Remote Control Mowers vs Autonomous Mowers
There has recently been a lot of interest in remote control mowers, what they are useful for and how they are different from autonomous mowers, so this week’s blog is dedicated to robotic mowers.
Remote control mowers
As seen in the image above (Raymo remote control mower) these mowers are generally larger as they are typically designed for commercial applications, for councils, landscapers, and those with large or potentially dangerous areas to cut. Unlike robotic mowers which cut little and frequently, Remote control mowers are designed to be able to withstand a larger amount of grass, making it ideal for businesses and councils who return frequently to mow.
How do these improve safety?
There are a few situations where these machines can improve safety.
Steep slopes
Saving the worker from slipping or falling, a remote control mower has enhanced traction, enabling it to climb steep slopes, safely. While the controller can stand in a safe position and avoid any potential accidents.
Dangerous locations
Similarly, using a remote control mower allows the controller to position themselves in a safe location enabling safer maintenance of difficult or dangerous places such as grassy areas near roads, bodies of water, and cliff edges.
injury avoidance
It’s no surprise to anyone that those who work in manual labor industries are most susceptible to injury. Any chance to prevent these injuries is always a win, controlling your mower via remote is a much safer task than physically pushing a potentially heavy piece of equipment or driving a ride on up a steep slope.
Objects
Mowing places that aren’t your garden comes with the risk of not knowing what is hidden in the long grass. Potentially dangerous objects such as rocks, glass, or other items can be caught when mowing and turned into projectiles. Mowing from a safe distance via controller limits the risk of these objects being catapulted near the worker, providing them with a safer working environment.
As well as safety, there are other reasons why these machines are more optimal for commercial applications.
- They save on space, smaller than conventional ride-on mowers these machines are easier to transport.
- Reviews of companies who have adopted these machines into their way of working have shown that training on these machines is simple and isn’t a large time investment, making these even easier to integrate into everyday working practices.
- These machines benefit those working with them as in some situations where it is unsafe to mow or if large manpower is required to tackle an area, these mowers can prevent injury and reduce workload, letting companies take on more jobs, improve quality and maximize efficiency.
The differences between remote control mowers and autonomous mowers
This is where the difference between the remote control and the autonomous comes into play.
- Autonomous mowers provide you with the same safety benefits if not more as you don’t have to be anywhere near the mowing.
- Since autonomous mowers are designed mainly for domestic or permanent commercial applications they are either controlled by guide wires or satellite boundaries which are programmed for that area specifically. It’s not practical to continuously up and move an autonomous mower every day making it impractical for councils or businesses.
- Autonomous mowers aren’t typically designed to handle long grass. Autonomous mowers cut little and often to provide the user with a healthy lawn that is always freshly cut.
- They aren’t designed to handle particularly difficult terrain. Although you can get robotic mowers for gardens with slopes or a more complex layout, this doesn’t equate to large side banks that remote-control mowers are capable of handling.
Autonomous mowers
Autonomous mowers have come a long way in a short period. They now no longer require guide wires and can be run via the use of satellites. Husqvarna are pioneers of this leading technology with their EPOS system. Husqvarna is also extending its range into commercial applications with the introduction of CEORA. Different from remote control mowers, although the CEORA can cover a larger area, it is designed for permanent residence and is suitable for football pitches or commercial buildings where the grass is constantly maintained.
Autonomous mowers for domestic applications are ideal for those who like having a continuously tidy lawn without the hassle, effort, or time investment. The little robot will do all the work for you without supervision and can be scheduled or keep-out zones can be created so it isn’t in the way when you are using your garden.
To read more about domestic robotic mowers read our previous blog post ‘The rising trend in lawn maintenance’
The environmental benefit.
One of the main benefits of both mowers is that they are part of the shift we are seeing in the industry of the transition to battery-operated machinery in comparison to traditional fueled machines. A few of the benefits include:
- Reduction in harmful CO2 emissions
- Reduction in running cost
- Noise pollution reduction
- Health benefits include less fume inhalation and a reduction in potential damage to hearing.
- Fewer engine issues in comparison to fueled engines
To learn more in-depth about the ins and outs of the switch to battery, read our previous blog post, why go cordless?
