Honda Power Equipment recently introduced Miimo, its first robotic lawn mower for use in the United States. The Miimo uses a microcomputer, sensor and timer to provide unattended, automated grass cutting within a defined lawn area.
Honda says this battery-powered robotic mower delivers quiet operations, recharges quickly and offers three different programmable cutting patterns with a programmable timer setting.
“Honda Power Equipment’s Miimo lawn mower delivers a beautiful lawn without homeowners having to physically cut their grass,” said Michael Rudolph, vice president – Honda Power Equipment. “For customers who want to be on the cutting edge of technology, have busy lifestyles and don’t have the time for lawn care, or for customers who don’t enjoy cutting the grass, Miimo is the high-tech approach to achieving a beautiful yard.”
The Miimo is available in two models, the HRM 310 and the HRM 520, which operate within a boundary wire. This wire is installed by Honda Power Equipment dealers underground or on top of the ground around the perimeter of the area to be mowed.
It also features a combination of controls, real-time sensory feedback and timers. Honda says that Miimo is able to detect the electric field from the wire and stays within the boundary; the boundary wire also protects obstacles such as trees, flowerbeds and ponds.
Miimo features a quick-turn mechanism that allows the unit to change direction in a sweeping forward motion rather than having to reverse itself. The seasonal timer can be programmed with cutting intervals that match grass growth rates. Day/night modes are customizable to fit a customer’s individual needs, which can free up your time to do other tasks while on a project. With one less thing to worry about, you and your crew are able to get twice as much done in the same amount of time.
Both models feature independent 360-degree sensors and a floating cover that detect solid contacts between the unit and any obstacles. If activated, the sensor is designed to stop, turn and move the mower in a different direction.
The Miimo is also equipped with an anti-theft protection that sounds an alarm and disengages operation if the mower is lifted from the ground. The unit can be restarted by entering a unique PIN code, and these codes can be managed and reset via the control panel.
The Miimo offers three main cutting modes: random, which allows the Miimo to turn at a wide angle when it senses the boundary line; directional, which allows it to turn at a narrow angle when it senses the boundary line; and finally the mixed, which is a combination of the first two modes.
Two additional cutting options are available also: spiral, which enables the Miimo to concentrate on mowing areas where the growth speed of the lawn may be faster; and edge, which sends the Miimo along the boundary wire edges of a lawn before mowing the remainder of the lawn.
The Miimo will return to its charging station for self-charging after reaching a battery percentage of 30 and contains a high performance lithium-ion battery. The mower features a cutting width of 8.7 inches and a cutting height range of .8 inches – 2.4 inches (20mm – 60 mm).
Honda states that the HRM 310 model, weighing approximately 26 pounds, boasts a battery capacity of 22.2 volt (V)/1.8 Ah, while the HRM 520, weighing just over 26 pounds, has a battery capacity of 22.2V/3.6 Ah. Honda says the HRM 520 will self-charge in 60 minutes using a 120V outlet, and the HRM 310 model will self-charge in 30 minutes.
The HRM 310 model has a U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $2,499, and the HRM 520 model has a starting MSRP of $2,799. Both models will be available starting in June at select Honda Power Equipment dealerships, and both feature high-traction wheels and ductile heat-treated, pivoting steel blades that spin counter-clockwise and clockwise. Both models are sold with a standard two-year warranty.