Robotic Lawn Mowers, Are They Right For You?
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How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work?
Robotic lawn mowers are actually not a new phenomena at all, but something that's been available for over 30 years. Once the microprocessor was invented and electronics became much smaller, lots of interesting ideas for labor saving devices started showing up in the marketplace, including the robotic lawn mower. Typically, to set up your robotic mower you need to install a low voltage wire around the perimeter of your yard. This wire acts as an “out of bounds” marker for the mower, telling it where and where not to go. Some other versions are fully automatic and will follow a pre-planned path around your yard. Just like the Roomba®, the robotic lawn mower works by returning to a docking station when it is finished mowing or when it begins to run out of "juice".
What About the Price?
It sounds like a great idea, but this time savor does have it's share of drawbacks. First of all, a robotic lawn mower is an expensive gadget. Prices start around $1,000 for a basic model and can go as high as $5,000! Doing a quick search on Amazon, you can find a few models that start at less than a thousand dollars, but regardless it's still an expensive toy. Like I mentioned earlier, most the models require a direction wire installed around the perimeter of your yard, so that the mower knows where to stop and turn around. Depending on the size of your yard, this could take one person most of the day to install.Which Robot Mower Should I Choose?
The size of your lawn also dictates the size of the unit you should purchase. Some models will mow up to an acre worth of grass. The down side is that with size does come cost, so the models that manage an acre are the more expensive choices. When it comes to choosing the right robotic mower for your lawn, a variety of manufacturers to choose from, is to your advantage. There are several different companies that make robotic lawn mowers, so it is important to make sure the features and capabilities of the model your researching meet your needs.