SmartMow mows the lawn but won't accept a glass of lemonade

The unmanned lawnmower is nothing new, but we still think there's something downright iffy about arming a Roomba with sharp metal blades. That said, if you've been dying to get in on the action, SmartMow might be worth checking out. Set to hit the stores in Spring '09 for $749 (much cheaper than some other robo-mowers), the thing weighs 17 pounds, features three cutting blades, will cut around a sixth of an acre on a single charge (about 2-3 hours), and is auto-docking. As far as knowing where to mow, SmartMow eschews sci-fi grass detection algorithms and rudimentary artificial intelligence in favor of the tried but true method of marking off your mowable yard with an edge wire. The best thing about the bot, however, may be its educational value -- not only will it teach your kids about robotics, it will also show them how people with money can buy their way out of doing chores. Video after the break.

[Via Robot Stock News]

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 22nd 2008 3:54PM]

Can i get a Dueling Harness for it?

[Silver Smith Posted Dec 22nd 2008 4:40PM]

They are making a Wii game to go along with it so kids will still feel like they are mowing the lawn

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 22nd 2008 6:02PM]

This is clearly the first of the Terminator series robots! First kitties and then the owners.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 22nd 2008 5:59PM]

The video is a very poor advertisement for the product. If that's how this thing will mow (and forget using a grass-catcher) then no thanks.

FAQ never covers the questions I seem to have:
http://smartmow.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=6&chapter=1
1) cost of replacement lithium-ion battery once its useful life of 300-500ish charge/ discharge cycles is up?

Environmentally friendly?
----------------
Calling this thing environmentally friendly just because it uses Lithium Ion batteries (instead of lead-acid (?)) is a pretty weak argument, IMO. A lawnmower that uses a lithium ion battery (and that may use recycled plastics in its construction, granted) is far from what I'd call environmentally friendly, but I think we all have different definitions of the meaning of friendly...

http://smartmow.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=1
"SmartMow has a 2 year warranty on everything, except battery."
...yet those replacement battery costs are still a mystery.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 22nd 2008 6:11PM]

Hi Tekdroid,

I'll update that FAQ a little later and hopefully address some of your concerns. We're still working with different vendors about replacement batteries and extending the life and warranty of those batteries. From all of the great feedback from people like you, we're considering a battery warranty and will update our website accordingly.

Li-ion batteries are a bit more environmentally friendly, especially when compared to Lead Acid and Gas Engines. They are also much easier to recycle. Dell uses them. Here's a good article perhaps? http://blogs.computerworld.com/node/3285

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 24th 2008 7:55AM]

based on customer feedback, we now cover the battery for 2 years.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 22nd 2008 6:32PM]

I have had two mowers for 3 years, one a Toro iMow and one a Robomower - they are basically the same robot. They are fantastic.

I was injured and no longer able to mow my 25,000 ft of lawn since it is sloped and hilly. While looking at tractors I found the Robomower, purchased one then the other on Ebay. I have the best lawns on the street. The mowers have worked perfectly with a few maintenance and goofy sensor issues, but those problems are not even 25% of my old manual lawnmower's maintenance.

No gummy gas, no oil mix, no carburator, no choke, no transmission, no chains - think of how many mechanical problems are eliminated by an electric direct drive machine. I have had zero problems with the robot processor, compass, or controller. I also cut down 75% of herbicide application since the mowers go out so often that the weeds never get a chance to rise up, and the grass loves being trimmed making it thicker and more lush.

I found it is very important to sharpen the blades regularly for a beautiful cut. I must buy a new battery for my red robot this season since I used it 3 times per week for three mowing seasons. I will be very interested in this new mower as my existing bots approach retirement.

I have no financial interest in any of the mowers, but I wish people would try them so we could further reduce the cost while reducing herbicide and exhaust pollution.
best wishes to all your lawns.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 22nd 2008 6:56PM]

I could use one of these,my backyard is small enough to get mowed with a weedwacker but that is still a 20-40 job.

[Stsainj Posted Dec 22nd 2008 11:17PM]

Sure it's not a Roomba? It looks like it sucks at cutting. On the other hand, it looks like it can carve a mean crop circle!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 22nd 2008 11:51PM]

Steve, et. al

Here's another video. I think this one shows a better picture of how it mows the grass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwlWLQSaDIY

[djsiek Posted Dec 23rd 2008 12:35AM]

@ RoboMike

Great work with the product mate.

I'm sure you know that iRobot are due to bring out a robomower soon (well nothings confirmed but they have a patent application)

IMHO I think to compete against their robot mower, smartmow would definately need to be able to begin its mowing session on its own. so once it has depleted its charge, it can dock, charge and restart on its own.

I live in an aparmtnet right now, but as soon as I move out i'll def be buying a robot mower (i have a few home robots already and love them). With this in mind, I really like the idea of not having to start the robot mower myself so it can do its job and i can just maintain it when required.

apologies if your smartmow already does this scheduled approach.

cheers

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 23rd 2008 12:50AM]

@ Joel,

Thanks for the comments, and I understand completely about the scheduling. The SmartMow will auto-dock and restart as needed to recharge and complete the mowing area. More scheduling is something we're looking into a little more. We found after some research to err on the side of safety ... if you have to be home to turn it on, maybe non owners are less likely to do something to your robot.

[djsiek Posted Dec 23rd 2008 2:07AM]

@ RoboMike

Glad you're looking into more scheduling options.

Cheers

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 27th 2008 12:42PM]

Lawnmower robots will be novelties until their owners don't have to drop delimiters to create a boundary around the property to be maintained. Still, we have to go through this phase to get the early adopters on-board to subsidize the growth of the market.