RTK technology makes sports lawn maintenance easy

A few years ago, the appearance of robotic mowers had already eased their task considerably. Now a new era has arrived. Belrobotics' new Connected Line robotic mowers, manufactured domestically by Yamabiko Europe, provide unparalleled automated maintenance of large lawns, resulting in significant time savings, unparalleled precision, advanced system management and new and powerful features. 

Tom Laurez (Firma Beel) is our conversation partner. He explains to us the benefits of the newest addition to the Connected Line range, the BigMow, in action on one of the sports fields in Zeebrugge.

RTK stands for "Real Time Kinematic. This mowing technology is based on the installation of an antenna that picks up GPS signals and a signal amplifier to cover different zones. n half a day, the cabling, the return loop to the charging station, the antenna and the amplifier are in place, and the setup of the robotic mower is operational.

Down to the centimeter

Belrobotics continues to innovate. The new RTK models can now mow three times more area than their predecessors, thanks to linear operation based on GPS RTK data. That goes up to 7.5 acres in 24-hour operation. 

To reduce disturbance to nocturnal animals, especially hedgehogs, mowing at night is discouraged and may be prohibited in the future. The current achievements more than compensate for this time restriction. They ensure that the lawn remains perfectly passable for professional play at all times, while making it easier to manage schedules. Remarkably, the travel speed is about 3.6 mph, almost whisper quiet.

Position memory and refined management

The new robotic mowers are equipped with a memory function. After returning to the charging station, the machine autonomously resumes mowing from its last position in the field. After a full cycle, the robotic mower changes the reference point and changes the cutting pattern from 45° to 90°, leaving no permanent trace of passage on the lawn.  

The revamped portal and a brand new application allow professionals to manage a fleet of robotic mowers. New features include the ability to change settings remotely, process notifications via cell phone, determine and filter geo-locations according to specific criteria, demarcate plots of prohibited areas, and call on technical service in real time. On a PC, it is therefore possible to monitor the precise activity of a robotic mower (frequency of application, work time and work schedule, areas treated and untreated), demarcate new plots, list and manage the notifications that appear on the screen, and so on. RTK GPS technology can be installed on all Connected Line models, reducing investment costs.

Development continues daily

Its potential allows for many future improvements, with a view to even better and faster operation. "Soon it will be possible to use the 4G network. n the next stage of the testing phase, we will be able to amplify the signal with a second intermediate amplifier, for example, to include the artificial field behind it," said our contact. 

The testing phase revealed no significant incidents, and the "errors" that were recorded mainly involved objects that littered the lawn, such as cans, packaging and other paper. The result is a denser, greener and more even lawn. And the greenkeepers' work is much easier and better organized.