Robo Mower Goes Live!

RAF Northolt was delighted to welcome their new airfield Robo Mower last week as it was officially launched by Station Commander Gp Capt Toria McPhaden.

The idea was pitched at an ASTRA Den last year. Sqn Ldr Tom Bates from No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron, first saw airfield Robo Mowers when he flew in to Stavanger in the BAe146 in July 2021. He was able to witness how the Norwegian airport utilised a fleet of Robo Mowers to keep the airport grass and wildlife at bay.

On returning to the UK, Tom took the idea to the ASTRA team and “let out a whoop!” when the idea was accepted and funded by Air Cmd ASTRA. Bringing in SATCO, Sqn Ldr Chris Eames and the Airfield Wildlife Control Unit at the preliminary stages, all ducks were aligned to receive the RAF’s first Robo Mower.

Tom approached a Lincolnshire firm, AMS Robotics to help with this Robo Mower trial. After negotiations with the company, they agreed to send a full GPS version including a Solar PV charging array, to RAF Northolt. In a joint venture between AMS Robotics, Autroni Airport Services and Belrobotics, a 12-month deal was signed to put the Robo Mower through its paces as a full seasonal review at RAF Northolt.

Sqn Ldr Eames stated, “This test period needed to be a phased approach as safety is the overriding concern. Phase 1 is for the Robo Mower to operate in and around the ATC tower where it can be monitored, and the mower is away from safety critical areas of the airfield.”

At 80 kgs, it’s not a light piece of kit and certainly nothing like the ‘fly by wire’ versions many use in domestic gardens. This version is fully GPS with a temperature-controlled operating system and powered using either a solar PV array or mains. Even on the soggiest of days, the mower can operate when normal contracted tractor ops would not be able to mow. The optimum airfield cut is 150mm and the mower will generally operate at this height but can also automatically lower the cutting heights as required.

Speaking at the launch last week, Sqn Ldr Tom Bates said:

“It’s been a great journey from initially seeing these Robo Mowers operate at Stavanger airport in Norway, delivering a practical and sustainable solution to airfield management, to receiving our very own Robo Mower here at RAF Northolt, it was a very proud day for me. I’m really appreciative of the support and funding ASTRA has given me to see this idea through to fruition. This trial is an extremely important part of the journey to making the RAF’s airfields more

Wg Cdr Paula Willmot

sustainable and safer.”

Sqn Leader Chris Eames stated: “This initiative has the capacity to improve the quality of the airfield habitat while deterring wildlife. This should improve the safety for flying operations and I’m excited about the future use of Robo Mowers at RAF Northolt, and potentially on our other airfields.”