Autonomous SmartMow mows fairways in Ede to full satisfaction |
|
| GARDEN AND PARK TECHNOLOGY |
|
|
|
|
 |
| 143 sec |
For the past year, the fairways of Edese Golf Club Papendal have been mowed by the very first SmartMow from TurfTroniq. Head greenkeeper Lennard Diets is happy to share his experience with this autonomous mower in the feature Man and machine.
| Lennard Diets: "We receive many compliments on the mowing pattern of our fairways." |
Usually, this feature highlights a machine or hand tool that a greenkeeper personally operates. In this case, the greenkeeper's role is limited to controlling and cleaning this fully electric machine; the rest is done completely automatically. "It works to our full satisfaction. We receive many compliments on the mowing pattern of our fairways. It's something new, so you never know in advance, but I'm more than pleased. It really enhances the playing experience, and the fairways look fantastic," says Diets.
Super safe
Naturally, the golfers had to get used to a machine driving around on its own. But thanks to clear communication in the club's newsletter, most players understand that it poses no danger. In fact, it is equipped with lidar technology, which uses laser signals to detect everything in the mower's surroundings. "Think of it like the sonar signals used by bats," Diets explains. From eight metres away, warning lights signal the mower's approach and it begins to slow down. It stops completely if it gets too close to an object or person. "If the machine does hit something, it stops immediately thanks to bumper systems at the front and rear," says Diets. Super safe, in other words. Golf balls can't get caught in the mower thanks to the rollers in front of the cutting reels.
Over the past year, the head greenkeeper has been in frequent contact with TurfTroniq's developers to share his experiences with the SmartMow. This has led to further fine-tuning of the software. Examples include more precise input of fairway contours and the ability to lower the cutting reels at the desired speed. The SmartMow is equipped with three wheels and five cutting reels, which can rotate faster or slower thanks to built-in traction control. "That way, the machine never skids," Diets clarifies. Under the hood are three lithium batteries, good for more than twelve hours of operation. There is even room for a fourth battery. These batteries are charged daily with solar-generated energy.
Flexibility
The SmartMow is at work on Papendal every day. "Monday, Wednesday and Friday used to be our mowing days for the fairways, but now the robot can go out daily since it doesn't require staff. It doesn't mow everything in one day. The SmartMow simply picks up the next day where it left off. We can even adjust the programmed route, for instance, if the grass is growing faster in a certain area," Diets explains, highlighting the flexibility of this machine. Thanks to daily mowing, the fairway grass stays shorter and the turf becomes more compact, which also reduces weed pressure. Another major advantage of using this machine is the savings in labour time, equivalent to more than 25 hours. "That time is very welcome for other tasks."
The fact that the SmartMow is in use at Papendal is thanks to the close collaboration between De Enk, which is responsible for course maintenance, and TurfTroniq. Diets: "TurfTroniq has long supplied retrofit kits for reel mowers of other brands. Now they've developed a complete machine of their own." The machines are assembled as kits by TurfTroniq. Diets: "TurfTroniq doesn't have its own manufacturing facilities. It's done by hand. About six units have been sold so far. There are also SmartMows operating at Het Rijk van Nijmegen and in Belgium."
|
|
"What I like about this machine is that you can fully configure it via a computer screen."
| |
|
App
All greenkeepers of the Edese team from De Enk have an app on their smartphones to monitor the SmartMow. If it comes to a standstill somewhere on the course, the app sends a notification. Whoever is closest to the machine will check the situation and get it running again. To drive the mower to the charging station at the end of the day, a greenkeeper can stand on the back and take control. Diets: "What I like about this machine is that you can fully configure it via a computer screen — the driving and mowing speed, the cutting height. It fully supports our ambition for t
| Golfbaan Het Rijk van Nij... | |
| |
| LOG IN
with your email address to respond.
|
|
|
| There are no comments yet. |
Tip the editors
|
