Automated lawnmower trims gas and operating costs in partnership between Strathroy, Ont., and soccer team

The latest recruit to take the field for Strathroy United Football Club in southwestern Ontario is a high-priced import that's already making a big impact for the side, only six weeks since taking the field for the first time.  

Though this new team member covers the entire pitch, it isn't a high-scoring striker or a play-making midfielder suddenly turning heads at Strathroy's Henk Van Dyk Soccer Complex at Yorkview Community Park.

It's an autonomous lawnmower — an electric-powered, GPS-guided grass-cutting marvel and a purchase partnership between the team and the municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc. 

"It's improved the field conditions, the quality of play. and increased the safety factor," said Rob Lilbourne, director of community services with Strathroy-Caradoc.

Developed by Echo Robotics, a U.S.-based company that's part of Japanese manufacturer Yamabiko, the hard plastic mower is about the size and shape of a beanbag chair. Equipped with five rotating cutting heads, it can move over the entire field without any guidance from a human. Like a Roomba vacuum, it learns the ground geography as it works and can even cut fancy stripes into the grass at a 45-degree angle. It uses a series of on-board cameras for safety, coming to a sudden stop should something, or someone, get in its way.

This high-tech mower runs on electricity and guides itself into a sideline charging station when it runs low on power. After 90 minutes in the charging station, it's ready to mow again.

Since its arrival on the field, Lilbourne said, people can't stop staring and asking about the robot. 

"It's like a Zamboni in that people like to watch it do its thing, but this one has no driver," he said.

The unit costs $40,000, a hefty price, but one split equally between municipal taxpayers and the football club. While that may seem pricey, Lilbourne believes it's money well spent. 

First, there's the labour savings, which frees up staff for other field maintenance tasks. Based on a staff assessment, the unit will also save about $9,000 in annual fuel costs over a gas machine. 

There's also the upside that comes with frequent cutting. The automated mower can cut grass to a height of an inch and a half (or about 3.8 centimetres), which is optimal for game play and lower than a traditional field mower, Lilbourne said.

It can also keep the grass at that height consistently because it cuts every day — the result is clippings so fine that they're almost invisible and don't need to be collected or composted. They also don't clump up when the field gets wet.

The machine can cut at night or in a downpour.

Strathroy FC president Paul Amarelo said the team knew it wanted to sign up the mower to a long-term contract after the distributor, Turf Care/Toro, let them try out the machine at no cost.