Husqvarna 265ACX (or 260ACX) Automower.
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Perry
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Competition of a Quite Different Type?
USA regulators have given robot maker iRobot technical clearance to make and sell a robotic lawn mower.
Known for its robot vacuum cleaner Roomba, the company has designed a robot lawn mower that would
wirelessly connect with stakes rising above the ground by as much as 61 cm, operating as signal beacons,
Its competitors only offer hands-free mowers that require underground fences or other elaborate setups.
IRobot's stake design, however, required a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission to make
sure that transmissions between its machines and the antennas wouldn't interfere with other devices using
the same frequencies. The FCC usually prohibits the operation of "fixed outdoor infrastructure" transmitting
low-power radio signal without a license, and iRobot's lawn mower beacons fell in that category.
Link to story. (No pictures!)
USA regulators have given robot maker iRobot technical clearance to make and sell a robotic lawn mower.
Known for its robot vacuum cleaner Roomba, the company has designed a robot lawn mower that would
wirelessly connect with stakes rising above the ground by as much as 61 cm, operating as signal beacons,
Its competitors only offer hands-free mowers that require underground fences or other elaborate setups.
IRobot's stake design, however, required a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission to make
sure that transmissions between its machines and the antennas wouldn't interfere with other devices using
the same frequencies. The FCC usually prohibits the operation of "fixed outdoor infrastructure" transmitting
low-power radio signal without a license, and iRobot's lawn mower beacons fell in that category.
Link to story. (No pictures!)
Perry
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Presently, it's 'persisting down,' here. As I look out the window, I see Coxy mowing on, regardless.
No one in the right mind would be out in a thunder storm, on a ride-on.
For me, Husquvarna's promotional proclivity towards the quietness-of-operation as the leading
feature of a robot lawn mower misses the point by a very wide margin. Something I've mention-
ed to the local dealer.
Top of my best benefits list is economy of operation, as mentioned in earlier posts.
The next best benefit is Coxy's all-weather operational capability, plus works day-and-night.
But there are drawbacks, as anyone who has (or has had) involvement with automation will know.
In a word: expectations. A robot mower has pre-programmed expectations: grass, grass and
nothing but grass.
Just as the watched pot never boils axiom expresses the sentiment, there must be a suitable
phrase for robot mowers. Or any other similar device. It's clumsy, but something like:
A monitored automatic process always works might just cover it. Plus the reciprocal. Maybe.
But . . .
Diligence and discipline are two critical words for any robot lawnmower owner.
Examples being: discipline precludes leaving things on the lawn (hoses) and diligence means
checking to make sure things have not got themselves on to the lawn. (e.g. tree branches)
There endeth today's lesson.
No one in the right mind would be out in a thunder storm, on a ride-on.
For me, Husquvarna's promotional proclivity towards the quietness-of-operation as the leading
feature of a robot lawn mower misses the point by a very wide margin. Something I've mention-
ed to the local dealer.
Top of my best benefits list is economy of operation, as mentioned in earlier posts.
The next best benefit is Coxy's all-weather operational capability, plus works day-and-night.
But there are drawbacks, as anyone who has (or has had) involvement with automation will know.
In a word: expectations. A robot mower has pre-programmed expectations: grass, grass and
nothing but grass.
Just as the watched pot never boils axiom expresses the sentiment, there must be a suitable
phrase for robot mowers. Or any other similar device. It's clumsy, but something like:
A monitored automatic process always works might just cover it. Plus the reciprocal. Maybe.
But . . .
Diligence and discipline are two critical words for any robot lawnmower owner.
Examples being: discipline precludes leaving things on the lawn (hoses) and diligence means
checking to make sure things have not got themselves on to the lawn. (e.g. tree branches)
There endeth today's lesson.
Micah Haarhoff
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Here's the most recent pic I have.
You have a nice lawn.
Well I must comment upon the potential psychological issues which have not been considered with this machine and its ilk. No, I'm no talking about the owner's head problems. This is about the little robo mowers' personality problems through youth and into maturity. We all know that despite modern design Darwin's theory applies to microprocessors too, and so I foresee several issues that robo mower owners should address as soon a possible.
LODGING: How can a robo mower feel needed and develop properly when shoved under a leaky , lonely deck for shelter? You would not put your dog there, would you?
INJURIES. Just visit the NFL (pro football) den of lawyers to see how the lawsuits will fly after processor damage from tree collisions. And ...suicidal thoughts
ALZHEIMERS syndrome. Think it couldn't happen to your little 12V (?) wonder? How 'bout the confusion and wandering already evident after breaking thru guide wires?
I only say these things for owners' own good and to create humane atmosphere for these little plastic-cowled 'chines. THEY CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES (yet)
LODGING: How can a robo mower feel needed and develop properly when shoved under a leaky , lonely deck for shelter? You would not put your dog there, would you?
INJURIES. Just visit the NFL (pro football) den of lawyers to see how the lawsuits will fly after processor damage from tree collisions. And ...suicidal thoughts
ALZHEIMERS syndrome. Think it couldn't happen to your little 12V (?) wonder? How 'bout the confusion and wandering already evident after breaking thru guide wires?
I only say these things for owners' own good and to create humane atmosphere for these little plastic-cowled 'chines. THEY CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES (yet)
Perry
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I can play along with the game - even if only for a while.
Nobody 'shoves' him anywhere. More or less at his discretion, Coxy self-docks
in his nutrition station and night shelter, willingly.
Coxy has a weather-proof den. Under the deck above his den is some sheet
steel - there to prevent rain water from dripping through. But that's just me
being a bit fussy. After all, no human is following Coxy around with an umbrella,
when he's mowing in the rain.
And should the trees receive counselling for being bumped into, so frequently?
And - just a thought - maybe you should get out, a bit more?
Perry
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Retreads Required
After a few years, now, it became apparent that Coxy needed new front tyres. I fitted the first one, today. I had a spare wheel, so I'd put the new tyre on that, so I could do a swap next time there was a blade change. That happened today. Several observations are made below, based on that task.
The wheel assembly seemed inordinately heavy. Once split apart, it became obvious why. It was almost full of very mature and very smelly silage.
After a clean out, the view was different. Amazing how much glug was inside.
When the split plastic rims are assembled, there is a locating grove, into which the raised inside ring of the tyre fits, to help locate it positively. But the between-rim-halves fit was not very tight.
Using a sharp chisel, about one sixteenth of an inch was removed from the three bosses on one side, so that the rims, when screwed together, squeezed the tyre more tightly. (One boss only marked)
I hope that will help keep the grass clippings out. That also means the wheel is reduced in thickness, so a packing shim / washer is needed when the wheel is re-fitted to the axle, to reduce end float. I used copper wire as a retainer, as steel split (cotter) pins rust tight in the holes that I drilled, when I replaced the starlok washers, a couple of years back.
After a few years, now, it became apparent that Coxy needed new front tyres. I fitted the first one, today. I had a spare wheel, so I'd put the new tyre on that, so I could do a swap next time there was a blade change. That happened today. Several observations are made below, based on that task.
The wheel assembly seemed inordinately heavy. Once split apart, it became obvious why. It was almost full of very mature and very smelly silage.
After a clean out, the view was different. Amazing how much glug was inside.
When the split plastic rims are assembled, there is a locating grove, into which the raised inside ring of the tyre fits, to help locate it positively. But the between-rim-halves fit was not very tight.
Using a sharp chisel, about one sixteenth of an inch was removed from the three bosses on one side, so that the rims, when screwed together, squeezed the tyre more tightly. (One boss only marked)
I hope that will help keep the grass clippings out. That also means the wheel is reduced in thickness, so a packing shim / washer is needed when the wheel is re-fitted to the axle, to reduce end float. I used copper wire as a retainer, as steel split (cotter) pins rust tight in the holes that I drilled, when I replaced the starlok washers, a couple of years back.
1 Lucky Texan
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interesting - perhaps your mod will help.
In my Greenworks mower - there is a plastic plug inserted for mulching mode instead of clippings collection - the plug has a series of cells created by plastic walls meant, I'm sure' to increase stiffness, but the cells fill with clippings over time. i used urethane foam to fill the cells so, they can't now fill with clippings yet there's very little added weight.
like the item on the right here;
wonder if the interior of the wheels could be , carefully, filled with expanding foam as well? Certainly they would still need to be separable so, may need som creativity to mask-off a plane of separation as well as the 3 assembly points.
In my Greenworks mower - there is a plastic plug inserted for mulching mode instead of clippings collection - the plug has a series of cells created by plastic walls meant, I'm sure' to increase stiffness, but the cells fill with clippings over time. i used urethane foam to fill the cells so, they can't now fill with clippings yet there's very little added weight.
like the item on the right here;
wonder if the interior of the wheels could be , carefully, filled with expanding foam as well? Certainly they would still need to be separable so, may need som creativity to mask-off a plane of separation as well as the 3 assembly points.
Perry
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That's a good idea. I'll assess the situation when I do the next wheel. Can that expanding foam can be easily cut and trimmed, once it's set? I suspect it can. Or maybe use petroleum jelly smeared over certain parts, so it can be pulled away from where it's not wanted?