In many places, summer's end means only a few more weeks of lawn mowing before that chore is suspended til spring. But Europeans may be able to cross lawn mowing off their to-do lists permanently next year—when Honda starts selling its Miimo robot lawnmower there.
Miimo looks like an upright vacuum cleaner without the handle. It aims to be a sort of garden Roomba, using software and sensors to methodically trim grass in preset or random patterns before automatically returning to its dock to recharge its lithium battery. A cable buried around the lawn's perimeter uses wireless signals to keep Miimo from straying—and to make sure lazy neighbors can't shirk their own gardening responsibilities.
The robomower has three bendable blades designed not to shatter when they hit a large rock or tree root. It also shuts down if it tips over or is picked up.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
No word on when Miimo's coming to the U.S. or its cost. But other robomowers in Europe are going for upwards of $2,500. Honda might have to trim that price before many people unleash its robot on their lawns.
—Larry Greenemeier
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism
Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.
When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.
Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber
