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Automower - the robot lawnmower
www.techdigest.tv ^ | 03/22/2007 | www.techdigest.tv

Posted on 11/15/2007 7:07:29 PM PST by WesternCulture

I can't say I'm much of a gardener.

It's all a bit too much like hard work, especially wasting hot summer days mowing the lawn into neat little lines - I'd much rather get the deckchair out and crack open a can. And now I can - and get the lawn cut with the Automower from Husqvarna.

It's a gardener's dream, cutting grass automatically without being pushed or guided - even if there's a tree or two to negotiate. Use the perimiter wire to cordon off flower beds, young trees, ponds and swimming pools and automower does the rest.

As well as saving you all the hassle of mowing the lawn, the Automower is also good for your grass. With only the top of the grass is cut each time, the clippings are small enough to be allowed to fall back into the lawn, which provides a natural source of compost during the summer. And with blade technology in the Automower much more effective than most standard lawnmowers, your grass will apparently have an almost "carpet-like smoothness".

Don't expect stripes like the Wembley turf of old, but if you want the job done without leaving your lounger, it sounds a winner. But you'll have to be someone who really values their time - it sells for around £1,500 ($ 3,100).


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: convenience; electrolux; gardening; gardens; husqvarna; lawnmowers; lawns; patio; robot; robots; technology
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1 posted on 11/15/2007 7:07:31 PM PST by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture

In five years, these things will be produced in China and will be sold in the West for the equivalent of $300.

An automower at work:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QOBlW1TXJVs&feature=related


2 posted on 11/15/2007 7:07:53 PM PST by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture

I’m not very impressed. Seems like it would miss a lot of places, cover and recover a lot of the same territory, would be prone to loops, and generally waste a lot of time and fuel.

If you’re that lazy pay one of the neighbor kids five bucks and watch him mow the lawn.


3 posted on 11/15/2007 7:21:41 PM PST by Ronin (Bushed out!!! Another tragic victim of BDS.)
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To: WesternCulture

I’ll top that
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/05/no_mow_grass.html


4 posted on 11/15/2007 7:22:08 PM PST by ari-freedom (I am for traditional moral values, a strong national defense, and free markets.)
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To: WesternCulture
The "grass" that the Automower is running over in the video needs a lot more than a mower. From its appearance it may never need mowing again.

They probably will be made in China and programmed to kill their owners on a signal from the home country. But if they save work that's OK.

5 posted on 11/15/2007 7:23:12 PM PST by FreePaul
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To: Ronin
What was it mowing? Aren't they missing one critical component in the demo, i.e., tall enough grass to cut?
6 posted on 11/15/2007 7:29:16 PM PST by lormand
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To: lormand

Can it lift a bowling ball?


7 posted on 11/15/2007 7:32:57 PM PST by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: WesternCulture

http://my.break.com/content/view.aspx?ContentID=399965


8 posted on 11/15/2007 7:36:40 PM PST by cowtowney
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To: Ronin

“If you’re that lazy pay one of the neighbor kids five bucks and watch him mow the lawn.”

- My mother and I recently visited a couple she knows here in Sweden who’d recently built a new house. They told us there were no neighbor kids around willing to do that kind of work. Therefore, they had decided to buy a automower.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it all ends up in swearing, but new technology is always fun.


9 posted on 11/15/2007 7:37:39 PM PST by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture

Better idea....get rid of the grass. Takes too much servicing....water, fertilizer, weed killer, cutting, repeat. American’s are stupid about lawns.


10 posted on 11/15/2007 7:38:10 PM PST by goodnesswins (Being Challenged Builds Character! Being Coddled Destroys Character!)
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To: goodnesswins

“American’s are stupid about lawns”.

- In many other places around the world, the situation isn’t much different.

We Europeans are very much like Americans.

Best gradeners of the world?

I’d say the people living in Tuscany, Italy. They use their pieces of land for making their own olive oil, their own wines and they also grow all sorts of vegetables and herbs.

The Tuscans are among the most Conservative people to be found anywhere and they are much more in touch with their roots than 99% of all us other Westerners. Still Tuscany isn’t exactly poor or backwards. This part of Italy has a very special place in my heart.

These people gave birth to the Renaissance. Says it all.


11 posted on 11/15/2007 7:49:05 PM PST by WesternCulture
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To: cowtowney

I often buy people who deserve it a beer or two.

You deserve a whole brewery.


12 posted on 11/15/2007 7:54:49 PM PST by WesternCulture
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To: cowtowney
"my wife says if i don't git her another beer, she's gonna stab me in the face"

I need to remember that gem.

13 posted on 11/15/2007 8:01:19 PM PST by ZinGirl
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To: WesternCulture

The design mistake here is they are cutting the grass as a human would. Computers can bend time to think faster or slower. The way grass should be cut by a robot is very very slowly and continuously. For one thing slow is much more fuel efficient allowing solar power. Also it allows the machines to be made with much less strength and weight. Some day a lawn will be mowed by tossing out 100 little $2 solar mowers that work so slowly you can’t see them move. The slothbots would keep the lawn mowed continuously, never stopping.


14 posted on 11/15/2007 8:04:51 PM PST by Reeses (Leftism is powered by the evil force of envy.)
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To: ZinGirl

“I know my rights!”


15 posted on 11/15/2007 8:06:31 PM PST by cowtowney
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To: cowtowney
LOL..and then he follows up with, "my wife's gonna kick your a$$"

OR..i especially liked the, 'i've been drinkin' all day....' what a dufus.

16 posted on 11/15/2007 8:09:53 PM PST by ZinGirl
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To: WesternCulture

But can it speak Spanish?


17 posted on 11/15/2007 8:12:49 PM PST by claudiustg (You know it. I know it.)
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To: WesternCulture

Automower? What the hell are we going to do with all the Mexicans if people buy these things?


18 posted on 11/15/2007 8:13:27 PM PST by Nachoman (My guns and my ammo, they comfort me.)
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To: Reeses

Interesting points.


19 posted on 11/15/2007 8:37:57 PM PST by WesternCulture
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To: Nachoman

“Automower? What the hell are we going to do with all the Mexicans if people buy these things?”

- I’m not American, but you’re getting through to me..


20 posted on 11/15/2007 8:39:28 PM PST by WesternCulture
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