Flymo Auto Mower Options

[Eamon]

just finished my final 1st year project at uni, its a solar powered mini automatic lawnmower that would be constantly mowing(while its sunny anyway) just wondered what everyone thought, thanx  Mini_Mower_Board_1.jpg ( 45.35K ) Number of downloads: 33
 Mini_Mower_Board_2.jpg ( 42.22K ) Number of downloads: 23


a couple of pics of the model  mower.jpg ( 87.78K ) Number of downloads: 78


 mower2.jpg ( 88.51K ) Number of downloads: 66

[JWC]

It seems as though you might expect the lawns to be perfectly flat. I also worry about the height of the blade area. Did you do any research on grass and how it grows?

[Cyberdemon]

You wouldn't want a mower to constantly mow. Youd' end up with parts of grass cut too far and it'd kill the lawn. Also the zig-zag pattern would only work on lawns that were square shaped and primarily flat. It wouldn't account for anything in the middle of the lawn. The vaccums like the Roomba that work like that work by bouncing off a corner and turning slightly, that means it'll cover the whole room (eventually). In a mower though that principal wouldn't work.

Also, I don't know if the solar cells would be able to effectively drive a motor of that strength. You'd run into issues like it running over a big stick, and then getting stuck on it.

On the plus side, I really like the design of the thing, I just don't think the concept would work. I think if you find another function for your design (vaccum, pesticide sprayer, something along those lines) it might also work just as smoothly.

Attached File(s)

 stop_02b.jpg ( 42.09K ) Number of downloads: 61

 

[dc_dizzle]

I like the thought behind ur design...taking the concept of the automated vacuum cleaner to an application outdoors like ur mower...I just wanted to ask where your university is because in my first year at UTS we didnt get to build actual designs and models...i envy your course lol ...take it easy bro

[Eamon]

thanx for the replies, i go to huddersfeild uni (uk), i remember at the start of the year somone saying huddersfeild was one of the only uni's that make models in the first year, dont know why though...

[sixto62]

Don't think the size of the solar panel would be sufficient enough to power this thing for the mowing job. But hey, nice design and rendering work. The mock up model is good. What is it made up of? Clay, fiberglass?

[Eamon]

the model is all wood apart from the wheels wich were vaccum formed from a wood mould, right about the solar panels though, if i had to make it again i would definatly make them bigger or power it some other way..

[superbad]

The concept will certainly work, because it already exists, and looks almost identical to yours:

http://www.friendlyrobotics.com/robomow/

This one uses a rechargeable battery. Yours has the solar panels of course, but such a small panel won't provide anywhere near enough power to cut grass and propel the unit. Mowers have pretty high power requirments.

In all seriousness, did you not try Googling "robotic mower"? I found this one in 10 seconds. If I were your instructor I would be asking you some very uncomfortable questions.

[Cyberdemon]

Touche salesmen.

I still wonder though how it would react when it smashes into a big object like a rock or a stick, or had to go over heavy coverage of leaves in the fall. In the video on their site they show it working, but they also show it working on a fairly uniform perfectly flat, and already tidy lawn.

Of course I'm a nay sayer since I like mowing my lawn and vaccuming. I find it stress relieving.

[kaiza]

while all of these points are valid criticisms, i think this is an awesome first year project - model and concept

i think that there is always a problem designing entire products without the having first being taught all of the related aspects (mainly technical) - manufacturing, engineering, etc

doing research or actually knowing all of that stuff before going into an assignment for first year is beyond most people's scope and ability in my opinion.

[Cyberdemon]

Yeah you're absolutely right. I was still making boxes out of cardboard my first year.

The model is great, and the design itself is pretty sleek looking. For a first year project it really is great work, and craftsmanship.

I just threw out some random thoughts I had to keep your brain thinking. I know I personally will usually think about a project after I've handed it in, and go back and make additional changes for when I stick it in my portfolio.

[almunro]

Electrolux have a autonomous mower. its quite cool.

[Guest_oneshortplanck_*]

Great work for a 1st year project but my first Qs are:

where does the grass go?
how is it emptied?
how does it know where it is going? (gps?) if so is it costed within the target demographic?
have youy figured out how much power is needed to make this thing move? and related that to solar pannel area?
how will it cope with small bumps in the lawn?

I think for yor next project you should try to answer these sort of practical Qs first and then perfom a styling excersise!

[engio]

Here's another one, solar powered. http://allrobots.com/article.php3?id_article=7

I'd rather have an RC Mower, it would be kinda fun mowing the lawn from the porch, balcony or roof http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/08/the-eva...s-rc-lawnmower/

I have a question about the size of you mower. The only thing that indicates scale is that guy in the beach chair, and the mower looks about as big as his shoe. That wouldn't make room for a good engine, and would take weeks to mower one regular sized lawn.

However, awesome presentation for a first year project. CAD, model, presentation, and the design itself are very pleasant to look at!

[wikked]

I think the mower seems to run too close to the ground, since lawns generally aren't perfectly flat...
I like how the rear half of the mower looks, but not the front, I think it's too pointy. You did a great job on the physical model though.

How much consideration did you give to the design of Flymo's existing mowers when you designed this one? I can see you've taken some elements, I just wonder how deep the analysis was, if that was part of the asignment as well?

Here's another one from Husqvarna http://www.automower.com/