• Sat. Nov 2nd, 2024

Husqvarna future-proofs next gen

ByGuy Oldenkotte

Oct 17, 2024 ,

Husqvarna has launched three new robotic mowers. All three units are AI-ready, and, as such, “ready to accelerate the disruption of turf care,” the Swedish company claims. The three mowers offer advanced autonomous company capabilities, wire-free mowing, and selectable cutting patterns. With an engine that is three times stronger, the new series is an upgrade from the 550 series and sits slightly below the Ceora series.

The 560 and 580 can cut at 20-60 mm height and mow 12,000 and 16,000 sqm respectively. The 580 is also available in a version that can cut a similar sqm but at a height between 10-50 mm. The new mowers are also capable of handling slopes of 45%.

AI-ready

To detect obstacles, the 2025 editions will all be fitted with radar. Come 2026, the units can be fitted with a camera as a more advanced alternative. The new cameras can distinguish humans and animals, flat objects like blankets and even hoses and golf balls, and the distance at which a mower will come to a halt when detecting an obstacle depends on the type of obstacle it has identified.

All pictures are processed on the mower to ensure the machine is compliant with EU data-sharing legislation.

The camera will provide night vision, thereby making it possible to run the mowers 24/7. They now also include remote starting to do away with the need for an operator having to go out to check why the mower came to a standstill and re-start it again. In the future, the camera could also be used to collect data that could be fed into a data lake for further analysis and fine-tuning turf care.

AI should be IA

The new mowers were revealed at Husqvarna’s Living City event in Malmö, Sweden.

This year, Husqvarna had secured a line-up of speakers all addressing topics related to artificial intelligence. One comment made that captured what AI could mean for turf care of the future was that “AI should actually become IA: Informed Augmentation.”

Delegates were introduced to Husqvarna’s idea of intelligent turf care. If their vision becomes reality, the robot will also collect data on turf condition, weak spots, irrigation failures, the presence of pests or weeds and many other aspects, before processing it or alerting the groundsman or greenkeeper. Connected to other smart systems, the robot could produce a plan of action based on the climate or local conditions measures, or based on historic data.

Easier to maintain

The units are fitted with a new self-cleaning front wheel design and brushes to clean the rear wheels. The wheels have also been increased in size to prevent them leaving a mark on the surface. They have also been fitted with improved seals to allow hose washing, and with three supports to improve stability when placed upside down for maintenance purposes.

The mowers are compatible with a new solar panel charger. The new 580 series will need only one panel, where charging a Ceora would require six panels to produce enough electricity.

 

 

Guy Oldenkotte

Guy Oldenkotte is senior editor of sportsfields.info and has been covering the outdoor sportssurfaces market and industry since 2003

Leave a Reply