How do robotic lawn mowers work? Most people have heard of robotic vacuum cleaners, but what about robotic lawnmowers? Just like their floor-cleaning counterparts, robotic lawnmowers are powered by batteries and operate on a set schedule.
They use sensors to detect obstacles and avoid them and keep track of the weather conditions. Typically, they will return to their charging dock when rain is detected or when their battery level gets low.
Some models can even be programmed to cut different parts of your yard on different days. If you’re curious about how these nifty machines work, read on.
Contents
- How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work
- Main Systems That Make Robot Lawn Mowers Work
- 1. Obstacle Sensors
- 2. Power Management
- 3. Controller and Software System
- 4. Sensors and Navigation
- 5. Charging System
- Benefits of Using a Robotic Lawn Mower
- FAQs- How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work
- Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Collect the Grass?
- How Do Robotic Mowers Navigate?
- How Does a Robot Mower Cut the Grass?
- How Does a Robot Lawn Mower Detect an Obstacle?
- Author
How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work
Robotic lawn mowers have been growing in popularity in recent years. They are a great option for people who don’t want to or can’t handle the maintenance of a regular lawn mower. But how do they work?
Most robotic lawn mowers use a set of four infra-red sensors to detect obstacles. If something is in their path, they will automatically stop and go around it. They also have a built-in rain sensor, so they will stop working if it rains.
Most robotic lawn mowers are powered by a rechargeable battery. Once the battery is low, the mower will go back to its charging dock to recharge. Some models even have the option to start the charging process themselves.
The mowers mow in various directions. Most commonly, they mow in a pattern. They will go across an area one time, then turn around and return. This allows them to make efficient use of the battery’s power.
Once the lawn is mowed, it will automatically shut off its blades and sensors. Some models even have a feature that allows you to program when you want it to start mowing.
Robotic lawn mowers are a great choice for people who don’t have the time or desire to maintain their lawns.
Main Systems That Make Robot Lawn Mowers Work
Robotic lawn mowers have multiple systems that work together to navigate through a yard and supply power.
The following sections will discuss these systems in detail.
1. Obstacle Sensors
Domestic robotic lawn mowers use infra-red sensors to detect obstacles and change light conditions. When the mower detects an obstacle, it stops and turns in a different direction.
Some higher-end models will also use the infra-red sensors to detect the sun to position themselves better to cut grass.
2. Power Management
Most models have a rechargeable battery. The mower will automatically head to its charging station when the battery is low. They also use a power management system that ensures they don’t accidentally cut power to the blades while mowing.
Also read: Is it okay to overcharge a mower battery
3. Controller and Software System
A motor controller controls the electric motors on a robotic lawn mower. The controller allows for multiple motors to be controlled at once.
It also works closely with the software system that dictates how the mower moves through a yard.
The mower uses a variety of sensors to navigate around obstacles. It needs to avoid trees, bushes, posts, children, and any other objects that could be in its path.
The mower also needs to navigate around changes in the yard, such as hills and dips.
Also: Best toy lawn mowers for Kids
5. Charging System
Every mower needs to have a way to get power when it runs low on battery. Most models use a charging system with two contacts on the bottom of the mower.
When it’s time to charge, the mower drives back to its docking station, which has two contacts matching the ones on the mower.
The battery then starts charging.
Benefits of Using a Robotic Lawn Mower
There are many benefits to using a robotic lawn mower, especially when compared to traditional gas-powered lawn mowers. The following describes some of these benefits:
- Convenience: Mowing is a chore everyone hates doing, and gas-powered mowers are a hassle to maintain. Robotic lawn mowers eliminate the gas and maintenance and provide an easy way to schedule when you want the mowing to occur.
- Environmentally friendly: Gas-powered lawn mowers produce harmful fumes and carbon emissions. Robotic lawn mowers do not.
- Saves time: One of the biggest benefits is that they save you time to maintain your yard and mow it.
- Noise reduction: Robotic lawn mowers are much quieter than gas-powered lawn mowers. This is extremely important to many homeowners who mow near their homes.
- Great for yards of any size: Robotic lawn mowers will work whether you have a small yard or large estate.
- Safety: Most models are designed to detect objects in their path and slow down to avoid hitting them. This provides increased safety for people, pets, wildlife, and property.
- Maintenance: Since no gas parts or oil changes are needed, there is much less work involved with maintaining a robotic lawn mower.
- Decision-making: While it might be time-consuming to program a robotic lawn mower, the truth is that you don’t have to do it very often. That means that once it’s programmed, you can put the device on autopilot for most of the time.
Also read: Tow behind dump cart for lawn tractor
FAQs- How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work
Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Collect the Grass?
A robotic lawn mower is a Mulching Machine, which means it doesn’t collect the grass but instead cuts it into fine clippings and scatters them to decompose so that nutrients can go back into your soil.
The robotic mower will stop, reverse and prepare to move in another direction when it bumps into an obstacle.
Now more advanced proximity sensors can be added so the machine “sees” obstacles before slowing down or stopping completely.
How Does a Robot Mower Cut the Grass?
Robotic mowers have two blades on the underside of the device that are spaced apart about an inch.
As they spin, they chop off small sections of grass.
As the mower moves forward, it cuts additional sections.
How Does a Robot Lawn Mower Detect an Obstacle?
A robotic mower’s obstacle detection system can be a side-mounted laser, infrared sensor, or bumper bar.
When the side-mounted laser detects an obstacle up to 60 cm away, the robotic mower’s software algorithm directs it to reverse speedily before making another pass or to turn sharply.
why does a lawn mower keep cutting out
If you’re still on the fence about whether or not to buy a robotic lawn mower, hopefully, this article has helped sway you in favor of making the purchase.
They are definitely an investment that can save you time and money in the long run.
Not to mention, who doesn’t love spending lazy days outside while their robot counterparts take care of all the hard work?
