Re: rec tech mower

Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> writes:

On 4/15/2025 2:33 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Tue, 15 Apr 2025 13:29:16 -0400, Frank Krygowski
<frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
 

On 4/15/2025 8:39 AM, AMuzi wrote:

On 4/14/2025 9:48 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
I'm not an expert but there were or are corded electrics as I knew
someone who loved his. Assuming your house is roughly centered on the
lot a 100ft cord would do.

>
I know those exist, but there's no way it would work. I just counted,
and there are at least 13 "islands" of landscaping, large trees or other
obstacles I have to cut around. They'd require far too much
backtracking, etc. if I were dragging a cord.

Perhaps a robot lawn mower that goes around the trees?
<https://www.google.com/search?q=robotic%20lawn%20mower&udm=2>
<https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=robot%20lawn%20mower>

>
I've been paying attention to the development of those for
years. There are now a couple models that don't require the buried
wire barrier systems (like Invisible Fences for dogs), but use some
local electronics that enhance GPS for precise location. Supposedly
one can manually steer the mower around the lot and "teach" it where
to mow and what to avoid. They're quite pricey, though! I've got about
25,000 square feet to mow, and the Luba brand capable of that is about
$3000. That would get me a lot of teenager hours, if I can recruit a
new one. Also, its level of technology makes me worry about long term
reliability.
>
I had a thought about a simpler alternative that would require far
less technology. I'm not a guy that wants beautiful lawn stripes, so I
usually mow by cutting the perimeter clockwise, then working my way
inward, always straddling the boundary between "that's cut" and
"that's not cut." Seems that a self propelled mower should be able to
do most of that on its own, if it could reliably tell the difference
between "cut" and "not yet cut." The "steering" logic seems pretty
simple, based on separate drives for the left wheel and right wheel
(or perhaps, left and right "tank tracks" to handle lawn lumps and
holes).
>
But I haven't been able to dream up a sensor system, especially
because in dry times, there will be patches that are very non-uniform
height. (My lawn is a diverse ecosystem, the farthest thing from a
putting green.) Machine vision could probably do it, but that's very
complex.

Get some sheep, for crying out loud.  I understand it's sometimes
possible to rent them, since you don't have the acreage to feed them
full time, and there's nothing sadder than a single, solitary sheep.

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