Robotic Lawnmowers
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Is the last thing you want to do with your free time mow the lawn? Then you may be interested in a robotic, automatic lawnmower that does all the work for you.
These products are fairly simple to use; you just outline the areas your mower needs to go with pegs or wires to help it avoid demolishing your daylilies. Beyond freeing up more time to lounge in the hammock, the real benefits of robotic mowers are that they’re quieter (in the 60-80 decibel range, compared to 90-100 decibels for a standard mower) and they're more eco-friendly than gas mowers.
Robotic mowers are battery powered, so there are no emissions. They also mulch and leave the grass clippings on the lawn, which provides fertilizer as the clippings decompose (this happens quickly), prevents moisture from evaporating, which conserves water, and keeps bags of grass out of landfills.
If the thought of an autonomous device with blades sharp enough to cut grass roaming your lawn causes alarm, rest assured. Robotic mowers shut off immediately if tipped or lifted, and they move slowly enough that their touch-sensitive bumpers warn the mower of the presence of rigid objects more than 3-6 inches tall (depends on the model). There’s also a child lock, and many come with an anti-theft alarm (including all models below).
Our Picks
Husqvarna Automower Solar Hybrid ($2,999) A large integrated solar panel enables this mower to use less energy than conventional mowers. It will also return to its base station for charging when the sun isn’t strong enough to keep it going. The mower covers 0.65 of an acre and works on lawns with a 35-degree slope.
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Friendly Robotics Robomow RM400 ($1,799) An edging mode allows the mower to cut a bit beyond the wire and at an angle to give you that sharp, finished edge. A remote control lets you steer the mower from one wired area to another, or mow a strip of grass. The mower will automatically return to the included base station for charging until the next time it’s schedule to mow your lawn. A rain sensor prevents mowing on rainy days. The mower covers 0.1 of an acre.
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Lawnbott Evolution LB3500 ($3,449) You can manage up to four separate mowing areas, including pre-programming the mower to go over sidewalks or walkways onto new patches of grass. After its runtime of 3-4 hours, it returns to its base to recharge. The mower covers up to 1.5 acres and works on lawns with inclines of up to 30 degrees. A rain sensor prevents mowing on rainy days.
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Discussion 
I must have been hiding under a flat rock to have missed this innovation. Thanks for the news flash; I’ll check out the site you indicated. I’d LOVE to sit and watch a mower cut my grass!
Sweet, they’re kinda like that robot that vacumes whats it called, the Roomba or something…I’d love to have one of those though. I especially like how some of them have solar panels on them…
From Jay Fienberg on July 23, 2009 :: 9:45 pm
I wish I didn’t have to think so much about mowing my lawn, and these do look very futuristic. But, I have to confess, in that price range, I would be tempted to spend the $$ to remove my lawn and replace it with easier to maintain plants.
Still, it’d be hard to resist the lure of owning and being able to show-off a robotic lawn mower!
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