Long gone are the days of manually mowing your lawn. No longer on those sweltering summer days will you need to push and drag your large, loud, and laborious lawnmower up and down your garden in an attempt to get that picture-perfect, football pitch lawn. In today's digital age, where technology offers its help to nearly every aspect of our lives, there's a new kid on the block - the robotic Lawnmowever.

Robotic Lawnmowers have become increasingly popular over the past few years. They're low-maintenance, efficient, and ideal for busy homeowners wanting to maintain their lawns without spending time or money on maintenance.

In this guide we'll discuss what you'll need to know about robotic lawnmowers: how they work, the different types, costs, and choosing the right type and model for your garden. 

What is a Robotic Lawn Mower?

A robotic lawnmower is an autonomous device that mows your lawn - pretty simple really, but the technology behind it is rather complex. Thanks to advances in AI and sensory technology such as LiDAR, your lawn can now get mowed without you being there. You don't even have to be at home! You can tackle other errands such as dropping the kids off at school or food shopping whilst the robotic lawnmower takes care of your lawn for you. In fact, most robotic lawnmowers can be controlled through an app on your smartphone where you can control mowing schedules, operating areas, and more.

These wonderful devices are ideal for anyone who doesn't have the time to maintain their lawns themselves or would prefer spending their time doing something else. They're also very affordable and cheap to maintain. After your initial investment, parts are cheap and can be easily maintained.

How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work?

Robotic lawnmowers run on rechargeable batteries and use wires, sensors, or beacons to detect and avoid obstacles such as flowerbeds, rocks, or ponds. Their blades cut and disperse the grass on the ground, helping your lawn stay healthy through a process called grasscycling.

The robot will travel around your garden, usually up and down in straight lines in a predetermined pattern, and turn around when it reaches the edge of your lawn. This is achieved by either installing perimeter wires or sensors and machine learning to signal to the robot that it has reached a boundary and to turn around. These allow you to cordon off certain areas where you don't want your lawnmower to enter and to keep undisturbed.

Types of Robotic Lawnmowers

There are a range of sizes, shapes, styles, and capabilities today's robotic lawnmowers can offer, but the primary difference between them is the type of boundaries they use.

Physical Boundary Mowers:

Physical boundary mowers use invisible wires under the ground for navigation that must be installed before you use them. The perimeter wire is usually a thin strand of wire wrapped in a PVC protective sheath. It starts and ends at the mower charging station and you can map out your garden to fit your desired configuration.

Virtual Boundary Mowers:

Virtual boundary mowers use sensors and machine learning to find where the boundaries are and learns how to manoeuver your garden without needing a physical boundary.

Virtual boundary mowers learn their physical boundaries with no additional work from you, unlike perimeter wire mowers that require a much more "hands-on" approach. If the landscape changes, the robot mower will learn and adapt thanks to AI.

How Much Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Cost?

Robotic lawnmowers, given their modern, cutting-edge technology and added value, cost considerably more than push or riding mowers, but they still vary widely. Just like everything, the price is dependent on what is on offer. The more features, the higher the price.

For a basic model, you can expect to pay around £450-£500 whilst a premium model can set between £2,000 - £5,000.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, the robotic lawnmower signifies the new era of home and garden maintenance. As technology continues to integrate into our everyday lives, we get to spend that saved in more meaningful ways. But for now, sit back and relax as you watch your own lawn being mowed in front of you to perfection.