For a healthy and green lawn, it is necessary that it is regularly cut and cared for. This can mean a lot of work, which a robotic lawnmower makes easier.
Instead of tending the green area with a lawnmower, a robotic lawnmower does it fully automatically. Even if you are not currently at home, the robot will get to work. The result is a healthy, dense and green lawn.
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How does a robotic lawnmower work?
The way a robotic lawnmower works is comparable to a classic lawn mower. There are sharp knives on the bottom of the robot. Their job is to cut off the grass. The big difference to a lawnmower is that the robotic lawnmower is clearly underperforming is. As a result, he cannot build up any negative pressure.
In this respect, the robotic lawnmower does not cut off the stalks, but cuts this actually. For this to work, the lawn must not be too high. That is the reason why a robotic lawnmower is not only used when the lawn has grown too high. He could no longer cut the tall stalks, which is why he multiple times a week trims the lawn. The goal is to keep the grass at the desired length all the time.
To operate the cutting blades, a electric motor installed. He will battery pack operated, which charges after each use. This means that the robotic lawnmower automatically drives to its charging station and charges its battery after mowing.
Wheels are used for locomotion. They can be controlled separately, so that the robot lawn mower can also negotiate tight curves. The robot can even turn on the spot.
For this, the drive wheels only have to move in the opposite direction. In addition to the drive wheels, there are other wheels that are used for support. This will prevent the device from tipping over.
How does the robotic lawnmower know how to drive?
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A robotic lawnmower cannot see the area in front of it. Instead of eyes, the robot therefore relies on sensors built into the housing. They have sensors not the same task, but there are, for example, weather, shock, distance and tilt sensors.
If you watch the robotic lawnmower for a while, it seems to drive lost across the lawn. However, this does not correspond to reality, because most devices drive the area after you certain pattern such as in spirals or with constant changes of direction.
If the robotic lawnmower bumps into something, it skilfully avoids it thanks to its sensors. It is therefore normal for the robotic lawnmower to cover certain areas more frequently and mow hard-to-reach areas less frequently. Regular use is necessary to prevent this from happening.
The included control software remembers obstacles and boundaries, slowly creating a digital map of the garden. As a result, the robotic lawnmower knows over time where to go.
The different sensors
The sensors have different tasks and ensure that the robot lawn mower can drive over the lawn without outside help. Which sensors are installed depends on the respective offer. Most models offer the following representatives.
- lift sensor: The lift sensor detects stones and other bumps on the ground, causing it to stop the cutting blades to prevent damage.
- tilt sensor: If the device starts to incline too much or tips over, the tilt sensor stops the cutting mechanism.
- incline sensor: The slope sensor detects the slope of lawns. If this incline exceeds the robot lawn mower’s ability, the device changes direction.
- Shock sensor/collision sensor: As soon as the robot has collided with an object, for example a garden chair, it will back up and change its trajectory.
- obstacle sensor: The task of the obstacle sensor is to recognize obstacles at an early stage and to automatically avoid them.
- Rain sensor/weather sensor: Not all robots can mow in the rain. If the sensors detect falling rain, the device drives back to the charging station, remains in the current position or behaves according to previously set specifications.
What does the perimeter wire do?
A garden consists not only of a lawn, but often also of flower beds or other surfaces that do not need to be mowed. However, the robotic lawnmower does not recognize any difference, which is why flowers and other plants could fall victim to the cutting blades.
To prevent this, a so-called perimeter wire is used. The perimeter wire can either above ground or underground be relocated.
He then serves as digital border for the robotic lawnmower. This means that the control software registers the boundary wire and knows that it must not continue. This allows you to mark out areas where the robotic lawnmower has no access within a few minutes.
Important: Many modern robot lawn mowers have integrated fall protection. That is, they recognize when they are at an abyss, such as stairs. If your own robotic lawnmower does not have the function, the perimeter wire should be used to avoid accidents.
How do you protect the robotic lawnmower from theft?
A robotic lawnmower stands in its charging station and could generally be stolen by anyone. For this reason, modern robot lawn mowers are equipped with various security functions to minimize the risk of theft. The biggest help is the built-in one alarm.
If a stranger lifts the robotic lawnmower and removes it from the property, a loud alarm signal sounds. It deters thieves because the alarm can only be turned off by the owner. In addition there is a GPS tracker before.
If the thieves managed to switch off the alarm and take the device with them, the integrated GPS communication module will tell you where the autonomous lawnmower is at the moment. You can pass this information on to the police.
Another security feature is the PIN code, which is also known as the installation lock. If the thief does not have the PIN, no settings can be made on the device. It goes one step further time lock. With this, it is necessary to enter the PIN code at regular intervals.
If not, the robotic lawnmower becomes unusable. Otherwise there is lockable charging stations. As soon as the robot lawn mower has driven into the charging case, it closes until the device is used again. The robotic lawnmower is also connected to the charging station.
It cannot be put into operation at any other base. Attention: If the robot lawn mower has been stolen, the contents insurance will take effect. It is not necessary for you to take out separate insurance for the robot.
What types of robotic lawnmowers are there?
There are two types of robotic lawnmowers that can be used in the home garden. Both types offer various advantages and disadvantages, which we will examine in more detail.
1. Robotic lawnmower with boundary wire
The robotic lawnmower with boundary wire is the cheaper option, although it is not enough for the device to be charged and placed in the garden. A perimeter wire must be laid so that the robot knows where to go.
This is practical in gardens without a garden fence, as otherwise the robotic lawnmower would continue to drive. An invisible barrier can be created with the boundary wire. You can also individually determine how the robotic lawnmower drives.
This high configurability is a clear advantage over other types. Another plus is that clippings are left on the lawn. It serves as a natural fertilizer and makes the lawn even healthier. In addition, it grows back more densely and visually more attractive.
The advantages:
- Ideal for plots without a fence
- Individually configurable
- Improves lawn quality
- Clippings are natural fertilizer
Probably the biggest disadvantage is that laying the cable takes a lot of time and work. Especially if you want to lay the wire underground, you have to damage the lawn first.
However, you only have to lay the cable once and then it can serve as a border for the next few years. Another disadvantage is that many robotic lawnmowers with a boundary wire slip on very steep surfaces. Therefore, the device is rather unsuitable for mowing slopes.
The disadvantages:
- Laying the cable means work and time
- There may be slipping on steep slopes
2. Robotic lawnmower without boundary wire
The alternative to a device with a boundary wire is a robotic lawnmower without a wire boundary. One of the biggest differences between the two types is the price, as a robotic lawnmower without a boundary wire is much more expensive.
But you also have less work because you don’t have to lay a boundary wire. Instead, the integrated sensors recognize where objects or abysses are located. It is exciting that only grass is actually mowed. If the sensors detect no grass in front of the robot, it changes direction.
As with the first type, clippings are left on the lawn as a natural fertilizer, improving quality over time. In addition, many modern robotic lawnmowers without a boundary wire offer low noise pollution, so that they are hardly noticeable even at night.
The advantages:
- There is no need to lay a boundary wire
- Sensors recognize different surfaces
- The lawn quality improves
- Low noise pollution
One of the biggest problems arises when your own property is close to someone else’s lawn. The robotic lawnmower without a boundary wire does not recognize whether it is still your own lawn or not, which is why it continues its work on someone else’s property.
Either a restraining wire must be used or there should be a garden fence. In addition, isolated errors may occur during scanning. This means that the robotic lawnmower classifies the ground incorrectly, which poses a risk for the garden and the device itself.
The disadvantages:
- Could run over onto someone else’s property
- Occasional scanning errors
What is the care and maintenance like?
In order for a robot lawn mower to survive for years to come, it must be cleaned, checked and cared for on a regular basis. In the foreground is the knife mechanism, which contains three blades. Between the knives and the suspension can change over time mowing residues accumulate so that the knives can no longer move freely.
The grass residue should therefore be removed once a week. Important: The robot must be switched off when working on the knife mechanism. In addition, you carry Glovesso you don’t cut yourself on the sharp blades.
All four to six weeks change the blades completely. Although they are…