to keep this area at 20–35 mm. Tall grass directly around the base obscures the camera's view of the dock and degrades vision-based homing.
- No bare patches, mud, or wet soil deposits — the camera relies on consistent turf texture in this radius for orientation; bare earth or muddy patches break that signal.
- No debris, decorative stones, edging, or planted features — the radius must be uninterrupted natural turf.
- No standing water, drainage problems, or seasonal flooding — even though the base is IP68, repeated flooding of the docking area degrades reliability.
- Strong WiFi signal at the base — −70 dBm or better, with full coverage extending across the operating area (see §1).
A base placed in a 3-meter radius that does not meet these conditions is the single most frequent cause of "the device won't dock," "it keeps getting lost," and "Lawn Intelligence™ isn't learning my lawn" reports. These conditions are within the customer's control and are the customer's responsibility to provide and maintain.
2.3 The rest of the lawn
Beyond the 3-meter base radius, the Lawn Companion™ maintains the lawn at the cutting height set in the app — anywhere between 20 mm (0.8″) and 60 mm (2.4″). The customer chooses the target height once; the device holds the lawn at that height through daily micro-cuts. Beyond setting that target, the only conditions expected of the rest of the lawn are:
- Turf coverage established and continuous, without large bare patches
- Slope within the 40% gradient limit (see §3)
- Lawn boundaries clearly delineated against non-grass surfaces
Compatible grass types include all common US residential varieties: Bermuda, Kentucky Bluegrass, Tall Fescue, Fine Fescue, Zoysia, St. Augustine, Centipede, Ryegrass (perennial and annual), and Buffalo grass. Mixed-grass lawns are supported. Performance of Lawn Intelligence™ varies with grass type, growth rate, and seasonal conditions; that variation is biological, not a product defect.
3. Lawn Area and Slope
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Maximum coverage per unit | 11,000 sq ft (~1,000 m²) |
| Maximum coverage — ULTRA 2× (2 units) | ~½ acre (~2,000 m²) |
| Maximum slope | 40% gradient (21.8°) |
| Surface type | Natural turf (grass) only |
The Lawn Companion™ is designed for residential lawns. It is not approved for agricultural, commercial farming, sports field, or municipal use. It does not operate on artificial turf, gravel, mulch, bare soil, sand, or hard surfaces.
Operation on slopes exceeding 40% (21.8°) may cause instability, reduced traction, incomplete coverage, and potential hardware damage — outside the Suitability Requirements. Wheel traction is significantly reduced on muddy or wet-soil terrain; persistent muddy conditions are also outside the Suitability Requirements.
4. Obstacles and Lawn Complexity
Within scope:
- Trees, garden beds, and planted areas with defined edges
- Fixed structures: garden furniture, sheds, play equipment
- Gentle terrain undulations within the slope limit
Outside scope (may result in degraded performance or hardware damage not covered under Infinite Care™):
- Dense obstacle fields with less than 24 inches (60 cm) of clear passage
- Heavily shaded areas where grass is absent or severely sparse
- Lawns with extensive uncleared debris (rocks, roots, large branches)
- Drop-offs, retaining walls, or unguarded elevation changes greater than 4 inches (10 cm)
Customers are responsible for keeping the lawn clear of debris and ensuring obstacles are stable and consistently positioned.
5. Charging Base Position and Zone Crossings
5.1 Charging Base Placement — see §2.2 for the critical 3-meter radius
In addition to the conditions in §2.2, the base must not be placed:
- Against a wall, fence, or structure without adequate frontal clearance
- On gravel, paving, decking, or any non-grass surface
- In a position where the approach path is obstructed by steps, slopes, or persistent debris
- In areas with poor or no WiFi signal coverage (see §1)
5.2 Zone Crossings
Where the lawn is divided by driveways, pathways, patios, or other hard surfaces, the Lawn Companion™ must cross between zones over a continuous grass surface or a dedicated crossing strip. For each crossing point, a clear grass corridor of at least 3 meters (10 feet) in length and sufficient width is required both before and after the crossing. Maximum crossing length: 6 meters.
Crossings that lack adequate clearance, involve abrupt elevation changes, or pass over loose materials (gravel, mulch, bark) are outside the Suitability Requirements.
6. Power and Charging
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Charging base input | 100–240V AC, 50/60 Hz, 1.5A |
| Charging base output | 32V DC / 1.8A |
| Charging base IP rating | IP68 |
| Battery | Li-ion 2 Ah, 28V |
| Charge/discharge ratio | ~1:1 |
The charging base must be installed outdoors on a stable, level surface with access to a standard outdoor-rated electrical outlet. Damage from improper placement, flooding beyond IP68 limits, or electrical installation issues is not covered under Infinite Care™.
7. Use Restrictions
The Lawn Companion™ is intended exclusively for residential outdoor use in the United States. Outside the Suitability Requirements:
- Agricultural or commercial farming applications
- Sports fields, golf courses, or municipal greenspaces
- Operation by persons under 18 years of age without adult supervision
- Modification, disassembly, or tampering with any hardware component
- Use in jurisdictions where autonomous outdoor robots are restricted or prohibited
8. Telemetry, Returns, and Disputes
Every Volta Lawn Companion™ continuously records mowing sessions, in-base outdoor time, connectivity status, and WiFi signal quality. This telemetry is the controlling record of fact for any return, replacement, refund, or payment-dispute inquiry. A unit that has logged active mowing sessions and stable in-base outdoor time has, by definition, delivered the contracted service.
See Shipping & Returns for the complete return, replacement, and dispute policy.
9. Pre-Purchase Acknowledgment
At checkout, every customer is presented with a single binding acknowledgment that incorporates this document by reference:
"I have read the Suitability Requirements. I confirm that my property meets the WiFi, lawn-condition, base-radius, slope, and connectivity requirements specified therein. I understand that Volta is sold as a fixed-price 24-month package (hardware + Lawn Intelligence™ service + warranty), that my eligibility for refund or replacement is assessed against device telemetry, and that there is no satisfaction-based return window."
This acknowledgment is timestamped, retained, and produced as evidence in any subsequent dispute.
10. Changes to Suitability Requirements
Volta reserves the right to update these Suitability Requirements as the Lawn Companion™ hardware and Lawn Intelligence™ platform evolve. Existing customers will be notified of any material changes that affect their current operating environment.
Contact
For pre-purchase questions about whether your lawn meets these conditions:
Email: support@volta.ai
Website: www.volta.ai/faq
© 2026 Volta Lawn Intelligence Inc. All rights reserved. Lawn Companion™, Lawn Intelligence™, Drop&Mow®, Privacy by Physics™, and Infinite Care™ are trademarks of Volta Lawn Intelligence Inc.