Ambrogio Robot Mowers Shine at GIE Expo
The GIE Expo is the outdoor power equipment industry's largest show for eco-oriented equipment. Along with the traditional propane and all-electric zero-turn mowers, landscapers, distributors and dealers are now finding a myriad of autonomous and remote controlled robotic products. The trend is clear: robot mowers and other autonomous equipment are not just coming, they are here now - and here to stay.
Robotics as a category was well-represented at GIE. The very small foreign companies from all over the world showed their innovative robot products. The major manufacturers were all present with their robot mowers: Echo®️, Honda®️, Husqvarna®️, MTD®️, etc.
Max Distributing (Max) showed the Barbieri Tracmow remote control slope mower that easily and safely chomps invasive blackberry bushes growing on hillsides, as well as safely mows steep roadside turf.
Max had 10 models of its Ambrogio robot mowers at two spacious booths. Max's Ambrogio was the only major brand with an outdoor booth as well as an indoor booth with robots on display and also running. The show-stopper at the Ambrogio robot mower booth was the new Ambrogio 4.36 Elite robot that mows tall grasses (St. Augustine and Tall Fescue). Brand new and not available until 2020, this robot is perfect for Florida and the transition states, as well as anyone who does not believe mandatory mowing of 3" and higher is a myth. The maximum area it can handle is 1.5 acres.
Robot mowing services Robin Autopilot and Mowbot®️ had large booths inside. Noticeably absent was Autmow, a nationwide network of certified installers and reseller of Ambrogio robot and others. Also absent was iRobot, which implies they do not intend to bring their robot mower that uses beacons to market in the US in the near future.
Outlier equipment such as TurfTankTM and Swozi were both present. These products are autonomous sports field line painters. TurfTankTM had a unit running at the outdoor booth. Left Hand Robotics had their sidewalk and path-clearing snow robot that converts to a 25 acre mower by changing an attachment.
Mean Green Mowers, an all-electric solar-powered mower manufacturer, showed their "concept" multi-acre autonomous machine that will come to market soon.
Ambrogio robot mowers stood out as the only brand addressing all consumer lawn types, from small city lots to large estates. Ambrogio robot mowers also address commercial multi-acre properties, up to 5 acres, and 10,15, 20 or more acres - by using multiple robots. Ambrogio robot mowers offer the L400i Basic and Elite models (2.5 and 5 acres). They are designed to maintain grass at a consistent height, up to 3 inches+.
The Ambrogio 4.xx robots, i.e. 4.0 and 4.36, have been developed on a new robot platform that is jointed. The mowing deck tilts side-to-side with respect to the rear drive wheels. This eliminates scalping on uneven ground and in places where the robot drives sideways over a small hill because the robot's body adapts to the shape of the ground. Ambrogio 4.0 Elite Extra Premium is the world's only robot mower with an inductive charging system that eliminates the chore of cleaning the charging contacts.
Ambrogio robot mowers also include the L85 Elite that mows steep hills up to 29 degrees and the large area models: L250i, Deluxe and Elite S+ and L350i that maintain 3/4, 1.25 and 1.75 acres respectively. L250i is a model that offers "self-leveling" to avoid scalping, similar to the 4.0 and 4.36, but implemented with a patented front-wheel leveling system instead of a joint.
When considering commercial robots, it is useful to understand that there are two types of commercial robot mowers: 1) robots that maintain grass at a consistent height always (no long grass - ever), e.g. Ambrogio L400 Elite & Basic and 2) robots that cut large areas of long grass using GPS to navigate (wire-free). The latter are much larger machines that typically target areas up to 25 acres. But they are less eco-friendly since more energy is required to move their larger mass. They are also far more costly ($50K plus, typically). There is one notable exception in this category, the concept Mean Green autonomous robot mower sports a solar panel. But since this is not a product yet, it is difficult to ascertain whether the solar powered aspect is achievable from a technical perspective and whether the price point will be attractive.
Overall, the GIE Expo was an exciting event that showed a clear trend toward advancements in mowing technology. Wait - "mowing technology"? That's a new term. A product that has not changed much in 100 years, i.e. since 1919 when gas engines were introduced, has become a technological marvel - mowing on its own with remote monitoring via the internet and much more. It is mind boggling that robot mowers have not taken off yet in the USA now that 1 million+ units were sold in Europe over a span of 20 years. This will change as the best robot mowers are becoming more widely distributed. Max Distributing and their partners are actively seeking qualified dealers: brick and mortar stores as well as other businesses and start-ups. Visit Max Distributing to learn more.
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GIE Expo |
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Tracmow Remote Control Slope Mower up to 45 Degrees |
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Ambrogio L35 Elite Video |
Robot mowing services Robin Autopilot and Mowbot®️ had large booths inside. Noticeably absent was Autmow, a nationwide network of certified installers and reseller of Ambrogio robot and others. Also absent was iRobot, which implies they do not intend to bring their robot mower that uses beacons to market in the US in the near future.
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Outlier equipment such as TurfTankTM and Swozi were both present. These products are autonomous sports field line painters. TurfTankTM had a unit running at the outdoor booth. Left Hand Robotics had their sidewalk and path-clearing snow robot that converts to a 25 acre mower by changing an attachment.
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| Left Hand Robotics Snow Path/Sidewalk Clearing Robot |
Mean Green Mowers, an all-electric solar-powered mower manufacturer, showed their "concept" multi-acre autonomous machine that will come to market soon.
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| Mean Green Autonomous Concept Mower |
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There is only one robot mower available in the US that does not use a perimeter wire and also targets consumers: Ambrogio robot L60 Deluxe+. It uses humidity sensors to detect grass vs a non-organic surface, such as concrete, pavers or river rock that delineate the grass boundaries. It has a drop-off sensor to detect curbs. This robot, with its 7.5Ah battery, is capable of mowing 1/4 acre of grass in 2-3 charges. This robot is not for St. Augustine or Tall Fescue grasses, though. Its maximum mowing height is 2", which is ideal for most grass types. The L60 Deluxe+ is also unique in that it is manually charged by the user, vs. self-recharging. Even though a little effort is required by the user to charge the robot periodically, not having to mow oneself enables frequent mowing that improves grass health.
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Ambrogio Robot L60 Deluxe+: Wireless |
The Ambrogio 4.xx robots, i.e. 4.0 and 4.36, have been developed on a new robot platform that is jointed. The mowing deck tilts side-to-side with respect to the rear drive wheels. This eliminates scalping on uneven ground and in places where the robot drives sideways over a small hill because the robot's body adapts to the shape of the ground. Ambrogio 4.0 Elite Extra Premium is the world's only robot mower with an inductive charging system that eliminates the chore of cleaning the charging contacts.
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Ambrogio 4.0 Elite Inductive Charging Robot Mower |
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Ambrogio L85 Elite Robot Mower for Hills |
Overall, the GIE Expo was an exciting event that showed a clear trend toward advancements in mowing technology. Wait - "mowing technology"? That's a new term. A product that has not changed much in 100 years, i.e. since 1919 when gas engines were introduced, has become a technological marvel - mowing on its own with remote monitoring via the internet and much more. It is mind boggling that robot mowers have not taken off yet in the USA now that 1 million+ units were sold in Europe over a span of 20 years. This will change as the best robot mowers are becoming more widely distributed. Max Distributing and their partners are actively seeking qualified dealers: brick and mortar stores as well as other businesses and start-ups. Visit Max Distributing to learn more.
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