Army airfield enlists services of robotic mowers
Groundkeepers at the U.S. Armys Weisbaden Airfield in Germany operate 7 automatic mowers, 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week. The battery-powered, automatic Bigmow, by SofTee Mfg., LLC, of Southport, NC, continuously cuts areas up to 5 acres at speeds of up to 3,600 sq. yds. per hr. Each units Echo-sounder slows the mower at the slightest obstacle. To contain each mower within a 5-acre section of Army property, low-voltage perimeter wires were buried to a 2-in. depth. The wires designate each mowers turf and connect to individual charging stations. When the Bigmow NiCad batteries run low, an on-board computer sends the mower to connect itself to its designated charger for a power lunch. After a full charge, mower automatically goes back to work. The environmentally-friendly unit offers silent, non-polluting, electric operation. The composting mowers very fine cutting blades reduce grass to tiny particles and eliminate need for grass collection. Features 5 floating cutting heads; anti-scalping device; 3-phase, 24-v., 50-w. cutting disk motor; and 24-v., 50-w. back wheel motor. Adapts to any lawn configuration. Sets for random or systematic cutting. Measures 47.2 ins. wide, 19.7 ins. high, 51.2 ins. long, and weigh 105 lbs.