Cutting width
The capture width provided by the unit, in other words, the width of the strip of land cultivated in one pass. In fact, this size corresponds to the width of the working nozzle.
The large working width is useful when processing large open spaces, as it allows you to finish the job in a small number of passes. On the other hand, for hard-to-reach places, relatively narrow tools are better suited, able to go where a wider unit will not fit. In addition, the width of the tool directly affects the weight and price.
In general, it makes sense to compare in terms of working width only units of the same type (see above). However, it is worth noting here that trimmers do not differ so much from each other — most models capture from 25 to 45 cm (and a wide processing band is provided by moving the nozzle from side to side). As for the other types, in the most modest models the capture width
does not exceed 40 cm, in the heaviest and most powerful it can be
56 – 60 cm or even
more(in mini tractors — up to 1.5 m).
Min. cutting height
The minimum cutting height provided by the lawnmower — that is, the smallest height of grass that can remain after the passage of the machine. It makes sense to pay attention to this indicator mainly in cases where the lawn is planned to be cut as short as possible. In addition, the lower the minimum height (with the same maximum), the wider the height adjustment range of this model.
Max. cutting height
The maximum cutting height that the lawn mower can achieve is the maximum height of grass that can be left after the machine has passed.
This parameter is relevant mainly for those cases when you want to leave the grass on the lawn relatively long. In addition,
lawn mowers with high cutting heights have a wide range of mowing adjustments.
Number of height settings
The number of cutting height settings provided by the lawn mower. The more such settings (with the same adjustment range) — the more accurately you can choose the mowing height. Note that in some robots (see "Type") this number reaches 30 or more with a range of 30 to 60 mm; in other words, you can select the height to the nearest millimetre.
Recommended area
The area of the site for which the lawn mower is designed. It cannot be argued that this parameter is critical when choosing a device, these are only manufacturer's recommendations and are very conditional. However, they are more than justified and generally show the available front of work based on the heating of the motor, the capacity of the tank or battery, and other factors that affect the duration of work.
Mapping principle
The presence of
a mapping system in the robot design. Such a system allows the device to create a map of the area being processed and then use it during operation - to go around obstacles in advance, avoid falling into holes, etc. The specific method of creating a map may be different: some models do this independently, focusing on the boundary wire laid by the user (for more details, see "Additional"), and in some models - also on data from sensors and a GPS module; in others, the user can set the work area and route (for example, through a mobile application). In any case, the mapping system significantly increases the efficiency of the robot: a correctly configured device passes the area entered into memory without gaps and at the same time does not go beyond its boundaries. The main disadvantage of this function is its rather high cost.
Independent mowing zones
Maximum number of mowing zones that can be stored in the memory of the robotic lawnmower (see "Type").
The purpose of having
multiple mowing zones is that you can set different operating modes for each individual zone. For example, you can mow the grass in front of the house every two to three days to keep it looking neat, while the area behind the house, which is less visible, can be mowed once a week. Similarly, you can set different processing times for different zones — for instance, avoid sending the mower to a play area during the day when children might be playing, and keep it away from bedroom windows at night to avoid disturbing sleepers.
In modern robotic lawn mowers, the number of mowing zones usually does not exceed three — this is typically sufficient in most cases.
Functions
Functions provided by the robotic lawn mower (see "Type").
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Scheduled mowing. The ability to set a schedule for the robot to work on. In the simplest models, the schedule is specified within a day (for example, "from 8.00 to 8.30"), in more advanced units a schedule can be provided by days of the week or even by dates within a month. Be that as it may, this function makes life much easier for the user: instead of turning on the device manually every time, it is enough to set a schedule - and you can not worry about regular lawn mowing.
—
Control synchronization. The ability to synchronize the robotic mower with other home and garden equipment, united in a “smart home” (or “smart garden”) system. Such synchronization allows you to coordinate the operation of different types of equipment: for example, so that the irrigation system is turned on only after the robotic mower has processed the entire lawn. As a rule, only equipment from one manufacturer can fully synchronize with each other; for this, branded applications installed on a smartphone or tablet are most often used.
Sensors
Additional sensors included in the design of the robotic lawnmower (see "Type").
— Strike. A sensor that reacts to blows to the body of the device. It is mainly used for fixing collisions and avoiding obstacles: when a collision occurs and the sensor is triggered, the robot changes its direction of movement, trying to bypass the object that triggered the trigger. Such an opportunity will be especially useful for models without a mapping system (see "Functions"), however, it can also be useful if there is a built-in map: after all, in addition to permanent obstacles, other, temporary ones (for example, garden furniture taken out into the yard ). In addition, on some models, data from the collision sensor can be used to correct the built-in map.
— Tilt. A sensor that detects the tilt of the body in one direction or another. Mainly used to prevent rollover: when the angle of inclination reaches critical values, the mower reverses or otherwise changes the driving mode in an attempt to prevent the increase in inclination. This function will be especially useful when used in areas with relatively difficult terrain, with ups and downs.
— Rise. A sensor that reacts to the rise of the body above the ground — for example, if the device was picked up. With such a rise, the mower blades are open, which is fraught with injuries; the sensor prevents this; when it is triggered, the knives automatically stop. And in some models, this function also plays the role
...of “anti-theft”: when the case is lifted, an alarm may turn on, warning the owner of an attempted theft.
— Overturning. A sensor that reacts to the flip of the body upside down. The main task of such a sensor is to stop the rotating knives so that they do not injure people who approach the mower (for example, curious children). And some models, when rolled over, can even send a message to the owner, warning him about the incident "state of emergency" and the inability to continue driving.
— Rain. A sensor that reacts to rain — more precisely, to the ingress of moisture on the body of the device, and sometimes to the presence of water under it. Robotic mowers themselves are made moisture resistant, and the main meaning of such a sensor is that lawns are usually not mowed in the rain: wet grass creates excessive resistance to the knives, they can become clogged with wet ground — as a result, the quality of the haircut noticeably deteriorates, and the mower experiences abnormal loads. Usually, when the sensor is triggered, the robot stops working and returns to the charging station.
— Obstacles. A sensor that detects the presence of obstacles in the path of the device. Unlike the shock sensor described above, which performs a similar function, this sensor usually works on a non-contact principle — for example, ultrasonic or infrared. This allows you to reduce to an absolute minimum the likelihood of collisions with various obstacles, which is especially important if there are delicate objects in the cultivated area — for example, fragile garden sculptures.