RoboMower
From RoboMowerWiki
The RoboMower is a line of robotic lawn mowers manufactured by Friendly Robotics. They run off a 24-volt rechargeable battery pack and use three mulching blades. A perimeter switch powers a loop of wire placed around the yard to provide a boundary for the mower.
Operating manuals for the current models are available on the Friendly Robotics web site. Although the manufacturer does not supply repair information to the general public, we have Troubleshooting and Repair pages with information collected, created, or discovered by RoboMower users.
Here are some photos and notes to take apart a RoboMower.
Contents |
RoboMower Models and Differences
| Photo/Model | Release Year | Color(s) | Suggested Yard Size | Features/Upgrade Options/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1998 [1] | Silver | First generation model. Used a single, large blade. | |
 | Yellow | 4,300ft², 400m² | Model not sold in the USA. Has smooth tires and no manual mowing mode to run the blades on command. | |
 | 2000 [2] | Yellow | 3,200ft², 300m² [3] | Came as A, B, or C models. Originally shipped with smooth tires. Knobby tires were introduced on the C models for better traction. C models also included new software that improved scan mode. |
 | 2000 | Red | The iMow was a red version of the RL500 sold under the Toro name. It had knobby tires and was the first model to include thermistors to protect the motors from overheating. | |
 | 2002 [4] | Yellow | 6,500ft², 600m² | Fourth generation mower. Controller updated to be completely water-proof. |
 | 2003 [5] | Yellow | 4,800ft², 450m² [6] | Fifth generation mower. Further improved water-resistance and software. |
 | 2004 (yellow), 2005 (green) | Yellow, Green | 1/4 acre (10,800ft², 1,000m²) | Sixth generation mower. More software improvements. Upgradable with a docking station. |
 | 2004 (yellow), 2005 (green) | Yellow, Green | 1/2 acre (21,500ft², 2,000m²) | Comes with docking station for automatic mowing departure and charging according to programmed schedule. |
Robomower Discussions
Places where you can discuss Robomower issues.
- Yahoo Robomower Group
- Robomower.biz Forum
- Bargainshare Robomower Battery Deal thread - discussion centered on finding good deals on replacement batteries
Robomower FAQs
Lists of Frequently Asked Questions and answers about Robomowers.
- Friendly Robotics Robomow FAQs
- Powermow.com Robomower FAQ
- Old Homebotics Robomower FAQ (courtesy of archive.org)
- Probotics Robomower Learning Center
- Yahoo Groups questions answered by Roy at Friendly Robotics
Robomower Troubleshooting and Repair
Visit the RoboMower Troubleshooting and Repair section for information about error codes, disassembly instructions, and more.
What is a Woot Mower?
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woot.com
Woot! is an Internet commerce company based in the Dallas suburb of Carrollton, Texas, which operates a website of the same name. Founded by electronics wholesaler Matt Rutledge, the site debuted on July 12, 2004, with a unique business model, offering a single discounted product per day, instead of the wide range of choices available through traditional online retailers such as Amazon.com. This model was evolved from Synapse Micro where products are sold to the wholesale computer dealer market. Woot’s novel, irreverent approach quickly attracted a robust community of customers, who share their opinions on the site’s community forums. Product selections tend to emphasize (but are not limited to) computer components and electronic gadgetry, all sold at closeout prices.
The Friendly Robotics RL500 Robomower was the first product sold at Woot.com when it launched on July 12, 2004 and was sold several other times over the next couple years. It was last offered for sale on February 25, 2005. It usually was offered for either $179.99 or $219.99, plus $5 S&H, making it an incredible deal. A typical description as posted on their site can be found here.
External References
- Scientific American magazine, May 2006, pp. 88-89, has an article about how the RoboMower works with some nice translucent diagrams.
- Robot magazine, Spring 2006, pp. 68-70, has an interview with Tyler Ramage from Robo Direct and frequent contributor to the RoboMower Yahoo Groups list. The article has pictures of the mower inside and out, information about how it works, and some of the history of the product. (The listing in the table of contents is very small and easy to overlook.)
- Robotics Online article from May 18, 2000 announcing the Toro iMow.
- Atlanta Hobby Robot Club article about robomowers, including an original Silver Classic model, with pictures.
- Norwegian Robomow site (posts suggested yard sizes for several models)
- Probotics Robomower model history
- The manufacturer has a set of RoboMower set up and operation videos available on their web site.
