Within the last several years, autonomous mowers have evolved from small, Roomba-like devices confined to limited areas into powerful, sophisticated machines capable of handling larger and more complex terrains.
“They are no longer just about cutting grass; they are about optimizing entire landscapes with unprecedented efficiency, precision and safety,” says David Goff, tech specialist at Sunseeker. “Adding autonomous mowers is a strategic decision that can future-proof your business, increase its value and free you from the relentless challenges of labor management.”
Autonomous mowing experts weigh in on the technology’s most recent advancements in the industry.
What’s new
One of the most significant advancements in autonomous mowing is the shift from traditional boundary wires to GPS and real-time kinematic (RTK) technology.
Many autonomous mowers also use a sophisticated blend of cameras and computer vision; inertial measurement units that track movement and orientation; ultrasonic and lidar sensors that detect nearby obstacles; and precision mapping and zoning.
Thanks to these upgrades, autonomous mowers are no longer limited to a single property. Instead, they can now travel with landscaping crews from site to site, says Todd Zimmerman, senior vice president of dealer sales, operations and product for Kress, which recently launched its new Voyager 40-inch mower.
“It’s meant to go from property to property, where other robotic mowers are ‘cut and stay,’” says Zimmerman. “It’s really designed to be your next team member — moving and working alongside the crew as part of the team.”
As part of the crew, these large, high-powered autonomous mowers do especially well in open areas such as commercial office parks, industrial parks and warehouses where repeatable performance and minimal human intervention are key, says Justin VanderHeyden, product manager, autonomy, John Deere.
However, these mowers aren’t limited to wide-open spaces, says Billy Otteman, director of marketing at Scythe.
“There’s this misconception that the mowers can only handle wide-open properties — and that’s where they really crush it — but we can already handle some pretty complex areas with trees, park benches and a lot of pedestrians,” Otteman says.
Other recent autonomous mower updates include:
⦁ Enhanced performance in various cutting conditions, including on uneven slopes and in varying weather conditions.
⦁ Improved user interfaces that make operation easier in the field.
⦁ Centralized platforms through which fleet managers can monitor and control multiple mowers from one dashboard.
⦁ More durable and robust cutting systems.
⦁ Increased battery capacity for longer run times.
⦁ Automated scheduling capabilities, allowing mowers to be programmed to operate in specific areas on specific days and times, with no human intervention required.
⦁ Data analytics in which the machines collect and analyze data on operational metrics like cutting hours, terrain coverage and battery usage.
Adoption trends
While some people initially feared that “robots are going to take away jobs,” Otteman says the opposite is true, especially in recent years, as the technology has gone from something that’s “cutting edge” to more operationalized.
“Robotic mowers actually create more value and more money across operations,” Otteman says.
For instance, companies can implement the mowers so their team members can tackle higher-value work, such as trimming, mulching or hardscape tasks, says Jackson Gray, product marketing associate at The Toro Co.
“By creating a diverse fleet that combines the strengths of both autonomous and traditional mowers, landscape contractors can achieve optimal results across a wide range of property complexities, thereby realizing enhanced efficiencies for their crews,” Gray says.
Goff adds that companies can even deploy a fleet of robotic mowers at night, reducing labor costs, fuel expenses and noise complaints.
While fear of change used to be another obstacle facing the autonomous mowing sector, Zimmerman says this mindset has shifted.
“The industry is starting to become more open-minded because labor is becoming more of a concern,” Zimmerman says. “None of these companies want to fold, so they have to start looking at alternatives if the labor is not available.”
Tips of the trade
For landscapers considering making the switch to autonomous mowers, Gray recommends first conducting an audit of where landscaping crews and machines spend the most time during jobs.
“Once the business identifies areas with the greatest potential for labor savings, it can begin evaluating which autonomous mower best fits its operation and offers the strongest ROI,” Gray says.
From there, he says contractors can reach out to their dealers to discuss autonomous demo opportunities.
During the selection process, landscape pros should also consider how much training and technical support is offered by the manufacturer; whether the app and user interface are intuitive and reliable; and the mower’s ease of serviceability, Goff says.
Zimmerman says landscapers also need to consider the types of properties they serve.
Finally, landscape companies should put processes in place so that team members feel equipped to operate the mower, manage autonomous workflows, interpret data and troubleshoot in the field.
“Integrating change is about two things: the people and the process,” Otteman says. “You need to make sure the people on your team understand why the change is being made, and you need to provide ongoing training to current employees and educate new employees on the technologies.”
What’s next
Moving forward, experts believe the technology will only continue to improve.
“Autonomous performance will continue to increase, and the mowers will be able to see and respond to different kinds of obstacles quickly,” Otteman says. “That also means fewer times that the crew has to interact with the mower.”
VanderHeyden adds that autonomous mower technology will transform how the landscape industry operates overall.
“Landscapers who embrace this change early will not only streamline operations but also unlock new opportunities to elevate service quality, reallocate labor to higher-value tasks and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market,” VanderHeyden says.
