How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work? A Comprehensive Guide to Automatic Mowers
A robot lawn mower is a type of mower that will automatically cut your grass. Robotic mowers are programmed to navigate the space inside a perimeter wire. Sometimes called autonomous mowers, they use radio frequencies to communicate with the base and return to a charge point.
Some excellent examples of high-quality robot lawn mowers from within our range of garden machinery include the following:
- Husqvarna Automower 535 (Commercial)
- Honda Miimo HRM 40 Live Robotic Mower
As leading suppliers of many types of cost-effective garden and landscaping equipment we are very familiar with robot lawn mower pros and cons, how they work and whether they are worth buying. Read on to learn more about robotic lawn mowers with our comprehensive guide.
How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work?
A robotic lawn mower mows automatically, typically returning to a charging station after cutting the grass. But what devilish sorcery could make this dream scenario a reality? Well, it is a fairly simple machine, almost like a radio-controlled car, that houses a navigation system and cutting system. They move in a random pattern over the lawn as they cut, which does not leave marks.
The cutting blades on a robot mower are very light and small, which means robotic lawn mowers will not work as well on longer grass, but when your grass is cut every day, you’ll never see long grass again. Robotic mowers are designed to slowly and quietly cut the grass every day, or even multiple times per day, to keep it trim and are not designed for intensive or heavy-duty use.
How Do Robot Lawn Mowers Navigate?
Robot lawn mowers use a perimeter wire that tells the machine when it has reached the edge of the lawn. Once it senses this wire, it will turn around in a random direction. Some of the more sophisticated mowers use GPS and other sensors to help them navigate too.
If you have areas you do not want the mower to access, such as a tricky flower bed edge or a pond, then you can set the perimeter around it to keep the mower from going into problem areas. Without a perimeter wire, the mower will go off-piste and may get stuck or lost.
Do Robot Lawn Mowers Collect Grass?
No. Before you buy a robot lawn mower there is one very common question, where does the grass go? Well, unlike your traditional varieties of walk-behind or ride-on mowers, you do not collect the grass clippings in a bag for later disposal. Rather, similar to a mulching mower, the robotic mower discharges the clippings as it cuts.
As the machine cuts so frequently the grass clippings it leaves behind are only millimetres in size, quickly decomposing. This works as a natural fertiliser and improves the health of the grass by adding essential nutrients to the soil. The result will be a greener, healthier and more vibrant lawn.
How Much Are Robot Lawn Mowers?
Our robotic lawn mower range tops out at around £6500 but includes smaller models that cost as low as £700. Accessories such as additional perimeter wire, wall hangers and other extras can add to the cost of your purchase. However, they are considered to be a good investment. Robotic mowers will often save money over the machines lifespan and can work out cheaper than their manual petrol counterparts. The savings are found in the annual servicing, fuel/running costs and breakdown repair costs, particularly when compared to a ride-on mower.
How Long Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Last?
With proper care, maintenance and appropriate use, a good-quality robot lawn mower should last around 10 years. Many models come with warranties of a few years as standard and there are extended warranties available to give you greater peace of mind, typically up to about 5 years.
Tips to make your robot lawn mower last longer include the following:
- Inspect them regularly for any jams and other problems
- Clean the cutting systems, remove any debris from the wheels and make sure they are in good overall condition
- Buy from a supplier that offers servicing plans after your purchase, for optimal performance over time
- Keep the machine indoors over the winter. This protects the lithium-ion batteries against very cold weather.
The best lawn mowers can navigate the lawn very effectively and will not run into many problems. Keeping an eye on the condition of the mower, and the lawn itself, is the best way to spot problems before they become an issue.
Robot Lawn Mowers Pros and Cons
The first thing to remember is that robot lawn mowers are not perfect and can sometimes go a bit wrong. It is not usually a big deal, but you may return home to find it stuck in a corner, out of battery, jammed or having some other problem!
Aside from that, robot lawn mower pros and cons include the following:
Pros:
- Time savings
- Labour savings
- Money savings
- No lawn marks
- Cutting system that fertilises the grass
- Better cut quality than a conventional mower
- Freshly cut lawn, every day
- Quiet, safe and efficient
Cons:
- Potentially extensive setup time and initial costs
- You may have to bury the perimeter wire around flower beds, garden paths and water features (we can do this for you)
- Robot mowers cannot finely trim the edges of a lawn
- If you want lawn stripes, a robot cannot achieve this look
Like every piece of garden machinery, the best option will depend on the specifics of your situation.
How to Buy Cost-Effective Robot Lawn Mowers
If you want to invest in a robotic lawn mower then you should try to find a reputable supplier. Look for signs of quality such as hassle-free ongoing servicing plans, trade partnerships with manufacturers and plenty of stock of well-known brands, such as Honda and Husqvarna.
We hope you enjoyed our guide to how robotic lawn mowers work. Check out our incredible range of robotic lawn mowers for more information and buy online with speedy delivery times. Please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions about a product or to arrange an on-site survey to discuss your needs.
If the mowers cut randomly then surely it might take a long time to ensure it covered all areas of the lawn?
The random cutting pattern does mean the mower requires more time than if it were to work systematically up and down like with a traditional mower or a ‘boundary-wire’ free robot. However, these mowers are built to do these hours and they bring a number of benefits with their random cutting behaviour. Such benefits are; cutting the grass from multiple directions (good for the grass), ability to tackle edges and awkward shapes from different angles, and an even, carpet like cut without parallel lines/wheel marks.