Author Topic: Another Annoucement: SmartMow available for pre-order. (Read 6627 times)

silo_xtreme · « **on:** December 15, 2008, 07:16:39 PM »

Now taking pre-orders for the SmartMow http://SmartMow.com. Get 25% off when you use the coupon code PREORDER.

SoR advertisement coming soon!

airman00 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2008, 07:19:20 PM »

very cool stuff

silo_xtreme · « **Reply #2 on:** December 15, 2008, 07:24:51 PM »

Thanks airman!

airman00 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 15, 2008, 08:14:46 PM »

just curious, how many sales you expect to make in a year.

Also did you design and build that robot from scratch?

silo_xtreme · « **Reply #4 on:** December 15, 2008, 10:03:46 PM »

In this economy, who knows how many sales there will be ... even though it's now the lowest cost robot mower in the market.

I had help building it, prototyping is much easier than manufacturing. All, I can say is I love my Solidworks, and my manufacturer for the help.

airman00 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 15, 2008, 10:05:14 PM »

can you release any details about your manufacturer?

silo_xtreme · « **Reply #6 on:** December 15, 2008, 10:08:04 PM »

It's an Asian manufacturer, also used by another robot lawn making mower. What kind of details are you looking for?

Half Shell · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2008, 04:45:11 PM »

How much things cost, how much prototypes cost, how to contact them, how much they need to know, quality control, etc.

At least that's what I'm wondering, since I'm currently researching manufacturers for my own business.

silo_xtreme · « **Reply #8 on:** December 16, 2008, 05:06:06 PM »

Hey Half Shell,

I'll try to answer things the best I can. Unfortunately, it really depends from place to place... It's best to shop around. Before the economy went into the dumpster I found that some manufacturers were very expensive, and didn't want to work with me. Others were more flexible, but didn't have the experience. I had pictures sent, video taken, and I went through 3 pre-production prototypes of the SmartMow before It passed my quality assurance tests.

There's some good resources like Thomas.net, which is the manufacturing / company register. Prototyping is a lot more fun, especially because you can be good at some parts and just OK in others. Then you have to make sure your stuff is optimized for manufacturing and that you've thought it through.

It's hard to point you in a particular direction because I don't know what you're working on.

Feel free to PM me for more information, or if I could be of more help.

Rebelgium · « **Reply #9 on:** December 16, 2008, 05:24:58 PM »

Hi
just some constructive comments:
I didn't find any reason on your site why I should buy it, why is it better than the competition?
And what does it do? why is it the smart way to mow your lawn.

it might be on your site, and if it is, it's hidden to well, because I didn't find in the first two minutes I was there...

silo_xtreme · « **Reply #10 on:** December 16, 2008, 05:31:39 PM »

Hi Rebelgium,

Thanks for the feedback!

I admit, maybe most of that information is hidden in the FAQ? Here's what I can tell you about the SmartMow.

The SmartMow is the lowest priced robotic lawn mower out there, and you get return on investment in less than 1 year when compared to a lawn service. The SmartMow doesn't have as many features as some of the other robot mowers out there, but it's easier to use and safer. I say it's safer because you have to use a security card to turn it on. This means my child, dog, or neighbor won't be in harms way - and that only I can turn it on while I am there to supervise.

It's Smart because it saves you time, money, and it's safe.

What would make it Smart for you? How do you think I should tweak the website?

airman00 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 16, 2008, 05:57:04 PM »

what happens if a child or dog runs in the way of the SmartMow ?

silo_xtreme · « **Reply #12 on:** December 16, 2008, 06:18:07 PM »

Best Case: The person or pet blocks the IR sensor and the SmartMow moves backwards and turns out of the way.

Bad Case: The bump switch is activated, and the robot moves out of the way.

Worst Case: The child lifts up the SmartMow during operation, in about 3 seconds the blades turn off.

We tried to make it as safe as possible ... I have both a small child and a dog. Neither of which have been harmed during product testing

Disclaimer: I was hold my little one. SmartMow is not a toy.

mbateman · « **Reply #13 on:** December 16, 2008, 07:46:17 PM »

Just some more feedback... I'm sure it gets the lawn mowed, or you would not be in business long. But the video shows it running around a small area seemingly at random. Someone who is not familiar with your algorithm may not be impressed by that video. You may want to either shoot some new video, or have something prominent that explains what it is doing.

silo_xtreme · « **Reply #14 on:** December 16, 2008, 08:58:06 PM »

mbateman,

You have a good point and thank you for your attention to detail. I'm having my web guy add a caption under the video that explains the pattern.

For you guys, you can have that information now!

In this video the SmartMow starts off in a circle mowing the grass until it encounters the perimeter wire in the test area. When the perimeter wire is detected, the SmartMow follows the wire back to the base station, and then continues mowing the lawn using a smart pattern algorithm.

Further explanation of cutting algorithm:

The algorithm is a combination of a random pattern and a circular pattern algorithm. It's programmed to move in a random pattern and if it encounters a tall / thick patch of grass, it will mow that area in a circular fashion until that mowing area is completed.

In case, for some reason, it's not a perfect algorithm - SmartMow comes with a remote. I find the remote handy when I am trying to draw patterns in my lawn.

Maybe we need to have a hack the bot contest at some point, and see who can program in the coolest grass pattern.

Ro-Bot-X · « **Reply #15 on:** December 16, 2008, 11:36:02 PM »

Hmm... I would think it should mow the grass in a regular paralel zig-zag lines and only when it encounters an obstacle to pass it resuming the previous direction heading. I like that striped socker field pattern...

But anyway, I think it's a cool product and you will definitelly have a market for it!

silo_xtreme · « **Reply #16 on:** December 17, 2008, 07:00:07 AM »

Hey Ro-Bot-X,

I like that pattern too. I just don't know if it matters .... The SmartMow is light enough that it doesn't leave lasting lines in the lawn.....

ArcMan · « **Reply #17 on:** December 18, 2008, 10:05:43 AM »

Quote from: Ro-Bot-X on December 16, 2008, 11:36:02 PM

Hmm... I would think it should mow the grass in a regular paralel zig-zag lines and only when it encounters an obstacle to pass it resuming the previous direction heading. I like that striped socker field pattern...

I think so too, but that is extremely difficult! Maintaining a straight course and heading on rough terrain is an amazing challenge. I have not seen a robotic lawnmower yet that can do that (without a buried wire pathway).

pomprocker · « **Reply #18 on:** December 18, 2008, 11:28:00 AM »

Sorry, I don't have speakers on my computer at work, but is it loud?

The reason i'm asking is if it takes as long as a roomba to tackle an area, the neighbors would get annoyed.

silo_xtreme · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2008, 11:35:55 AM »

Hi Pomprocker,

The SmartMow is much quieter than regular lawn mowers. I've been running it day / night all summer and fall , my neighbor's haven't yelled at me yet!

For more technical information , it's rated at 65 db - which according to How Stuff Works http://www.howstuffworks.com/question124.htm that's about as loud as a normal conversation.

Was this helpful?

silo_xtreme · « **Reply #20 on:** December 20, 2008, 07:04:02 AM »

I changed the pre-order a little bit, I was just wondering what you thought of it. ?

silo_xtreme · « **Reply #21 on:** December 22, 2008, 12:01:50 PM »

Oh, I just made Engadget http://tinyurl.com/6uekyp

Admin · « **Reply #22 on:** January 11, 2009, 03:32:03 AM »

Quote

Someone who is not familiar with your algorithm may not be impressed by that video. You may want to either shoot some new video, or have something prominent that explains what it is doing.

I agree . . . perhaps film it doing your entire lawn, and put it in fast forward maybe 10x . . .

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Author Topic: Another Annoucement: SmartMow available for pre-order. (Read 6627 times)