Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 7 replies
  • Subscribers 32 subscribers
  • Views 724 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

Idea for show - remote controlled lawn mower

killteck

Hello Ben,

 

I'm big fan of your show, I've seen all yours episodes, great job! Sending greetings from heart of Europe.

I have remote controlled lawn mower idea in my head for a while. Lot's of us have to cut grass every week and once man is getting older he's also getting lazier. What about to use raspberrypi with some kind of motor board (fount this one http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1436996303/motorpitx-motor-board-and-power-supply-for-a-raspb ) and Camera board http://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-54359/l/raspberry-pi-camera-board as base componets for lawn mower. With wifi connection and web based controlling interface you can do robotic grass chops anywhere on any device (tablet, phone, pc) I can give a hand with web based software - I'm full time programmer.

 

Basic idea is to use one motor for grass cutter - preferably electric supplied by rechargeable batteries

Brain can be raspberrypi with motor board, camera board and USB wifi dongle

 

What do thing about this idea? There is for sure lots of space for improvements - recharge dongle, obstacle detection, GPS tracking and automatic field cutting,

 

Tom P.

Parents Reply
  • in reply to benheck

    But it would be cool. You should watch my channel. I'm rhyse302 youtube.com/user/rhyse302

    I'm kind of a noob. Could you give me some tips? Put them in my comments on any video. Big fan and can't stand waiting for your new videos to come out. I think a remote controlled lawnmower would be a great thing to built. Reduces chore time and I think many people would love the creation of that. If they do love it I think they'ed love it even more if you make it because your a genius! Thanks for reading!!!!! =-D

Children
  • in reply to rhyse302

    Here is a tip: Think about the feasibility of any project before you start. A remote control lawnmower than runs over the internet has several concerns:

     

    1) Liability - what if it runs over a kid?

    2) What happens if it gets stuck/breaks down?

    3) Could start on fire

    4) Just mow the lawn before you leave

    5) Pay someone to mow the lawn for you

     

    Engineering isn't just "can I build something" it's "is it feasible?"

  • in reply to benheck

      Actually either Husqvarna or Honda made and is selling a Roomba-like lawn mower for a few hundred bucks.  So it's been done, for openers, but when I saw the ariticle about it on one of the popular distribution sites my first question was about that thing getting a mind of it's own out in the yard and heading off on a warpath like Lawnmower Man or something! LOL