by 31 people |
Ever considered a robot to mow your lawn for you?
You've simply had enough of mowing your lawn on weekends?
Well, it seems like you have 3 options:
1. Sell your home and move to a flat with no garden at all;
2. Pay a small fortune to have a garden services company do it for you;
3. Consider buying a robot to do the job for you!: A robotic mower, Robomow, (from Friendly Robotics)
(Please read my review on all types of lawn mowers, including cordless, electric and gas powered lawn mowers, as well as lawn tractors at www.squidoo.com/lawnmowersreview)
Pros and cons of using robotic mowers
Robotic mowers have been with us for a few years now and many early buyers have had enough experience to make it easier for new clients to make a choice. I would like to summarize the pros and cons to make it easier for you to make a decision. These comments come from reviews and commentary on forums for robotic mowers. The top-of-the-range model is the Robomow RL1000, but the popular model is the Robomower RL850. the RL 1000 is best equipped to deal with big lawns, whereas the RL 850 can deal with lawns up to 10,800 sq. ft. The RL1000 also has a fully automated departure mode, which can be set to a weekly program by the user. imagine, setting it up and then just watch (if you like). It goes out as programmed, does its job without complaining and then goes back to the docking station all by itself. A few days later it does the same, without you doing anything at all!
But first, let's watch it in action!
But first, let's watch it in action!
Watch Robomower in action! (From Youtube)
The pros of using Robomow
- The robotic mower does an excellent job. At 5900 r.p.m. the 3 blades
turn much faster than that of a conventional lawn mower, so the finish has to be better. Unlike a conventional lawn mower ROBOMOW cuts the grass from every direction as it criss-crosses across the lawn with excellent results. - Robomow stays within its set-up boundaries. Robomow® requires a one time simple set-up, which can be easily done by anyone. A wire is laid around the outer edges of the lawn, and attached to the surface of the lawn with pegs every few meters. The wire and pegs are supplied with the Robomow®. The wire is connected to a small battery powered current source called Perimeter Switch (also supplied in the box). Typically the wire will be covered by grass and become unnoticeable in a matter of 2-3 weeks. Robomow® recognizes the wire using a special sensor, and makes sure it always stays inside the designated area.
- Robomow finds a way around rocks and trees.
- Although the robotic mower takes more time to do the job, it's not you
sweating it out in the sun.
On top of this, you can have him cut the lawn as frequently as you like - it never gets tired. The more frequent you put your ROBOMOW to work, the more your lawn will look like a putting green. On the other hand, once a week is about the maximum most guys are willing to commit you to. This is a problem, since we know that this is not enough in certain states. - The RL 850 (or RL 1000) takes care of cuttings himself and does an amazing job at mulching - no more grass bagging every second row for you! "Grasscycling (grass-recycling) is the natural recycling of grass by leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing; the grass clippings are left on the lawn to decompose quickly, they contain 80-85% water and releasing valuable nutrients that returned back into the soil. " (quote from Friendly Robotics)
- Robomower does not suck up all the lawn care products you put on the lawn - it stays there.
- Both the RL 850 and the RL 1000 are very quiet compared to a gas lawn mower.
You can even have him do his job at night, depending on whether the noise (which is not bad at all) will be a problem to your neighbours or not. - Although the initial setting up of the boundaries within which it will operate does take some time, once it's done properly, you never have to worry about this again. Setting ROBOMOW up for a mow session takes only a few minutes - and that goes for joysticking it to the shed afterwards.
- Robomow is very safe: It recognizes any obstacle and works around it, so it won't pose a problem to children and pets.
Supplement on safety features of the Robomow
- Automatic Operation: Robomow® is self operated without user interference.
- Child Guard: help prevent children from operating the Robomow®.
- Lift Sensor: stops rotating the blades immediately when Robomow® is lifted.
- Sensors equipped bumpers: Touch sensitive bumpers all around the Robomow®.
- Perimeter Switch: Robomow® cannot be operated in automatic mode if the Perimeter Switch is off (the RL1000's built-in p. switch automatically turns on only during scheduled operation).
- Over-Current Monitoring Protection: Mowing and Drive systems are monitored constantly during operation preventing them from over-heat.
- RL1000 only: A buzzer is heard 5 minutes prior to automatic departure, warning people to clear the mowing area.
The cons of using Robomow
- Some complain robotic mowers are rather pricey. At prices varying between $1200-00 to $1500-00 this is not a cheap appliance to buy.
- The battery pack will have to be replaced every 4-5 years and the blades every 3 years.
- ROBOMOW is not suited for steep slopes.
- Recharging the battery could take 24 hours. For this reason some clients recommend you get yourself an extra battery from the outset.
- The robotic mower does miss small spots on a single session, but this is corrected with the next session.
- Both the RL850 and the RL1000 are considerably slower than a gas mower, but then you have to do it yourself!
- An area bigger than 5000 sq. ft have to be split up into zones.
- Some clai that neither the RL 850 nor the RL 1000 can mow more than 5000 sq. ft on one charge. However, the manufacturer claims that both can cover 5400 sq. ft. on one charge.
- You still have to trim the edges and small areas.
- The blades of both the RL850 and RL1000 will have to be cleaned every 3 to 5 session for maximum efficiency.
- Some people complain about the back-up support they get.
Some of the cons simply don't make that much sense.
- People complaining about maintenance costs like new batteries and blades tend to forget that gas mowers have maintenance costs as well. Gas is expensive and the machine has to be serviced at least once a year, which costs a lot of money as well.
- The problem of bad support in the first years since the product hit the market seems to have been addressed. In any case, a number of ROBOMOW forums are available where people help each other (Get link down below)
Conclusion: Buy Robomow!
- <ROBOMOW
is a good product and worth considering buying, as long as one realizes its limitations. - If your lawn is rather slopey, forget about it. Everyone with such a lawn knows it's really hard work to get it mowed in any case.
- It takes more time to do the job. If you have a problem with that, rather do it yourself.
- Although it's a robot, it's wise not to leave it all alone to do the job; someone has to be in the vicinity in case something goes wrong.
- Is ROBOMOW really that pricey? Compared to lawn services, payback can be easily attained in a year's time. Moreover, Amazon has been cutting its prices on a regular basis and the most popular model, the Friendly Robotics RoboMower 21-Inch 5.5 HP Auto Mower #RL850 is down to $1000-00 from $1700-00 a couple of months ago!
Testimony
Related stuff on Amazon
Friendly Robotics Spare Power Pack #UNT0009A
Amazon Price: $260.55 (as of 01/01/2010) 
Friendly Robotics 6-Hour Rapid External Charger #MRK0011B
Amazon Price: (as of 01/01/2010)
Friendly Robotics Pegs 50-Pack #MRK0012A
Amazon Price: $30.00 (as of 01/01/2010)
Friendly Robotics RL1000 RoboMower 21-Inch Automatic Cordless Electric Lawn Mower and Docking Station
Amazon Price: $2,324.65 (as of 01/01/2010)
Forum for owners of robotic mowers
- Robotic mowers forum
- Excellent and active forum for owners of robotic mowers. If you still have any question, do subscribe to this forum.
So, what do you think?
submit
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- beachbum_gabby beachbum_gabby Apr 8, 2008 @ 9:47 pm
- really cool member of the household!
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- bill11 bill11 Feb 1, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
- I was in a tie between getting the Robomower and the Lawnbott. The Robomower is cheaper but the Lawnbott had some many cool features that the Robomower didn't have. Just when I was about to buy the Robomower from amazon.com I found http://www.lawnbotts.com - they had a 30 day money back policy that caught my eye. I gave it a try and I'm SO GLAD I DID! I love the lawnbott because its small and mows areas I would have had to trim myself with robomow. Their customer support is just wonderful and they were very knowledgeable and explained the differences between the two lawnmowers for me. I learned that since my yard is 45,200 sqft it would have been too much for the RObomow anyway. It seems the lawnbott was a much better fit for my yard. The lawnbott can handle 30 degree slopes on told too...this is twice as steep as the Robomower. Even though it cost more, maintenance for it is much less than that of the Robomower and it will last longer as I'm told. I this review helps someone else!
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- riff999 riff999 Sep 1, 2007 @ 11:57 am
- My husband would love this! I'll pass it on to him. Thanks for the informative lens.
Best wishes! ~Jane
Mona Lisa
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- mn3guy mn3guy Aug 20, 2007 @ 5:24 pm
- The YouTube video is a very helpful piece of this lens. I now know a "Lot" more than I did 10-15 minutes ago. Thanks for taking the time to create this lens! 5*
Meat and Three Restaurants
Phil (mn3guy)
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- DerekPadula DerekPadula Aug 15, 2007 @ 1:41 am
- My parents have a neighbor who is obsessed with mowing his lawn to an absolutely perfect state. I passed this site onto them to show him. I'd like to see his reaction to a ROBOT cutting his lawn. haha.
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