Robotic mowers blow leaves, guide themselves by the sun and find their own way
At the Spoga+Gafa garden trade fair, Yarbo will be showing a modular mowing bot, Hygreen one with a solar panel and RoboUP one with auto-mapping.
The Yarbo Y1 can be transformed from a mowing bot to a snow clearing machine with add-on modules.
(Image: Berti Kolbow-Lehradt)
More and more models of various robotic mowers are navigating their way across the lawn using satellite radio instead of along a perimeter wire. Because this is narrowing down the shortlist less and less, new robot manufacturers are trying to make the difference with extra talent. At the Spoga+Gafa garden trade fair in Cologne, start-ups presented mowing aids with original solutions to annoying application problems.
There, the Yarbo brand transformed the Y1 model into a mower, leaf blower or snow blower using plug-in modules, so that no separate devices are required for such applications. The Hygreen Gomow's satellite antenna is powered by a solar panel, making it easier to choose a location with good reception. The RoboUP T1200 Pro's auto-mapping function eliminates the need for a manual guided tour of the working area.
Yarbo Y1: Transformer on a lawn care mission
The Yarbo Y1 is a tracked machine equipped for heavy-duty work, with tool connections on all sides. The housing of a mowing disk, a rotor for leaves or a blower for snow can be mounted at the front. An edge cutter or a trimmer can be attached to the sides for more precise edging work. Trailer modules for liquid or granular fertilizer - or any other trolley - are coupled to the rear.
(Image: Berti Kolbow-Lehradt)
The Y1 is equipped with satellite radio (Real Time Kinematic, RTK) and ultrasound so that it can navigate without sensor cables. Stereo cameras built into the front modules monitor for obstacles. In a demo video, the vehicle avoided a flat metal plate on a tidy lawn. For such a colossal device, the Y1 maneuvers very smoothly.
The core unit alone weighs 64 kilograms. The weight of the modules is added to this. With the mower module, the combination measures 130 × 69 × 51 centimeters. The 38.4 Ah battery should be enough to mow 8,000 square meters a day, and a built-in heater should keep the technology ready for operation at temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius. The robot can be set up via an app without the need for specialists, trained in its working area and controlled via 4G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The mower combination regularly costs 7200 euros, is reduced to 4770 euros at market launch and can be ordered immediately on the manufacturer's website. Further front modules are available for sometimes under, sometimes over 1000 euros, the side modules for around 500 euros.
Hygreen Gomow stays on reception via sunlight
The Hygreen Gomow's RTK antenna can be positioned very flexibly in search of a stable satellite signal. A solar panel attached to its mast with an integrated battery supplies it with power even when it is far away from a power socket. This type of power supply is rare and then usually optional, but is included with the Gomow. The robot mower's charging station, on the other hand, is wired conventionally.
(Image: Berti Kolbow-Lehradt)
Otherwise, the Gomow offers the usual in this product category. While the RTK antenna guides it through the room, a camera with image pattern recognition is designed to avoid obstacles. At the trade fair, this worked perfectly, at least with stuffed hedgehogs and rabbits. The 8 Ah battery offers a runtime of three hours and then charges for just as long. The bot mows up to 180 square meters per hour. The robot mower will be available for pre-order from July on the manufacturer's website at a price of 1300 euros. Hygreen plans to deliver it in September.
RoboUP T1200 Pro maps the mowing area automatically
Using joystick buttons to show a robotic lawnmower the boundaries of a lawn can be a test of patience over large areas. Ideally, the RoboUP T1200 Pro eliminates the need for a guided exploration tour. It uses ultrasound to autonomously recognize clearly defined mowing areas. Manual mapping remains an option for more complex boundaries. Only a few manufacturers offer auto-mapping, almost none offer freedom of choice.
(Image: Berti Kolbow-Lehradt)
RoboUP already equipped its robotic mower premiere with this feature last year. The start-up's current flagship device is said to have a better RTK signal. In addition to the receiver unit of the charging station, the manufacturer also supplies an external antenna. The new mower, like the old one, keeps its bearings in shadowed gaps using an acceleration sensor, the number of wheel rotations and a camera. The latter is also designed to detect obstacles before the mower collides with them. This is expressly intended to protect small animals.
An app sends the mower on tour via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The model, designed for a working area of 1200 square meters, is available in stores for 1800 euros. Due to the short running time of one hour, charging breaks must be considered for larger areas. A version with a smaller battery for an area of 600 square meters with the descriptive name T600 is available for 1300 euros.
(mack)