| The idea of a robot with sharp blades attached to a | | | | blade will immediately stop spinning. However, if the |
| powerful motor wandering around the lawn can sound | | | | blade(s) were to get snagged onto something, the |
| frightening. But should it be? If you have seen a robotic | | | | robotic lawn mower's computer is smart enough to |
| mower, whether in person or on the internet, the | | | | shut down the blade(s) and signal for help. |
| thought may have crossed your mind. But exactly how | | | | Robotic lawn mowers have very different blades than |
| do accidents with lawn mowers happen? | | | | the traditional mowers. First, the blades are a lot |
| Each year, about 68,000 people with injuries caused | | | | smaller which play a large part as to why it is less likely |
| by traditional power lawn mowers are treated in | | | | to throw objects far away. Even though robotic lawn |
| hospitals. (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics) | | | | mower blades spin a lot faster and yields a better-cut |
| The most injuries from traditional lawn mowers occur | | | | quality than traditional mower blades, the force behind |
| when people place their fingers near the blade, | | | | the smaller blades just isn't enough to launch objects |
| generally in an attempt to clear away a clump of | | | | nearly as far as larger heavier blades. Also robotic |
| grass or other undesired matter. Most of these | | | | lawn mowers blades are usually recessed or |
| accidents occur when the person reaches under the | | | | protected on all sides obstructing a clear pathway for |
| "skirt" of the mower, or reaches into the discharge | | | | flying objects to travel. |
| chute. (Source: Technology Associates) Other | | | | Being an avid user and tester of robotic lawn mowers, |
| common injuries are caused by flying objects. | | | | I have personally seen objects thrown for a maximum |
| Traditional lawn mowers have large blades that can | | | | of 5 feet max from a robotic lawn mower. The |
| throw objects as much as 50 feet. | | | | objects rarely make it more than 8 inches off the |
| Combine that with risk of the operator slipping | | | | ground and do not have nearly the amount of force |
| underneath, flipping over in a riding lawn mower, or | | | | behind them compared to if a traditional mower |
| being run over; one can easily see the concern for | | | | throws the same object. |
| safety when it comes to lawn mowers in general. | | | | Since the safety mechanisms of robotic lawn mowers |
| But robotic lawn mowers are completely different. The | | | | are integrated into the mower's computer, they are |
| one biggest safety advantage robotic lawn mowers | | | | difficult to bypass. Some robotic lawn mowers, like |
| have over traditional lawn mowers is that you do not | | | | LawnBott utilize touch handles that work similar to |
| have to stand behind it or ride on top of it. By removing | | | | touch lamps. By merely touching the handle, the blade |
| the person, this alone eliminates most causes of lawn | | | | stops spinning in an instant. All robotic mowers have lift |
| mower injuries. | | | | detectors that stop the blade when lifted or flipped |
| Robotic lawn mowers are unlikely to clog. Take it from | | | | over. |
| someone who has been an exclusively user of robotic | | | | Other safety features include PIN codes, bump |
| lawn mowers for over 7 years - robotic mowers | | | | sensors that detect objects left in the yard, and the |
| mow frequently and chop grass fine enough that the | | | | ability to run during night hours are all among the palette |
| likelihood of clumps forming under the mower (or | | | | of safety features that traditional lawn mowers |
| anywhere for that matter) are eliminated. But even if | | | | couldn't dream of. |
| you attempt to lift the mower while it is operating, the | | | | |