How do robotic lawn mowers actually work?

Automation is an unavoidable part of technology and development. Today, automated machinery relies on exceptional engineering and complex computer control. 

Attempts to automation date back to the Greeks, Arabs and Egyptians who came up with complex mechanisms to keep accurate track of time. Water clocks or clepsydras (aka hourglasses) were invented in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. In Europe, the first mechanical clocks were already in wide use by the end of the 14th century.

In 1995, Husqvarna launched the world’s first fully robotic lawn mower, the Solar Mower. The Solar Mower was powered entirely by solar energy and is the predecessor of modern Automowers. Many manufacturers followed suit, but Husqvarna leads the robotic lawn mower industry to this day.

How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work?

Maintaining a green and healthy lawn can be a challenge. It’s a time-consuming task, especially in warmer climates where grass grows quickly and requires cutting more than once a week. You want to keep your garden clean and tidy, but you don’t want to spend all your summer cutting grass and weeds.

If you like the idea of a lawn that takes care of itself, a robotic lawn mower might be exactly what you need. Robotic lawn mowers can cut grass and maintain its length automatically. The best robotic lawn mowers require little maintenance and can function independently after the initial setup.

Husqvarna offers a range of robotic lawn mowers so that no garden is left behind. The entry-level Husqvarna Automower® 305 is the smart option for smaller gardens, while the top-end Husqvarna Automower® 450X, with a working area capacity of 5,000 square metres (+/- 20%), can easily handle any lawn.

An electric boundary wire is installed under the soil. You can install the wire yourself in 2 to 5 hours (depending on the size of the property), but it is recommended that a qualified expert installs it for you. These wires are used to set the perimeter and make sure that the mower avoids obstacles such as trees, shrubs and flowerbeds. The Automower® then cuts grass in a random pattern with a cutting height of 20mm to 60mm, guaranteeing a uniform result.

If used for the first time and the grass that needs cutting is too long or thick, then you should consider raising the cutting height and gradually reducing it to the preferred level. If you’re dealing with a jungle, you might want to cut the lawn with a conventional mower first.

The Benefits

Husqvarna Automower® cuts in a random pattern. This is the only way to ensure that the whole garden is cut properly and evenly and that no tracks are formed. Other robotic lawn mowers that use more systematic patterns are unable to reliably and precisely cut every corner of a garden and tend to form tracks on the lawn through repeatedly mowing in the same pattern. 

A Husqvarna Automower® will get the job done efficiently. It’s designed to operate even in the most demanding of environments. Even when they run low on battery, these clever robotic mowers can follow radio signals and guide wires to return back to their charging stations. They can be programmed using a mobile phone and will automatically return to work after their batteries have been replenished.

A Husqvarna Automower® can cut grass in most types of weather. They are designed to handle wet conditions, but it would still be wise to protect your mower from extreme conditions. Heavy wind and thunder could potentially cause damage.

Unlike most conventional mowers, a Husqvarna Automower® operates at remarkably low decibel levels. No monitoring is required either, which means that you can have the Automower® continue its work on your lawn at night and during the early morning hours.

No Obstacle Big Enough

Edges and pathways are no biggie for the Husqvarna Automower®. These clever mowers can handle narrow passages down to 60cm in width.  They cover the whole lawn within a 24 hour period, avoiding any obstacles in their path. For the perfect finish and a more professional look, it’s recommended that you use a trimmer or an edger for those edges that an Automower® can’t reach.

The large driving wheels provide the Automower®  with stability and the ability to cope even in the most uneven of surfaces. They can handle slopes up to 70% incline. Their small size allows it to follow the curvature of a rough lawn, cutting without scalping the mounds or ridges.

The blades are durable and can deal with most small objects, such as stones, leaves and sticks. However, to maximise the life of the blades it is recommended that you perform regular check-ups. You wouldn’t guide your conventional mower over stones and sticks. An Automower® can cut, but it can’t clean for you.

A Better Environment

The Husqvarna Automower®  is battery-powered and generates no direct emissions. The actual energy consumption is very low and the running costs are estimated at around $45 per season. Of course, this price depends on the size of the lawn, the model used and the electricity consumed.

The lifetime of the battery also depends on running time. Knowing exactly how long it takes for the Automower® to cut your lawn is important to when it comes to maximising battery life. On average, expect your battery to last up to four seasons.

A Husqvarna Automower® can cut both dry and wet grass and all clippings produced are returned to the soil. By mulching, you’re doing away with waste while at the same time nourishing your grass and preventing moss growth.

The blade automatically stops if the mower is lifted up or turned over. The Automower® uses low power, but that doesn’t mean that the blade is safe to touch. The Husqvarna Automower®  comes with anti-theft protection. An alarm will sound if the mower is stopped or lifted without the required pin code. Stolen mowers can’t be matched to other charging stations and are red-listed in all support.

The Future Is Here

The era of automation is upon us. We’ve come a long way from hourglasses and mechanical watches. Robotic lawn mowers may look like machines straight from the future, but they’ve actually been around for 25 years now, starting with the revolutionary Husqvarna Solar Mower.

Husqvarna Automower®  works hard day and night so that you won’t have to. They use advanced technology to keep your lawn cut and healthy. They are easy to set up and even easier to operate. Once they get going, they effectively require zero supervision.

They operate in all weather and are very quiet. The batteries last longer and offer optimised performance. By not generating direct emissions, they also contribute to a better environment for all. Multiple safety and security measures keep you safe—and your Automower® in your garden.