Gizmo

By Andy Walker, Cyberwalker Media Syndicate

Friendly Robotics' Robomower

The Robomower from Friendly Robotics is an 80 lb robot on wheels that mows your lawn while you sip a cool drink in the shade.

The clever little machine uses a removable battery pack for power and can cut for more than two hours on a single charge. It works within the area you set, by pegging a thin electrical wire around the edges of your lawn. A low voltage electrical current in the wire tells the robot where to cut.

The mow time is plenty for a small suburban plot. Because it cuts and recuts the grass in zigzags, there are no wheel tracks or aesthetic lines to worry about. If it encounters a live obstacle, such as kids or pets, it gears down. If the obstacle refuses to move, then it halts. The Robomower also mulches so there are no grass clippings to rake.

I tested this gadget on my brother's lawn. One of his neighbours commented that it seemed to take a long time to cut the grass. My brother was indifferent to the comment. "Who really cares how long the robot takes to cut the grass so long as you are not doing it," he said, adding, "It is so quiet and cute to watch, it really is no bother at all." However, it did a draw crowd of wonderstruck kids.

The Robomower takes a while to set up. Pegging the wire into the lawn will take the majority of a Saturday. Over time, the grass grows up over the wire making the perimeter invisible.

Then mowing the lawn is all about pushing a two buttons. One to set the mower running and one to start the blender to make a cold drink.

Price: $1,199 Canadian / $795 US

More info: www.friendlyrobotics.com

Buy it: In Western Canada at Systematic Solutions, 250-388-4942, www.robomowcanada.com. Or in Eastern Canada at Technogadgets and Robotics Inc., (416) 638-4018, http://www.pricelessproducts.com. U.S. dealers are listed at www.friendlyrobotics.com or call 1-888-404-ROBO.