(BPT) – If you love a lush, green, well-manicured lawn but hate spending hours out in the heat mowing week after week, a robotic mower may be just the thing you need. The latest technology in robotic mowing gives you hours of your life back, allowing you to focus on enjoying time with your family – or getting other chores accomplished – and a much better-looking, healthier lawn.
So, how do robotic mowers work? Smart technology like *GPS-assisted navigation, automatic sensors and long-lasting batteries combine to make a mower that propels itself around your yard, cutting a fine layer of grass at each pass. The mower returns to a charging station for an hour or more when its battery runs low, and then it goes right back out to continue mowing. Most robotic mowers easily change direction when encountering or sensing obstacles or they work within a pre-programmed boundary. They can also work in wet weather and are far quieter than standard mowers.
*GPS-assisted navigation does not come with every Automower® model. The Automower® 315X mentioned below does not come with GPS-assisted navigation.
How do you find the right robotic mower for your needs? Here are some key factors to consider.
Lawn size
No lawn is too small for a robotic mower, but for those with especially narrow areas to navigate, mowers such as the Husqvarna Automower® robotic lawn mower can handle tight turns and complex spaces with ease. For example, the Husqvarna Automower® 315X can take on areas as narrow as 24 inches, and it covers up to 0.4 acres.
For a large lawn, you’ll want a mower that can handle more acreage. Depending on the model, you can also use more than one unit to work together to cover larger areas, which is also a great option for professional landscapers.
Challenging terrain
When choosing a mower, you’ll also want to consider your yard’s specific challenges. Steep inclines? Frequent obstacles? Separate areas that need coverage (such as front, back and side yards)?
Depending on the model, robotic lawn mowers can handle varying degrees of steepness. For example, the Husqvarna Automower® robotic lawn mower can handle inclines up to 45% (24 degrees). Be sure to assess the inclines in your yard to find the robotic mower that is best equipped to handle them.
Robotic mowers adjust direction if their bumpers encounter an obstacle, so objects such as trees, playgrounds and typical yard debris are not a concern. Robotic lawn mowers do vary in the level of complexity they can handle, so be sure to take your lawn’s obstacles and layout into consideration.
Ease of use
There are a variety of models out there offering different ways to program the mower. Some models allow you to program it directly through the unit, while others use Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities, enabling you to operate them through remote connections via smart devices, and offer other state-of-the art features. For example, with Husqvarna’s Automower® Connect App, you have full control of the unit via your mobile phone network.
A robotic lawn mower can take your lawn to the next level. The mowers work more often than traditional mowers to keep your lawn at the perfect height consistently. Many use smart technology to ensure safety, effective functionality and security for your unit. Some even offer features such as a personal PIN code to deter theft and GPS tracking to allow you to monitor the location of your mower.
The perfect lawn is within reach. You just need the right robotic mower for your yard to achieve it.