Robotic lawn mower

Last updated
FireFly AMP electric autonomous reel mowers maintained the fairways for the PGA Tour's Black Desert Championship October 9-13, 2024 in Ivins, Utah Firefly autonomous lawn mowers at a golf course.jpg
FireFly AMP electric autonomous reel mowers maintained the fairways for the PGA Tour's Black Desert Championship October 9-13, 2024 in Ivins, Utah
A robotic lawn mower with visible track marks in a lawn indicating the random way it cuts the grass Husqvarna Automower 308 with track marks in lawn.jpg
A robotic lawn mower with visible track marks in a lawn indicating the random way it cuts the grass
Video of a robotic lawn mower, the smallest model sold by company Gardena built by Husqvarna, in a garden with 40 m2

A robotic lawn mower is an autonomous robot used to cut lawn grass. A typical robotic lawn mower (in particular earlier generation models) requires the user to set up a border wire around the lawn that defines the area to be mowed. The robot uses this wire to locate the boundary of the area to be trimmed and in some cases to locate a recharging dock. Robotic mowers are capable of maintaining up to 100,000 m2 (25 acres) of grass.

Contents

Robotic lawn mowers are increasingly sophisticated, are self-docking and some contain rain sensors if necessary, nearly eliminating human interaction. Robotic lawn mowers represented the second largest category of domestic robots used by the end of 2005.

In 2012, the growth of robotic lawn mower sales was 15 times that of the traditional styles. [1] With the emergence of smart phones some robotic mowers have integrated features within custom apps to adjust settings or scheduled mowing times and frequency, as well as manually control the mower with a digital joystick. [2]

Modern robotic lawn mowers can contain specialized sensors, allowing them to automatically mow around obstacles or even go to sleep when it starts to rain. [3] [4]

In 2012, the vast majority of robotic lawn mowers tackled the task utilizing a "random" mowing system. Basically the machine bounced around on the lawn until it hit the boundary wire limiting the working area, then changed heading until it hit the wire again. [5] Depending on the lawn size, this meant machines would be in continuous operation. In late 2012, the Bosch robotic lawn mower "Indego" created a map of the user's garden and then tackled the task in a systematic manner, [6] similar to the more modern robotic vacuum cleaners.

In recent years, robotic lawn mower manufacturers have learned from Bosch and the mowers have undergone significant advancements in their mowing methods, transitioning from random bouncing to systematic and efficient mowing patterns. By following a predefined pattern, such as a spiral or grid, the robotic mower ensures complete coverage of the lawn while minimizing overlap and missed spots. [7] As technology has continued to advance, more companies are now utilizing real-time kinematic (RTK) base station guidance, RTK+, or AI Vision [8] to eliminate the need for a ground wire to delineate mowing areas.

For non-domestic usage, in the absence of a ground wire, RTK and RTK+ are currently the only GPS technologies that will provide the level of precision required for accurate mowing. [9] .

History

In 1969, the MowBot was introduced and patented by S Lawrence Bellinger having many features of today's most popular products. It weighed 125 pounds (57 kg), was selling for $800 (equivalent to $6,647in 2023) [10] and had an autonomy of 3 hours and 3,000 square feet (280 m2) [11] [12] [13] [14]

In 1992, the first fully solar powered robotic mower was patented by André Collens and sold to Husqvarna which marketed it in 1995. [15] [16] [17] [18]

In 2012, the Bosch Indego introduced lawn mapping, to mow in a systematic manner instead of a random pattern. [6]

As of 2019, vision-based Artificial Intelligence robotic mowers, without perimeter wire, were announced by EEVE. [19] Followed by a vision-based robotic mower of Volta in 2019. [20]

In 2020, Husqvarna announced a robotic mower (EPOS) that can navigate completely without a boundary wire, allowing location accuracy of 2-3 centimeters, using satellite navigation in coordination with a reference station. [21]

In 2023, FireFly Automatix introduced a large battery-powered robotic mower (AMP) with cylinder, or reel, cutting units that also utilizes networks of RTK reference stations and GPS for accurate positioning. AMP mowers were used to autonomously maintain the fairways at the PGA TOUR's Black Desert Championship in Utah in October 2024, a first in professional golf. [22]


Technology

The mower can find its charging station via radio frequency emissions, by following a boundary wire, or by following an optional guide wire. This can eliminate wear patterns in the lawn caused by the mower only being able to follow one wire back to the station.

To get to remote areas or areas only accessible through narrow passages the mower can follow a guide wire or a boundary wire out of the station.

Some robotic movers do not need a border wire, but use a GPS, often together with an additional GPS receiver to achieve precise positioning (real-time kinematic positioning). [23]

Batteries used include nickel–metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion, lead-acid, and lithium iron phosphate (LFP).

In 2019 an all-wheel-drive (AWD) drive robotic mower was released by Husqvarna. [24]

Examples

See also

Related Research Articles

An autonomous robot is a robot that acts without recourse to human control. Historic examples include space probes. Modern examples include self-driving vacuums and cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scythe</span> Agricultural reaping hand tool

A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or harvesting crops. It is historically used to cut down or reap edible grains, before the process of threshing. The scythe has been largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery, but is still used in some areas of Europe and Asia. Reapers are bladed machines that automate the cutting of the scythe, and sometimes subsequent steps in preparing the grain or the straw or hay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawn</span> Area of land planted with grasses and similar plants

A lawn is an area of soil-covered land planted with grasses and other durable plants such as clover which are maintained at a short height with a lawn mower and used for aesthetic and recreational purposes—it is also commonly referred to as part of a garden. Lawns are usually composed only of grass species, subject to weed and pest control, maintained in a green color, and are regularly mowed to ensure an acceptable length. Lawns are used around houses, apartments, commercial buildings and offices. Many city parks also have large lawn areas. In recreational contexts, the specialised names turf, parade, pitch, field or green may be used, depending on the sport and the continent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawn mower</span> Grass cutting device

A lawn mower is a device utilizing one or more revolving blades to cut a grass surface to an even height. The height of the cut grass may be fixed by the mower's design but generally is adjustable by the operator, typically by a single master lever or by a mechanism on each of the machine's wheels. The blades may be powered by manual force, with wheels mechanically connected to the cutting blades so that the blades spin when the mower is pushed forward, or the machine may have a battery-powered or plug-in electric motor. The most common self-contained power source for lawn mowers is a small 4-stroke internal combustion engine. Smaller mowers often lack any form of self-propulsion, requiring human power to move over a surface; "walk-behind" mowers are self-propelled, requiring a human only to walk behind and guide them. Larger lawn mowers are usually either self-propelled "walk-behind" types or, more often, are "ride-on" mowers that the operator can sit on and control. A robotic lawn mower is designed to operate either entirely on its own or less commonly by an operator on a remote control.

<i>The Lawnmower Man</i> (film) 1992 science fiction dark horror film

The Lawnmower Man is a 1992 science fiction horror film directed by Brett Leonard, written by Leonard and Gimel Everett, and starring Jeff Fahey as Jobe Smith, an intellectually disabled gardener, and Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Lawrence "Larry" Angelo, a scientist who decides to experiment on him in an effort to give him greater intelligence by stimulating his brain using nootropic drugs and virtual reality computer simulations. The experiments give Jobe superhuman abilities, but also increase his aggression, turning him into a man obsessed with evolving into a digital being.

iRobot American technology company that produces consumer robots

iRobot Corporation is an American technology company that designs and builds consumer robots. It was founded in 1990 by three members of MIT's Artificial Intelligence Lab, who designed robots for space exploration and military defense. The company's products include a range of autonomous home vacuum cleaners (Roomba), floor moppers, and other autonomous cleaning devices.

Robomow Manufacturer of robotic lawn mowers

Robomow is a manufacturer of robotic lawn mowers. Founded in Even Yehuda, Israel in 1995 by Udi Peless and Shai Abramson, the company provides robotic lawnmowers to the United States and Europe, with prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars/Euros. Robomow mowers are rechargeable. Robomow also comes with its own mobile application for remote and interactive control. The company has been mentioned in several magazines including: Design News, Business Wire, Washington Home and Garden and Vanity Fair. In May 2017, MTD Products Inc announced their intent to purchase Friendly Robotics. In July 2017, MTD Products announced the completion of the purchase of Robomow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawn mower racing</span> Form of motorsport where lawn movers are used

Lawnmower racing is a form of motorsport in which competitors race modified lawnmowers, usually of the ride-on or self-propelled variety. The original mower engines are retained, but the blades are removed for safety. The sport attracts all ages and is usually entered into in a spirit of fun rather than extreme competitiveness, though many participants do take it seriously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The New Lawn</span> Sports venue in Gloucestershire, UK

The New Lawn, also known as The Bolt New Lawn for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire. It has been the home stadium of National League club Forest Green Rovers since 2006. During the 2007–08 season the stadium was shared with Gloucester City. The stadium has a capacity of 5,147, of which 2,000 is seated. It replaced The Lawn Ground as Forest Green Rovers' home stadium and is expected to be replaced by a new stadium development located near the M5 motorway. In 2020 the ground was renamed The Innocent New Lawn Stadium due to a sponsorship deal with Innocent Drinks. In 2021, the stadium was renamed after the YouTube channel Fully Charged.

<i>Hover Bovver</i> 1983 video game

Hover Bovver is a 1983 maze video game written by Jeff Minter released for the Commodore 64. A port to Atari 8-bit computers by Aaron Liddiment followed in 1984. Like many of Minter's other games, it has an offbeat sense of humour. The background music is based on the folk tune "Country Gardens" by Percy Grainger, arranged by James Lisney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flymo</span> Hover lawnmower brand

Flymo is a hover lawnmower invented by Karl Dahlman in 1964, after seeing Sir Christopher Cockerell's hovercraft. "Flymo" is a brand name of the Swedish company Husqvarna AB, a part of Electrolux from 1978 to 2006. The mower is a variation of the petrol-powered rotary push lawn mower, but uses a fan above the mower's spinning blades to allow the mower's body to hover over the lawn. The mower is claimed to be more manoeuvrable and easier to push than wheeled petrol mowers, while delivering similar results.

The Husqvarna Group is a Swedish manufacturer of outdoor power products including robotic lawn mowers, chainsaws, trimmers, brushcutters, cultivators, and garden tractors. Founded as a firearms manufacturer in 1689, it is one of the oldest continuously running companies in the world. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, the group also produces consumer watering products under the brand Gardena, cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries.

<i>Blades</i> (film) 1989 American horror comedy film

Blades is a 1989 American horror comedy film distributed by Troma Entertainment and directed and edited by Thomas R. Rondinella, who also co-wrote the film with producers William R. Pace and John P. Finegan. Its plot concerns a series of brutal murders occurring at a prestigious country club's golf course, which are apparently the work of a possessed lawn mower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victa</span>

Victa is an Australian manufacturer of outdoor garden equipment, including petrol, electric, and battery-powered lawn mowers, edgers, trimmers, and chainsaws. The brand is best known as a manufacturer of rotary lawn mowers. In the early 1960s the company also built light aircraft, notably the Victa Airtourer, and project homes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sensation Lawn Mowers</span> American lawnmower manufacturing company

Sensation Lawn Mowers was a commercial lawnmower brand created by Howard Phelps in 1944. The Sensation Lawn Mower Company was located in Ralston, Nebraska, USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zero-turn mower</span> Type of lawn mowing equipment

A zero-turn riding lawn mower is a standard riding lawn mower with a turning radius that is effectively zero when the two drive wheels rotate in opposite direction, like a tank turning in place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domestic robot</span> Type of service robot

A domestic robot or homebot is a type of service robot, an autonomous robot that is primarily used for household chores, but may also be used for education, entertainment or therapy. While most domestic robots are simplistic, some are connected to Wi-Fi home networks or smart environments and are autonomous to a high degree. There were an estimated 16.3 million service robots in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atco (British mower company)</span>

Atco (Atlas Chain Company) Limited was a British mower company which traded as "Atco Ltd" from 1981 to 1990, making lawn mowers and garden tools. It sold a range of lawn mowers including lawn and garden tractors.

Advanced Lawnmower Simulator is a video game for the ZX Spectrum published as an April Fools' Day joke by Your Sinclair magazine in 1988. The player is tasked with mowing yards with a lawn mower in exchange for rewards. The magazine claimed the game was developed and published by "Gardensoft" and also published a joke review lauding it and released the game on a cover tape. It was not officially labeled as a prank until August 1990. The concept has inspired other games with similar titles.

EEVE is a Belgian company that develops and produces personal robots.

References

  1. ↑ "Rise of the Lawn-Cutting Machines". 2012-10-25. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  2. ↑ "Robomow RS630 Review". Best Stuff. 2014-05-09. Archived from the original on 2014-05-11. Retrieved 2014-05-10. Alt URL
  3. ↑ Oswald, Ed (April 12, 2020). "The best robotic lawn mowers for 2020". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  4. ↑ "Best Robotic Lawn Mower Guide". Robotic Reviews. 2018-01-21. Archived from the original on 2018-01-21. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
  5. ↑ "Rasenroboter Test". Bautomatik (in German). 11 November 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  6. 1 2 "Bosch Introduces New Autonomous Robotic Lawnmower". IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  7. ↑ "Robotic Lawn Mower -- Does It Really Work?". Appalachian Acres. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  8. ↑ "Worx Landroid Vision M800 WR208E - full review". www.robotmower.info. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  9. ↑ "Rise of the machines -- Autonomous mowers on golf courses". USGA. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
  10. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Self-propelled random motion lawnmower". 1969-10-20. Archived from the original on 2020-10-06. Retrieved 2013-06-08. U.S. patent 3,698,523
  12. ↑ "MowBot (Jan, 1969)". 2011-10-14. Archived from the original on 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
  13. ↑ Popular Science. Bonnier Corporation. January 1969. pp. 136–138, 210.
  14. ↑ Magazines, Hearst (December 1968). Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. p. 83.
  15. ↑ "BE1004248A6 SYSTEME DE TONTE CONTINUE ET AUTONOME". worldwide.espacenet.com. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  16. ↑ "Les inventeurs bruxellois crient "Eurêka!" Le courant magique de M. Deiana La pince à moules qui laisse les doigts nets Mode d'emploi du 47 e Salon". Le Soir (in French). 3 November 1998. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  17. ↑ "Un objet tondant identifié". www.dhnet.be (in French). 2002-05-17. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  18. ↑ "25 robotic anniversary". Husqvarna (in Swiss French). Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  19. ↑ Damme, Dries Van (2017-10-31). "Ce robot tond l'herbe, arrache les mauvaises herbes et ramasse les petites branches". Site-DataNews-FR. Archived from the original on 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  20. ↑ "Volta Mora Robot Mower – The Future Of Robot Lawnmowers". MyRobotMower. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  21. ↑ "How new technology is improving robotic mowers". www.hortweek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  22. ↑ "A PGA Tour first: There are robot mowers at Black Desert Championship". www.golfweek.usatoday.com. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
  23. ↑ http://111914033483285 (2021-12-02). "12 Robot Mowers without a Perimeter Wire | The Robot Mower" . Retrieved 2024-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ Steele, Billy (2019-02-27). "Hills can't stop this all-wheel-drive robot lawn mower". Engadget. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.