Robot lawn mowers

[Dave2002]

Has anyone experience of robot lawn mowers? Some seem to be very expensive, and reading the bumf one wonders if the reason is that the whole charge/run cycle for each one is such that the gadgets can't get round all of the lawn fast enough before the grass grows.

This is slightly reminiscent of maths problems with filling baths with the plug out, with one or two taps running - will the bath drain or overflow? A variant of this kind of problem might be "how long will it be before one can actually get a plumber to come out and fix the problems before the bath overflows?" - relevant in some parts of the UK where getting anyone to actually do any "small" jobs seems almost impossible.

Some of the more (very) expensive robot mowers do appear to have a much bigger coverage, but what's wrong with using one with a lower spec for coverage, and just simply having it running all day and night? Alternatively have two or more to get the grass cut.

[LMcD]

Can't help you, I'm afraid, as we don't have a robot lawn.
We do have an ex-soldier calls George who cuts our non-robotic lawn for us every fortnight.

[Richard Tarleton]

I googled this out of curiosity. I'm confident my garden would defeat it. I actually like cutting the grass (not a lawn, exactly), good exercise and deepens my relationship with the garden. Our equivalent of George does other stuff....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Artificial turf, anyone?

We just had a new lawn laid, so won't be going down that road.

Presumably robot mower batteries need charging. That often seem. more of a faff than the mowing itself, which is strangely satisfying.

[Richard Tarleton]

According to the blog I link to above, they find their own way home when they feel they're running low on charge. I agree, it's strangely satisfying.....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

According to the blog I link to above, they find their own way home when they feel they're running low on charge. I agree, it's strangely satisfying.....

Do they return to sit in the charger and wait until all the green lights are on, and then return to complete the job? If they do, I might be tempted...

EDIT: I've just read the blog. It really does, and I was only joking.

[richardfinegold]

What a great idea. One worries about robot cars running amok and causing traffic fatalities, but what harm can a robot lawn mower do? Accidentally mangle a rhododendron? And it’s such a mindless task, and when it’s 90 degrees with 90 percent humidity, not much fun, either.
And if Trump keeps deporting illegal aliens here, who comprise the bulk of laborers in commercial landscaping businesses, there could be a U.S. market for such devices. In fact, Donald probably owns one of these companies, and thus his immigration policies...

[oddoneout]

Artificial turf, anyone?

We just had a new lawn laid, so won't be going down that road.

Presumably robot mower batteries need charging. That often seem. more of a faff than the mowing itself, which is strangely satisfying.

Modern battery technology makes charging a much faster business, and the more high end models of mower take themselves back to the charging station. That does rather suppose that one has a suitable location for the charger.
My much cheaper compromise is a small inexpensive battery mower, which has made it so much easier to deal with a very long but very narrow area of grass(lawn it ain't!). Managing an extension lead in a space approx 200' x 14' was a nightmare(not least winding it back on the trolley again), but the battery will do one full cut and one nearly complete cut on one charge, so a considerable saving on time and effort.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

And if Trump keeps deporting illegal aliens here, who comprise the bulk of laborers in commercial landscaping businesses, there could be a U.S. market for such devices. In fact, Donald probably owns one of these companies, and thus his immigration policies...

Don't be silly. Donald isn't that clever.

[Zucchini]

According to the blog I link to above, they find their own way home when they feel they're running low on charge ...

When they feel low on energy they find their own way to your kitchen, open the fridge and fill up with beer. Cheap one's don't close the fridge door ...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

When they feel low on energy they find their own way to your kitchen, open the fridge and fill up with beer. Cheap one's don't close the fridge door ...

[oddoneout]

When they feel low on energy they find their own way to your kitchen, open the fridge and fill up with beer. Cheap one's don't close the fridge door ...

Unless they can overcome the dalek drawback, steps would be sufficient to deter the robot version.....

[Richard Tarleton]

When they feel low on energy they find their own way to your kitchen, open the fridge and fill up with beer. Cheap one's don't close the fridge door ...

[doversoul1]

I have seen a robot vacuum cleaner at work. It’s an endearing little thing to watch as it goes round, bumping into a chair leg, adjusting itself and carries bravely on. It goes back to its charging point and set itself to be recharged, and does a few more clever things. This apparently has been developed to pick up invisible dust on a wooden floor and as such, has a dust collection box the size of a match box. All for this for mere £600.

Guessing from this, a robot lawn mower will be a good thing if you want to keep your lawn immaculate and in need of something that can give your job a finishing touch.

[Serial_Apologist]

When they feel low on energy they find their own way to your kitchen, open the fridge and fill up with beer. Cheap one's don't close the fridge door ...

You've been watching HUMANS, haven't you!