BigMow will slow down if it ‘sees’ anything in front of it and will then mow in another direction
of cut. This is done by lifting a pin and sliding the lever to the desired height. And there the human input ends.
Because of its size, we were able to look at the workings of the BigMow in more detail and Austin flipped the machine over so we could see the ‘business end’. At the rear were two large drive wheels which steer and at the front, four casters which provide the machine’s suspension. Across the centre are five cutting discs, each with three ‘Stanley knife’- like blades. Each disc has its own electric motor and a smaller, plastic disc on the under side which follows the contours of the ground, preventing scalping. Serrated discs may be attached if the machine is going to be used in an area where there is a lot of debris or even golf balls. The question of safety was raised, particularly with it being used in a domestic setting where children and pets might get in its way. The machine mows in random directions and travels at 3 km/hr, but the sonar eyes on the top of the machine will slow it down if it ‘sees’ anything in front of it. If this happens, it will turn and mow in another direction. The front of the machine has a touch-sensitive strip, allowing it to gently bump into an object before reversing, turning and moving in another direction. Turfmech has made some clever operational safeguards too. If the temperature drops below 6 degrees celsius, the computer recognises it’s too cold to mow and returns the machine to its docking station until the temperature rises, when it sets it off again. If the grass hasn’t grown, BigMow will recognise it is not cutting and return to the charge station to wait for the grass to grow.
Another guest asked about
presentation. If you want your lawn nicely striped, BigMow’s not for you. It mows in one-metre strips and will easily tackle any area up to five acres but it mows constantly, creating a smooth surface and thickening the sward as it clips the grass, creating the tiniest clippings. By mowing this way, it eliminates the problem of disposing of cuttings. Despite its £7,800 price tag, it has minimal
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running costs. Austin estimates it will use the same amount of electricity in one year as a freezer and a winter service with blade change will set you back £150-£200. There are other robotic mowers available to buy, but they can only mow up to half an acre, leaving BigMow to tackle the premium end of the domestic market.
The ‘business’ end of BigMow
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