How do robot lawn mowers work?

  • How do robot lawn mowers work?

Robotic lawn mowers are gaining popularity, although not yet being as commonplace as robot vacuums. These ingenious tools make it simple to maintain a lovely lawn without lifting a finger, but you'll need to make a hefty initial investment because robot lawn mowers aren't cheap.

But how do robotic lawn mowers actually operate? Here's a deeper look at these cutting-edge gadgets so you can understand what you're getting into before buying.

The basics of robot lawn mowers

The basics of robot lawn mowers

Robot vacuums and robotic lawn mowers are strikingly similar. However, these robust devices trim your lawn and turn the clippings into finely chopped particles that act as makeshift fertiliser for your grass rather than sucking up pet fur and dust. They frequently have three to four wheels, a set of movable blades, and a rectangular or triangular design to enable cuts of various heights.

Robotic lawn mowers are powered by docking stations, which enables them to operate autonomously without any user interaction. When their batteries are low, they will return to the dock before continuing with their task. Some boats include a rain sensor as well, and if it starts to rain, they will return to their pier.

Some robot lawn mowers may struggle on hills because it takes a lot of power to move these heavy machines up steep incline. However, because many of them are built with a blade and wheels that can change their performance on the fly to avoid clipping into the ground, they don't struggle on uneven terrain.

Robot lawn mowers are guided by boundary wires

Robot lawn mowers are guided by boundary wires

The installation process for robot lawn mowers is one of the worst aspects. Most robot lawn mowers need you to install boundary wires, in contrast to robot vacuums that automatically map your house. These need to be put (or buried) at the boundaries of your property to prevent the robot from wandering into your flower bed or neighbor's yard.

If you have a tiny backyard near to the city, this might not be a problem, but if you have a lot that is close to an acre, you'll have to spend a lot of time putting down boundary wire. Some products require the installation of an additional guidewire to help the lawnmower locate the docking station as quickly as possible if your yard is very large.

Some robot lawn mowers require a clear view of the sky

Some robot lawn mowers require a clear view of the sky

Certain robotic lawn mowers may also use GPS navigational abilities to move around. These, however, are less than ideal for lots with tree cover because they need clear access to the sky. So you might want to think twice before investing in some types of robot lawn mowers if your property is largely covered by mature trees.

If you're concerned about a robot lawn mower's performance, make sure to carefully review the requirements specified on the shop page.

Robot lawn mowers run on their own

While there’s certainly a lengthy setup process for robot lawn mowers, the positives typically outweigh the drawbacks. After your installation is finalized, you’ll be treated to an immaculate yard year-round without having to get your hands dirty. Many models also offer an impressive level of customization, allowing you to choose how often they cut the grass, how low they trim the grass, and which regions of your yard they’re responsible for.

So, if you don’t mind the upfront cost or labor, a robot lawn mower might be a great addition to your home.


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