If you are a homeowner, you probably have heard about robotic lawnmowers. It is a high-tech device that can take care of your lawn without your assistance! Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it? No wonder there has been so much buzz around these automatic mowing systems when they appeared on the market.

Although it sounds like a heaven-sent gadget for easy lawn and garden maintenance, it has its own share of lovers and haters, and boy, it sure has a long list of pros and cons! Read on to find out if it is a good fit for you, and see whether you’re making the right choice if you’re planning to purchase one.

How does a robot mower work?

The better question perhaps is, how does a robotic lawnmower know where to go without venturing off into places where it shouldn’t be? Before you let it loose in your property, you will need to adjust the boundary wire or barrier. It’ll utilise an electric wiring system that makes an invisible perimeter. Because of this mechanism, the robotic lawnmower stays within this barrier and knows where to go. The initial adjustment may take some time; however, when it’s properly configured, your little robot will do the job as expected.

What are the advantages of a robotic mower?

There are so many advantages to this emerging lawn and garden tool since it started appearing in the market. A lot of manufacturers are notably exploring the space, and there are so many people — even those with green fingers or work on their lawns extensively — who have taken an interest in them.

• No more manual work for you

The main advantage of this nifty device is that it takes care of the lawn instead of you or your lawn mowing guy. You won’t need to do this chore anymore; if not completely, you can at least reduce the frequency of cutting the grass. Just relax or do other work around your house. At the end of the day, you’ll still see a perfect looking lawn. This point seems obvious, but for those who hate mowing the lawn, it is the number one reason to buy a robot mower.

• Advanced technology 

A robotic lawn mower is one of the best high-tech gardening devices you could rely on! It’s packed with great features — depending on the model — which might include a navigation system for creating mowing patterns, sensors to detect barriers, and remote control for your convenience.

• Easy to store

It is a small device that doesn’t require much space. You won’t need a large tool shed to keep it. You can just keep your little robot mower in its charging station. Your toddler’s ride-on car might even be bigger than this little device!

• Quietly operates

Did you often disturb your neighbours with the noise generated when cutting the grass with your old lawnmower? Well, once you begin to use a robotic one, you and the people around you will enjoy the peace. Such devices work silently, you can program them to operate at any time of the day or night.

• Safety first

If you have little children or pets at home, safety is probably a big concern for you! You have to stay alert with any motorised tool within your backyard. A robotic lawnmower is arguably safer because it has built-in safety features. Due to its sensors, it “feels” objects that get on its way and avoids collisions. These little robots are also designed to automatically cut off when they are lifted. 

• Anti-theft

The makers of these devices already knew from the start that security will be a huge issue. Some have enabled GPS tracking as a feature, while some models connect to your smartphone. Most robotic mowers require a PIN so it virtually becomes useless when stolen. Without a PIN, the mower won’t operate.

What are the disadvantages of a robotic mower?

There are so many benefits in acquiring such a great home device; it’s hard to believe that robotic lawn mowers have drawbacks as well. These are the things you need to be aware of before you decide to buy one. 

• The price

Because it’s a fairly new technology, robot mowers are expected to have outrageous prices. Parts (blades, batteries, etc.) and maintenance may be costly too, especially if you need to repair or replace them. Lots of people just can’t afford to buy and maintain this device, and at this point, it’s only ideal for people who have money to burn.

• Setup may be time-consuming

It takes a lot of time to set up a robotic lawn mower. Before using this gadget, you have to install a perimeter guide wire, and it’s quite time-consuming even when you’re getting someone else to do it. However, you can’t skip this step; it’s what makes your little robot do its job correctly. Getting the installation wrong would even present bigger problems and consume more time for you.

• Results are not immediate

At first may be hard to see the difference when cutting grass with a robotic lawnmower. The way the robotic version works is that it cuts a few centimetres of grass with each pass then does it again several times to cover the entire area you’ve set it to mow. It is, after all, rather small and slow. With a traditional lawnmower, you can finish the work much faster and see instant results.

• Battery life

A robot mower works slow and cuts in random patterns, and as expected, it uses up battery all the time. If your lawn is big enough, there is a chance that your little robot will run out before mowing the entire area. Additionally, some batteries only last a few seasons particularly because you’ll be using them, say, six months a year on an 800 sqm property.

• Parts may be hard to find

Another thing that may be a cause of concern to those who are considering buying one is that since it’s a fairly new technology, maintenance and upkeep may be more of a hassle. It’s like buying a Euro car in New Zealand and not being able to find the exact parts you need, or when they’re available, they would cost you an arm and leg.

Remember that it still cannot replace the skills of an expert

A robotic mower, like any other robot, cannot replace getting an actual person to do any job. It may have sensors, but it doesn’t have the subjective eye that your lawn mowing operator has. Your Crewcut guy will instantly know what to cut or what not to cut, and how much he’s cutting — which can be a huge deal to some customers. There’s no way you can tell a robot to make the cut a little shorter or taller precisely the way you like it!

Should I get a robotic mower?

Overall, a robotic lawn mower is a nice product to have that may be helpful especially if you have the budget for it. You can spend a day on installation and then let it do a part of your outdoor tasks for you (to a certain extent). You’ll need to consider parts and maintenance as well, but if money isn’t your top concerns, then by all means, go ahead.

Author’s bio

Archie Adams was a builder for more than 40 years. After his retirement, this enthusiastic electrical tradesman decided to work in the garden and write for a blog HomeMakerGuide.com to keep himself occupied. An impressive fact to note is that almost everything inside his house and within his property is a result of his hard work and skilful hands.