Everything You Need To Know About Buying A Robotic Lawn Mower

Sit back and relax while these helpful machines make your life more productive.

The trend of having a lawn in a home began in the early 19^th century. The no. of lawns was growing rapidly at that time, but there was a shortage of experienced scythe men to trim them regularly. That led to the invention of the mechanical lawn mower in the 1830s by an engineer named Edwin Beard Budding.

For the last two centuries, many things have changed for lawn mowers. However, one of the most significant changes to this industry is the invention of robotic lawn mowers.

Image Source: Eric Leslie, Flickr 

In this post, we’ll discuss a few things to consider before you get this helpful piece of machinery for your lawn.

So without further delay, let’s get started.

Why You Should Get a Robotic Lawn Mower

Let’s start with a few reasons why you should invest in a robot for lawn mowing. After all, it’s your hard-earned money so you really want to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

1. They are a long-term investment. They also don’t need any fuel so their cost per use is very low.

2. You don’t need to worry about the weather. No matter how adverse the weather is outside, your lawn is always ready without your moving from your couch.

3. You don’t need to do anything to get them running, because they are autonomous and charge themselves.

4. Whether it’s a Sunday morning or a Friday night, they will make your lawn perfect without even disturbing your neighbors.

5. You’ll finally get to enjoy the weekends. Let’s be honest: for most people, mowing their lawn is a chore. So it’s your choice if you want to work hours on a weekend mowing your lawn or spend that precious time with your family.

6. As they are robots, they have a high amount of accuracy and efficiency. So, whatever area they are programmed to cut, they will cut it without any mistakes.

7. They have built-in sensors. That’s why they always know when to stop if an object is in their way. So you can rest assured that you, your kids, and your pets are safe.

8. They need a PIN code to start, which means, only you’re authorized to start them. They also come with anti-theft sensors.

9. They are eco-friendly. With the exclusion of gas and noise, you will be playing your part in being a good citizen of our planet.

10. Last but certainly not least, they save you time. Imagine how many productive tasks you’d be doing instead of mowing your lawn for hours.

These were a few things that make them a timely investment for you.

How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work?

The basic functionality of a robotic lawn mower is not that hard to understand. Without getting into too many details, let’s look at how they work.

Every robotic lawn mower consists of wheels, a cutting system, a few motors, a circuit board, sensors, and a chassis. That’s pretty much it. It’s not much different than any other simple robot out there.

The main part of a robotic lawn mower is the circuit board. You can think of it as the brain of the whole system. The sensors “sense” the surrounding environments and give input to the circuit board in the form of an electrical signal. The circuit board then gives commands to the motors attached to the wheels (according to the program installed in it) that causes the robot to move and cut the grass.

They work on a pre-charged battery and don’t require any fuel. They mow your lawn at a selected time and area.

Their functionality depends on the software installed in them. It’s entirely up to you what area you want them to mow. And don’t worry, the setup procedure is fairly simple. To set them up, you need to install a perimeter wire around the area you want to mow.

The charging station is no different than a simple power outlet outside the house. The robot mows the lawn and when the battery gets discharged, it goes back to the charging station to charge automatically.

The autonomy of this device is a big perk because it knows when, where, and how often to cut.

Things to Keep in Mind Before You Buy a Robotic Lawn Mower

Does the Mower Fit Your Lawn?

The first thing you have to consider is the size of your lawn. There are plenty of robotic mowers in the market so you have to choose carefully which one is perfect for your lawn. Depending on the area, you can choose one of the following mowers:

If your lawn is under 1/4 acre, a smaller Robomow RS-612 is a great option for you.

For medium-sized lawns (size=1/2 acre), select Robomow RS-622.

If your lawn is large (3/4 of an acre), Robomow RS-630 will be a great option for you.

You also have to consider the following things:

• Is your lawn flat or undulating?

• Does your garden have passages and different sections?

• Are there any bushes in the lawn?

• Does your garden have steep banks?

Depending on these factors, you might need a mower with a high capacity, good tire grip, and guide wires.

Perimeter Wire Installation

These robots require a perimeter wire around the flower beds and other obstacles. You might be thinking that it’s a hassle, but the good news is that the perimeter wire is easy to install. The installation is also a one-time thing so you don’t need to change the wires every other day.

The perimeter wire carries a low-voltage electromagnetic signal which is used to detect the edges of the lawn. The distance between the perimeter wire and the edge of your lawn varies a little from manufacturer to manufacturer. It also depends on the lawn borders. All the guidelines will be provided by your manufacturer.

Battery Power and Charging

You need to make sure that the robot you’re buying has enough battery power for your lawn. When it comes to the charging system, you have two choices: 1. Automatic charging 2. Manual charging.

We recommend getting the robot with manual charging because it takes itself back to the charging station (a feature that makes it really autonomous).

Note that the automatic charging mowers come with a different price tag than the manual charging mowers.

Security

Select a mower that has a security system in it having PIN code and a GPS tracker. If it gets stolen, you can report it to your dealer and they can disable it for further use.

The PIN is also important for safety reasons. You can rest assured that children or unauthorized people will not be able to start it.

If you’re looking for a robotic lawn mower with a high level of security, check out Ambrogio Robotic Lawnmower L250i Elite. It is connected by the Ambrogio Remote App and comes with a safety PIN. The Ambrogio Remote App allows you to configure, manage, and control the functions of the robot, even remotely.

Display

You need to make sure that the display is user-friendly. Keep in mind that even if someone else installs all the settings for you, you’ll need to change them after a season. So pick the robot which has an easy-to-navigate interface.

Safety Concerns

Your safety is a top priority for manufacturers. To make sure nothing happens, there are safety measures in robotic lawn mowers like retractable blades, child guard, etc.

Maintenance

As they are electric mowers, they do not require gas, oil, or cleaning the grass clippings so you won’t spend extra money and time on maintenance. However, most manufacturers recommend changing the blades every year for the best performance.

Preparing Your Lawn

These robots come with high precision sensors that can detect any obstacles in their way. However, you should remove any pebbles, hose pipes, toys, or obstacles that will help them do their job better. Also, fill any holes in the ground with sand or mud.

Actual Mowing Reviews are Great

The Independent says that these robots left them with a carpet quality lawn. The Wall Street Journal says that these robots gave them almost 100% coverage. So you can rest assured that they will give your lawn a great cut.

Wrap Up

A robotic lawn mower is a great long-term investment that will make your life more productive. Today’s guide will help choose the right robot for your lawn.

Meanwhile, if you have figured out your requirements, you can check out our robotic lawn mower collection. We have every type of robotic lawn mowers for our clients.

View our full range of robotic lawn mowers here.