Husqvarna Shows New Solar/Battery Automower at CES

www.greencarcongress.com ^ | 01-05-2009 | Staff

[Red Badger]

Husqvarna is showing its new Automower Solar Hybrid at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Solar Hybrid is a fully robotic lawn mower powered by a combination of batteries and a solar panel.

The Solar Hybrid model joins three other Husqvarna Automower battery-powered units. The Solar Hybrid mower has a maximum working area capacity of 2,220 m2 (0.65 acre).

The size of the area mown by the Solar Hybrid mainly depends on the available sunlight, but also on the condition of the blades, the type of grass, growth rate and dampness. The shape of the area is also significant.

When there is daylight available, the 12W solar cell panel enables the mower to extend its cutting periods before requiring a recharge of its 4.4 Ah, 18V NiMH battery.

A small wire is staked to the ground below the grass level, or buried just beneath it, around the perimeter of the lawn to be mowed. The on-board navigation system monitors its position relative to the wire keeping it in the area to be mowed. The irregular pattern of movement, the long battery life, and its ground speed enables it to effectively mow all parts of the lawn.

Obstacles or other areas within the lawn that should not be mowed are handled in one of two ways: if the object is rigid and at least six inches tall like trees or fences, the mower gently bumps into it, reverses, and starts off in another direction; other areas, like a flowerbed, are excluded from the cutting area by using the perimeter wire.

[Red Badger]

Automower Solar Hybrid.

[Red Badger]

Who has the Gardening Ping list?.....

[thackney]

I want one that first scoops up the dog droppings.

[Red Badger]

That’s what weed eaters are for!............

[CholeraJoe]

I’m certain that this will be just as effective as the I-robot automatic vacuums. Namely, NOT.

[eastforker]

It’s all fun and games till the cat gets run over.

[NonValueAdded]

Ya know, some enterprising youts with a spool of wire could really have some fun with these.

signed Stumpy, the family cat.

[cowboyway]

I want an Emo lawn.

Then it will cut itself..................

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m pretty sure Gabz does. :)

Gardening Ping, Gabz!

[thackney]

We have really liked our Roomba vacuum. Been using it for years.

With it we clean far more often. Keeps the dog hair swept up. As a bonus, it irritates the dogs.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“The size of the area mown by the Solar Hybrid mainly depends on the available sunlight, but also on the condition of the blades, the type of grass, growth rate and dampness. The shape of the area is also significant.”

In other words, fuggedabboudit! LOL!

[Kieri]

My sewing machine is a Husqvarna Viking, and our new garden tractor is made by Husqvarna as well. Both machines are solid and my wonderful Viking goes through denim like butter.

If this new mower works works as well as their other products it could be very appealing.

[CholeraJoe]

I have one that is no match for the amount of dog hair my two Labs generate. My Dyson DC07 Animal makes quick work of their sheddings.

[Red Badger]

[CholeraJoe]

I’ve used Husqvarna chain saws before. They are very good.

[Gabz]

Garden Ping!!!!!!!

I am NOT going to let my husband see this.............

[HamiltonJay]

Can’t say what your experience has been, but I have no complaints about my Roomba, one of the best buys I’ve made in a long time.

[Travis T. OJustice]

LMAO! Damn!

[thackney]

Our dogs don't shed too much, consequently we almost very brush them.

But I was very surprised at how much hair Roomba picks up when I thought the room was clean to begin with.

[Travis T. OJustice]

IMO, they are the best. Not the lower quality models sold at bLowes, but the models sold at real Husky dealers are top of the line. Yeah, Stihl fans will argue, but i disagree.

[thackney]

we almost very never brush them

[trisham]

LOL! I could use that one as well.

[trisham]

Thanks for the ping!

[Travis T. OJustice]

want one that first scoops up the dog droppings.

That’s what weed eaters are for!............

As long as you only use the left side (9 o'clock to 11 o'clock position) of the spinning line, so it flings it away from you!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Nice idea but it doesn’t sound like it can beat the team of Brazilian chaps (yes, they’re citizens) with Gravely zero turns who do my lawn for $90/month.

[polymuser]

http://catrecipes.com/

[posterchild]

Currently I use an old style reel lawn mower which helps keep me out of the gym. If I had one of these I’d just have to sit on the deck all afternoon drinking beer while keeping a watchful eye on it.

[mcshot]

Right you are. Living in an area where logging is a major occupation you only have to look at the saws they use to know “Husky” is king.

[FrankR]

The fact that it is robotic, is cool...however, with my 3.5 acres I'd have to charge it 3 or 4 times to complete the job. Also, with about 50 hardwoods, I have mountains of leaves in the fall to mulch...does it come with a mulching blade?

On the other hand, the last outdoor implement I bought was a Husqvarna backpack blower...it is phenominal. It will start on the first pull, even after being idle for weeks on end. When it comes time to replace my riding mower, weed eater, and/or chainsaw...they will all be Husqvarna too.

I've got friends with Husqvarna equipment too, and they swear by them.

But, back to the robot...I need one I can control from a R/C type remote...like the one on "Honey I shrunk The Kids"...it would handle the leaves and odd shaped areas too. Someone should put the plans to build one of those on the internet.

[Red Badger]

....however, with my 3.5 acres ....

Have you considered a herd of goats?...............

[Arrowhead1952]

What will I do with my riding mower - with the beer holder on the fender?

[NonValueAdded]

you give your lawn a Brazilian???

[Gabz]

If I had one of these I’d just have to sit on the deck all afternoon drinking beer while keeping a watchful eye on it.

And the downside to this is...........??????????

[Gabz]

Don’t replace it...............

[FrankR]

"Have you considered a herd of goats?............... "

Naw...I figured by 3 riding mowers, 2 weed eaters, a push mower, backpack blower, leaf hog, hedge trimmers, and a chainsaw would do the trick...but I forgot about the weakest link....ME. I'm too damn old for all of this.

[Red Badger]

I knew a guy long ago that had a small herd of goats that kept his large yard quite nicely “mowed”, weeded, and fertilized................

[posterchild]

Not sure exactly. Has something to do with greater sun exposure due to being less vertical.

[FrankR]

When I was young I got a job with an electric company in Florida reading meters on a rural route...one day I pulled up - in a hurry, always running behind - jumped out of the truck to read a meter at a farm house...I left the truck door open and when I returned there was a goat in the front seat.

It took me 20 minutes to get the critter out of my truck, and the cab stunk for the rest of the day.

That is my one, brief history with goats, and hopefully the last.

[Red Badger]

LOL!!.......Got your goat, eh?.............

[Gabz]

But just think of all the extra vitamin D you will be absorbing, not to mention the B vitamins in the beer!

[pepperdog]

Ditto, I love my Roomba. It's not for “deep” cleaning but it sure does a bang up spiff up.

[FrankR]

Sure did.

Luckily, I always had a walking cane hooked over my arm (for protection against bad dogs) and I used it to prod him out of the truck.

[AmericanVictory]

LOL

[patton]

My hair cut is by Husqvarna.

[patton]

Hey, when the last kid goes to college, I AM BUYING THIS!

[Gabz]

My hair cut is by Husqvarna.

I believe it.

[patton]

There is a country song in that story, somewhere.

[patton]

Nag.

[FrankR]

"There is a country song in that story, somewhere. "

LOL...

Like maybe, "My Truck Got My Goat", or, "There's a Goat In My Truck"...the possibilities are endless.

[posterchild]

I’m neither, but I guess this shows how hard it is to be both buff AND tan.