FAQ's & Benefits
The Mow You Know
General
What does autonomous mean?
Autonomous is defined as having the freedom to operate itself and has its own controls. Autonomous lawn mowers have the ability to operate and mow lawns on their own with the settings and controls from the operator. There is no physical demand needed for the robotic mower to run.
Can I leave the mower unattended?
Yes! This is one of the many perks that come with owning a robotic lawn mower. Each mower can be set to a specific profile and the operator can customize the date and time of when you want it to mow.
Can I leave the robotic lawn mower out year-round?
Robotic lawn mowers are designed to operate in all weather conditions with the exceptions of extreme wet and freezing conditions. Once fall and winter hit, your grass will stop growing depending on where you live, in this case it is best to store your mower in your garage. Simply give it a full charge before you put it away for the winter.
What about objects in my yard?
The wire that is placed in the lawn allows the robotic lawn mower to maneuver around and objects in the lawn without a problem. Robotic lawn mowers also have built-in sensors which keep them from getting stuck on any other unexpected items. A robotic lawn mower is designed to stop its cutting system and redirect if needed.
What is a robotic lawn mower?
The latest technology in the lawn care industry, a robotic lawn mower is an autonomous robot that is responsible for cutting grass. This technology requires the user to set up a border wire of their property that defines the area that needs to be cut. The wire helps the robot to locate the areas of grass within the lawn that need to be mowed as well as locate the recharging dock. Robotic lawn mowers first entered production in 1995 and can now handle several acres if needed. They are meant to be completely autonomous, and some now work with voice control when connected to your Amazon Echo or Google Home device..
Will my Robotic lawn mower mow all the way to the edges?
A robotic lawn mower uses a buried wire to navigate the edges of your lawn to ensure a clean cut in any area you need mowed. These mowers are designed to overlap the wire to ensure that all of the grass is cut, however you will still need to trim in areas where the grass grows along a wall. This trimming is needed because the robotic mowing blades are recessed from the edge of the automated mower by about three inches.
How long does it take for a robotic mower to cut my grass?
Every model is made for different size lawns, so it depends on which one you purchase. All robotic mowers are meant to cut your lawn several times per week in order to keep your grass healthier. Some automatic lawn mowers are also faster than others. Other factors include the season, the type of grass in your lawn, and if the grass is irrigated or treated. Check with your Autmow professional to help you determine which model would best suit your size lawn.
What maintenance is required?
Unlike most power equipment, a robotic lawn mower rarely requires any maintenance. While inspection and light cleaning is always a good thing to do so that your equipment runs efficiently for a long time, robotic lawn mowers do not require special equipment to keep their blades sharp. These lightweight mowers make it cheap and easy to simply replace the blades. Other things like cleaning off the hood and the wheels of the robotic lawn mower are also in good routine but not as important. They do not require any other maintenance, oil, or cleaning, and they won’t take up much space in your garage when stored for the winter.
Emission Free
Robot mowers run on electric power. No more annoying trips to the gas station, replacing spark plugs or changing oil.
Economical
Autonomous mowers use on average about $5.00 in electricity per month.
Safer
Lift and tilt sensors prevent mowers from operating when not upright. Lightweight retractable blades prevent damage to obstacles and don’t spray debris.
Better for your lawn
Units weigh as little as 18 lbs, run in a different pattern every time and only cut a little grass each time. The cuttings are left as needed nutrition for the grass. The result is a lawn like a carpet all season.
WHISPER QUIET
Most units are so quiet you might not even know they’re running. So quiet, in fact, you can even run them at night.
Effortless
Our favorite feature is the time we get back for other things.
Power
Today’s autonomous mowers take full advantage of emerging battery technologies, using the safest and longest-lasting batteries available.
How long does the battery last?
Battery lifetime with average use is around five years and only cost about $150 to replace.
How do they get power?
All units come with a base station and low voltage cord which plugs into any standard outlet.
Do I need to recharge manually?
No. They find their own way home when they get tired.
How long do these run on one charge?
Mowers typically run 60-90 minutes before returning to their base to charge.
How long do they take to recharge?
On average, most standard units take 45 minutes for a full charge.
How much do they cost to run?
Running costs depend on the size of your lawn, but are only $10-$50 per season.
Installation
Installation is simple and easy on any lawn, even those with multiple or complex landscape features.
Do I need to bury the wire?
No. If you choose our professional installation, we bury the boundary and other guide wires for you. You can also do this yourself, but many DIY kits include above-ground wire and small stakes designed to grow into your lawn quickly.
Does my lawn need to be a certain size?
No. Mowers are built for lawns up to 1.25 acres and multiple units can maintain larger yards.
What if my lawn’s complex?
No problem. Perimeter wire, remote object sensors and and GPS are used to handle even the most demanding lawns.
Safety
No lawn mower in history has been as safe and reliable as today’s autonomous mowers.
Theft
Sophisticated theft prevention is built into every model. Each unit has some combination of built in alarms, pin codes, base station exclusivity, auto disabling, and GPS tracking.
Sensors
Depending on the model, all units have a combination of object, lift, tilt, and/or location sensors that stop the blades automatically when they encounter anything unexpected or outside normal operating parameters.
Safer Blades
Husqvarna units have unique lightweight blades that instantly and automatically retract if they encounter any obstacle.
Ability
In the 20 years since they’ve been introduced, autonomous mowers have been continually refined, and can now do many things traditional mowers can’t.
How do they stay in my yard?
All units use a perimeter wire – similar to electric dog fences. Some units also have GPS to help map the yard.
Can they handle hills?
Better than a riding mower. Today’s autonomous mowers can slopes up to 45% (or 24°).
Can they run in the rain?
Units are designed to run in the rain and because of their unique design will also not “tear” wet grass like other mowers.