Hello all, I have just been reviewing these threads, and I think that I can offer some expertise on the subject of robot lawn mowers, as we are an Australian brand for these devices. I am not seeking to promote our own brand here, you can make your own choices. I will try to answer any questions that people have, as objectively as possible, but will not tolerate any abuse, and will ignore any sarchasm or cynicism, as this tends to come from people who think they know better. Going through the points observed:
1. History
Patents for robotic mowers can be found back as far as the 1970’s. But they weren’t really developed until the mid 1990’s, and Husqvarna was at the forefront of this. Commercialisation didn’t really start until the mid 2000’s, and sales didn’t take off in Europe until after 2010. Between 2010 and 2019, Husqvarna themselves for example had sold more than 1.5 million robotic mowers in Europe, and the market segment was a key contributor to their bottom line.
2. Brands
Did you know that Husqvarna own 4 brands in this space? Husqvarna, McCulloch, Flymo, and Gardena. Yes, the device you see in Bunnings is Husqvarna’s ‘budget’ brand. The Ambrogio brand is not Australian, it is Italian. There has been one Australian builder that has developed a robot mower, Elite Robotics, based in Newcastle, but I’m not sure if this is available commercially, and even if it was, whether or not it would be competitively priced. You can look them up.
3. Edges
Yes, getting the edge cut is the challenge for these devices. Most models rely on a boundary wire signal which defines the cutting area, and it is a skill to get the wire as close to the garden edge as possible, without the mower getting stuck on walls, garden beds, etc… Worx has models which claim to solve this, but I’m not able to validate how well it goes. Perhaps someone else with experience can comment.
4. Quality of cut
In my personal experience, the robotic mowers give an excellent quality of cut. Especially if the blades are sharp. As with any mower, it is useful for the blades to be sharp. The type of grass doesn’t matter, they will negotiate all kinds, but don’t expect a robot mower to perform well if the grass is a foot long. I have not seen any evidence of disease spread, or dead patches of lawn. Also when I compare areas where the robot is used adjacent to where the robot is not used, the grass doesn’t seem to grow as fast. Not sure why. The robot mowers do not collect grass, but leave it on the lawn to be mulched. It is said that when this is done, the lawn should be ‘thatched’ every few years, but we’ve not had to do that yet. The robots will cut wet grass. The issue with cutting in the rain is more about the wheels losing traction on a slippery surface, especially on a slope. For this reason, most models have a rain detector thaw will make them return to their base station.
5. Size of lawn
Size matters when making your choice. You may find that a mower designed for small areas is priced as high as other mowers for large areas. Most backyard lawns are small - you would not choose a ride-on for that job. And a 1hp push mower would not be suitable for a 1 acre (3400sqm) paddock. As with anything, it is important to choose the tool that is fit for purpose to the task. And the battery is all important in this respect as well.
6. Batteries
Most robot mowers will be about 24 volts (avg., 29.4 peak). Batteries can come in sizes like 2.2Ah, 4.4Ah, 6.6Ah, 13.2Ah. The smallest size will drive a small mower for about 45 minutes and be suitable for lawns up to about 800sqm, give or take. The largest size will drive a large mower for up to 4 hours, and be suitable for areas up to an acre (or more). The bigger the battery, the longer it will take to recharge. Lithium batteries require care, and should be recharged regularly. If they are stored flat for long periods, they can become irreparably damaged.
I hope these brief points help, I could offer feedback on other points, eg safety, programmability, versatility etc., but none of these other points were raised in the thread