Does anyone have much experience with robot lawnmowers? I’ve been considering one, but trying to find info now involves digging through a lot of AI slop.
Id prefer one that plays nicely with HA, as well as not internet dependant. It’s also for a small garden (50m²).
The best bet I’ve seen so far is to modify a yardforce mower with open mower. What other (good) options are there?
I have 0.2 acres with a Husqvarna auto mower.
Frankly I don’t really “manage” it, it just mows and occasionally I get a notification if it gets stuck or something.
So I haven’t really had reason to care about HA or Internet monitoring of it, though it does have a feature to park off it has internet module and forecast shows rain.
But anyway, mine requires a boundary wire and that breaks and is really annoying. I’d hope a wire free solution works well by now.
I’ve heard the wires are a pain and tend to break. I’m definitely erring towards one using GPS.
I’ve had 2 different brands, and once the wire is placed just right, it just works.
Placing the wire is not that much work in the first place, and then some minor adjustments in the first few days or weeks to get around corners better. Easy.
For me, wire breaks happen every couple of months.
Some utility digs into the easement, maybe breaks it then, but maybe somehow nicks it so it corrodes and falls randomly later. Sometimes I’ve no idea how it would have broken after finding the break.
My lawn is fully enclosed property, so the only breakage is caused by myself 🤦
I have a sunseeker x7 and love it. No HA integration, but I haven’t found a need for integrating yet, anyway. Set up the boundaries and schedule in the manufacturer app and let it be. Rain detection is built in and the all wheel drive is surprisingly effective.
That looks good, but is completely budget blowing for my little garden. 😩
My neighbor has one. It seems to do a decent job cutting the grass and hasn’t mulched their dog yet.
If your garden is that size then a boundary wire system is very manageable. You got any tricky elements? Ponds, step slopes etc?
Also while I’m fully in favour of HA integration that is going to push the price up. But what’s the scenario you want that for? Robomowers are a good fire and forget application. No integration needed, but if you really must there are some easy modifications involving the rain sensor that can give some limited control.