Ambrogio Evolution: robotic lawnmowers poised to take over Earth

Okay folks, the truth is out there — our robotic underlords have their cohorts lined up and waiting just outside our front doors. Yes, the Ambrogio Evolution robotic lawn mower can sense your long grass, and will seek incessantly to annihilate it. It can cover about three-quarters of an acre on lawns with slopes of up to about 27 degrees without losing power or speed and without tipping over — which is more than we can say for ourselves, quite honestly. It also has a bonus Smart Spiral mode, always useful for hoodwinking the neighbors with some whacked out crop circles. This tireless helper will not mow gently into that good night without a dear price: $2299.99 bags it, and no reviews yet in on how it is with the kids.

[Thanks, Chris V.]

[Greg Burch @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

My robomower works like crap. It collects dust on the porch. You are better off paying for a lawn service for 60/mnth. This thing would probably not last long enough to pay for itself.

[Max @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I have some advice for all who think they might need one of these:

a) If your lawn is small enough (use your better judgement), just get a basic mower and do it yourself...it will take 20 minutes. The 'excersize' is good and it gets you away from the old-lady.

b) If your lawn is large, drop $1000-$1500 on a decent riding-mower. Nothing better than riding around during a hot sunny day on some loud ass machine with a frosty beer in your hand. Hey - its an excuse to drink and drive in a legal setting. Just watch out for those gnomes.

[Zooooooooooooooom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

This looks like an upside down jet ski. In other news does anyone know why my PC keeps changing doc files from thumbnail view to detail or filmstrip? It does it on its own. Do I have a virus or is that some kind of Windows XP bug?

[Danny @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I have two of these guys working in tandem, and I must say: they mow a good lawn.

[Asz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

You'd think we would learn from the countless depictions of robots in the future, ROBOT + BLADES = BAD! Can't wait to hear about a story of this taking off someones leg or something.

[Joe Maller @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Until this thing self-powers by digesting lawn clippings, I'm not really interested. And, um, I don't have a lawn.

(ok, in light of robot-overlords, maybe having robots self-power by consuming finely minced organic matter isn't the best of ideas. But at least these will be vegetarians.)

[lcd @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

you people crack me up.

love the crop circles idea... but i can do that on my zero turn radius riding mower w/attachable umbrella sun-shade.
AND it is cheaper then this POS.
AND it's a lot more fun

[jands @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

They should make it with a built in seat at the top so you can put your kid there and watch'em go.


Unless you have 27+ degree slopes...

[blackf0rk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Why don't they just make a gas powered one with a better memory algorythm. AND make it look like a normal one at least.

Otherewise, do it yourself.

[duerra @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

#3 - It's a WinXP limitation. It only "remembers" the last 200 or so folders that you've viewed. After that, your folder will be reset to whatever Windows thinks you should be vewing it as. Is this retarted? Absolutely. What can you do to fix it? Well, open up your "C" drive:
Tools->Folder Options->View->Apply to All Folders

That's taken care of the issue for me.

[timetrial @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I'm going to wait until my neighbor gets one and hack it to do my lawn in addition to his.

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Ok, so I put this sucker out on my lawn and let it go, the idea being the lawn gets mowed unattended by a human. But wait! Someone will just steal the thing off my lawn while its running, so I'll have to sit there and watch my robot mower mow the lawn.

Hmm...

[Jack @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

#10, Why don't you buy a dog and chain it to the mower? You could also buy a Lama, they eat greass...who'd want to steal a Lama?

[Jesse Hodge @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I can see the tragic stories now. -Mower wanders into (traffic, playground, nursing home)-

[Zoooooooooooom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

#10 I got it to work. Kewl beans. Thanks!

They have better fix this in Longhorn. I can't wait to see what graphics and icons it's going to sport. Mmmm eye candy is nice!

[Curtis Onstott @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I have a small yard and have been happy with my Robomower. I've had to fix it a few times, replaced the battery pack once. I had to dig up a broken perimeter wire and rebury it a few times. The thing that burns me is that they will not sell me a service manual so I can maintain it myself. 80lbs is a lot to mail to the nearest service center. PArts are not as easy to get... I will miss it once it breaks beyong my capabilities to fix.

[privatejoker25 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Back when I was in 6th grade I made a basic design for a remote control lawn mower but my parents wouldn't let me try to build it. Something about mayhem and terror...

[Bill @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I was thinking about the theft angle, too. How long would it last unattended? Honey, somebody stole our $2300 robotic lawn mower AGAIN.

Geez, we live in a good neighboorhood and my neighbor often has his garden hose...yes garden hose...stolen from his front yard.

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

It looks like the spaceship from Flight of the Navigator.

[Carl @ Nov 9th 2007 1:12AM]

I have a Lawnbott, and it works great. I installed it in my daughter's yard. She is thankful that she doesn't have to ride a gas-guzzling, hard-to-maintain riding mower anymore. All I have to do is scrape the blade clean once a week. I am worried about theft, but so far so good.

[dogwartz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

in reply to #12, I just saw one working on my neighbors lawn, he loves it, and told me it is password protected so no one else could use it.

[Ken @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I've got an Ambrogio Pro, one of the older models. I love it and wouldn't trade it for a walk behind or even a riding. You wanna know what's cooler than riding around with a frosty beer - try sitting on the veranda with a frosty beer while cars have accidents watching your robotic mower... Now that's cool. I gotta make up a set of score cards - Hey your accident only got a 7.4 from the German judge!

[roboguru @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I have a RL500 Robomower and I love it! I wouldn't dare drop $1000 or $200 on a gas mower that requires manual labor. If you got a robotic lawnmower and don't like it, either it's user error, or your yard isn't right for it. If you have lots of slopes and a very rough terrain, these mowers won't work. But they do really work and I know several others who have them and are VERY pleased. I know one guy who owns an Ambrogio and he loves it as well. I recommend doing the research before ruling out purchasing a robotic lawnmower. I was skeptical but now I'm a believer! There's a discussion forum for robotic lawn mowers at http://forums.robomower.biz

[blackman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Why doesent anyone want to do any kind of manual labour these days. there is nothing wrong with pushing a lawnmower around, its good excercise.

soon everyone will be riding around on scooters because its too much effort to walk.

[Petrica @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

If your lawn is large, drop $1000 on a decent riding-mower. Nothing better than riding around during a hot sunny day on some loud ass machine with a frosty beer in your hand.