MEMBERS NEWS
Husqvarna launch new range of CEORA autonomous mowers
O
ur Association was recently invited to attend the launch of Accredited Supplier Husqvarna’s new range of autonomous mowers, and what may represent the future of grounds maintenance.
The concept of autonomous mowers is not new; Husqvarna produced the world’s first autonomous mower - a solar-powered device - back in 1995 and most of us will have seen autonomous mowers since, either in magazines or working in domestic gardens. Many manufacturers now sell autonomous mowers which follow a similar format; a rechargeable batterypowered unit featuring a rotary cutting deck and four wheels is powered by electric motors to cut grass at regular intervals with little user input or maintenance.
Whilst CEORA mowers look similar albeit larger - to autonomous mowers already available from Husqvarna and other manufacturers, it is the technology inside that sets them apart
and opens new opportunities for use by the commercial landscape industry. Autonomous mowers traditionally use a ‘boundary wire’ either pegged to the top or buried beneath turf, which is used by the mower to identify the edge of the mowing area and the location of obstacles. The maximum area managed by traditional systems is dependent on manufacturer and model, but is in the region of 5,000m2.
Rather than a boundary wire, CEORA uses EPOS (Exact Position Operating System) which allows the mower to rely on satellite technology alone to navigate a site. The system, which is controlled using a smart phone or computer operating system, allows obvious benefits such as 24-hour working and live updates, but also detailed placement of charging and maintenance areas, as well as the creation of different mowing regimes, cutting heights and working periods on the same site. CEORA models due for launch in 2022 can manage an area of up to 50,000m2.
The flexibility afforded by this new technology means Husqvarna can market CEORA as a mowing solution for sports pitches, schools, hotels and even municipal areas such as parks and cemeteries. Whilst the launch model uses a rotary cutting deck to finely cut the grass sward at a height of between 20 and 60mm, there are plans to offer alternative attachments.
The system represents an exciting step forward for the industry, with the potential to solve issues ranging from employee shortages through to reduced reliance on fossil-fuel powered equipment. Husqvarna is due to tour the UK with CEORA in the next few months; visit husqvarna.com for further information.
LANDSCAPE NEWS AUTUMN 2021
13
