iRobot, the company behind what is probably the leading robotic vacuum cleaner, has launched a robotic lawnmower. (See video below.)
The company claims to be “reinventing lawn care” with its Terra Robot Mower.
iRobot says Terra introduces “cutting-edge navigation technology” with Imprint Smart Mapping and a unique wireless beacon system, for a more intelligent robot lawn mower.
iRobot, it could be argued, has already changed the way people clean the homes with the iconic Roomba robot vacuum and Braava family of robot mops.
Now, the Terra robotic lawn mower offers high-performance, high-quality mowing, and easy installation.
iRobot says Terra introduces a “unique wireless beacon system” for a more intelligent robot lawn mower.
Terra is unique because it learns its environment using iRobot’s Imprint Smart Mapping technology, says the company.
It mows like people do, intelligently navigating a yard cutting efficiently in straight, back-and-forth lines. Terra remembers where it is in the yard and where it still needs to cover. If the robot’s battery runs low, it will return to its base to recharge and then resume mowing until the yard is complete.
Terra will offer consumers a welcome alternative to existing robotic lawn mowers by eliminating the need for costly and labor-intensive boundary wires.
Combining Imprint Smart Mapping technology and a newly developed wireless communications system, including standalone beacons, users just place the wireless beacons around their yard, drive the robot once around the perimeter, and schedule Terra to mow.
Users have total control over where the robot goes and where it doesn’t go, so it will stay on the lawn and out of the flowers.
Because Terra is connected, users can use the iRobot Home App to customize their robot – from adjusting the height of the grass to controlling precisely when the lawn is cut, day or night.
The robot is designed with rugged features to help it operate in inclement weather and navigate tough outdoor terrain.
Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot, says: “iRobot is building an ecosystem of robots and technologies that help people do more both inside and outside of the home.
“The robot mower segment is well established in EMEA and has tremendous room for growth in other markets, including North America.
“With its ease of use and premium mowing features, Terra is poised to give consumers a whole new way to think about how they take care of their lawn.”
The iRobot Terra robot mower will be available for sale in Germany and as a beta program in the US sometime this year. Specific availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.
