It takes a lot of power and energy to keep grass levels down to an appropriate level; especially when it’s hot out. If cool glasses of lemonade aren’t around, the task at hand may not be completed any time soon causing the unkempt blades of green (or yellow) vegetation outside to continue their path of growth towards the sun.

Instead of braving the oven-like temperatures which will inevitably drench the person in sweat, this solar powered robot has been created ready to take on the job. With the heart of an Arduino, this device shaves down the grass on a regular basis, rather than only chopping down the material when it gets too long. This helps to save electricity since the mower is only dealing with young and soft plants whose heads are easily lopped off without much effort.

Internally, the robot’s circuitry interfaces with an underground wiring system that defines the cutting zones within the lawn, and proves to be a simple, accurate, and reliable approach to directing the robot where to go. If the device travels under a shaded area, a battery kicks in supplying energy to the engine. When sunlight is available, that same battery accumulates the electricity, storing it for later.

There is also an interesting mechanism in place that allows the controller to detect if the wheels are moving properly or if one or more of them have locked up. This is done by using a reed sensor that has been added near the rear-pivoting wheel which is then operated by a small magnet that is inserted into that same wheel.

Obstacle recognition is accomplished in the front by an ultrasonic sensor that is connected to the I2C BUS. A brushless motor, used in the field of aeromodelling, was coupled into a cutting blade. With everything set up, the solar powered lawn mower is ready to be unleashed into the outside world of unsuspecting, growing plants.

Now sit back, relax, and let the robot do the work for you.

For more grass cutting related hacks, be sure to check out this remote-controlled lawn mower, and this monster truck lawn tractor that can go through water.