Precise Path RG3 – robotic mower for golfing greens

Nobody likes mowing the lawn. It’s a boring, repetitive and time-consuming job. Before you start celebrating the existence of this robotic mower, you should know its main porpoise isn’t mowing your lawns (unless you own a mansion with a nice peace of land). Indianapolis-based Precise Path Robotics created the RG3 robotic greens mower – ideal solution for often mowing needed to keep the golf greens in pristine condition.

Precise Path RG3 combines robotic technology with an industry proven cutting unit to produce a consistent and accurate cuts and allows course superintendents to achieve increases in productivity and efficiency. Interestingly, the robot doesn’t use GPS technology. It uses a proprietary positioning technology that Precise Path which allows the RG3 to move precisely and safely across the green – traveling in straight lines and along the perimeter without the need for a human operator.

Prior to mowing, an operator places four beacons, each about the size of a bowling pin, in predetermined, fixed locations around the green. Then the operator simply presses “start” and the RG3 automatically performs the mowing operation according to exact specifications set by the superintendent. During mowing, the mower remains in constant communication with the beacons which guide its precise movement across the green.

It also employs a laser-illumination system to detect objects in its path. The unit is capable of a maximum operating speed of 5.4 km/h (3.4 mph) and is powered by three rechargeable lead acid batteries that provide three hours of running time. It’s quite large – 1.50 m long by 73 cm wide, 1.07 m tall and weighs no less than 295 kg. As you can see in the following video, if it comes to an obstacle it automatically stops.

If you think the tech is uninteresting, since its main purpose is limited to golf courses, Precise Path has plans to use the technology in future consumer lawn-mowers as well as snow-moving gear, and potentially even line-painting systems for sports fields and highways.