Comparison Husqvarna Aspire R4 vs Husqvarna AUTOMOWER 305

The capture width provided by the unit, in other words, the width of the strip of land cultivated in one pass. In fact, this size corresponds to the width of the working nozzle.

The large working width is useful when processing large open spaces, as it allows you to finish the job in a small number of passes. On the other hand, for hard-to-reach places, relatively narrow tools are better suited, able to go where a wider unit will not fit. In addition, the width of the tool directly affects the weight and price.

In general, it makes sense to compare in terms of working width only units of the same type (see above). However, it is worth noting here that trimmers do not differ so much from each other — most models capture from 25 to 45 cm (and a wide processing band is provided by moving the nozzle from side to side). As for the other types, in the most modest models the capture width does not exceed 40 cm, in the heaviest and most powerful it can be 56 – 60 cm or even more(in mini tractors — up to 1.5 m).

The maximum cutting height that the lawn mower can achieve is the maximum height of grass that can be left after the machine has passed.

This parameter is relevant mainly for those cases when you want to leave the grass on the lawn relatively long. In addition, lawn mowers with high cutting heights have a wide range of mowing adjustments.

The area of the site for which the lawn mower is designed. It cannot be argued that this parameter is critical when choosing a device, these are only manufacturer's recommendations and are very conditional. However, they are more than justified and generally show the available front of work based on the heating of the motor, the capacity of the tank or battery, and other factors that affect the duration of work.

The ability to control the operation of a robotic lawn mower from a smartphone or tablet, and in some implementations, even from a computer. Communication can be established via a wireless Bluetooth channel or via a Wi-Fi network. Features of this control may vary depending on the model of lawn mower. So, in some instances you need to use a proprietary mobile application, for others it is enough to open a special page in an Internet browser. In any case, this function allows you to remotely access the control of the robotic lawn mower using mobile devices. And via a Wi-Fi network, control can be carried out from any corner of the globe where there is Internet coverage. This will come in handy when you are away from home - for example, on vacation or on a business trip.

Maximum number of mowing zones that can be stored in the memory of the robotic lawnmower (see "Type").

The purpose of having multiple mowing zones is that you can set different operating modes for each individual zone. For example, you can mow the grass in front of the house every two to three days to keep it looking neat, while the area behind the house, which is less visible, can be mowed once a week. Similarly, you can set different processing times for different zones — for instance, avoid sending the mower to a play area during the day when children might be playing, and keep it away from bedroom windows at night to avoid disturbing sleepers.

In modern robotic lawn mowers, the number of mowing zones usually does not exceed three — this is typically sufficient in most cases.

Functions provided by the robotic lawn mower (see "Type").

— Scheduled mowing. The ability to set a schedule for the robot to work on. In the simplest models, the schedule is specified within a day (for example, "from 8.00 to 8.30"), in more advanced units a schedule can be provided by days of the week or even by dates within a month. Be that as it may, this function makes life much easier for the user: instead of turning on the device manually every time, it is enough to set a schedule - and you can not worry about regular lawn mowing.

— Control synchronization. The ability to synchronize the robotic mower with other home and garden equipment, united in a “smart home” (or “smart garden”) system. Such synchronization allows you to coordinate the operation of different types of equipment: for example, so that the irrigation system is turned on only after the robotic mower has processed the entire lawn. As a rule, only equipment from one manufacturer can fully synchronize with each other; for this, branded applications installed on a smartphone or tablet are most often used.

Additional sensors included in the design of the robotic lawnmower (see "Type").

— Strike. A sensor that reacts to blows to the body of the device. It is mainly used for fixing collisions and avoiding obstacles: when a collision occurs and the sensor is triggered, the robot changes its direction of movement, trying to bypass the object that triggered the trigger. Such an opportunity will be especially useful for models without a mapping system (see "Functions"), however, it can also be useful if there is a built-in map: after all, in addition to permanent obstacles, other, temporary ones (for example, garden furniture taken out into the yard ). In addition, on some models, data from the collision sensor can be used to correct the built-in map.

— Tilt. A sensor that detects the tilt of the body in one direction or another. Mainly used to prevent rollover: when the angle of inclination reaches critical values, the mower reverses or otherwise changes the driving mode in an attempt to prevent the increase in inclination. This function will be especially useful when used in areas with relatively difficult terrain, with ups and downs.

— Rise. A sensor that reacts to the rise of the body above the ground — for example, if the device was picked up. With such a rise, the mower blades are open, which is fraught with injuries; the sensor prevents this; when it is triggered, the knives automatically stop. And in some models, this function also plays the role...of “anti-theft”: when the case is lifted, an alarm may turn on, warning the owner of an attempted theft.

— Overturning. A sensor that reacts to the flip of the body upside down. The main task of such a sensor is to stop the rotating knives so that they do not injure people who approach the mower (for example, curious children). And some models, when rolled over, can even send a message to the owner, warning him about the incident "state of emergency" and the inability to continue driving.

— Rain. A sensor that reacts to rain — more precisely, to the ingress of moisture on the body of the device, and sometimes to the presence of water under it. Robotic mowers themselves are made moisture resistant, and the main meaning of such a sensor is that lawns are usually not mowed in the rain: wet grass creates excessive resistance to the knives, they can become clogged with wet ground — as a result, the quality of the haircut noticeably deteriorates, and the mower experiences abnormal loads. Usually, when the sensor is triggered, the robot stops working and returns to the charging station.

— Obstacles. A sensor that detects the presence of obstacles in the path of the device. Unlike the shock sensor described above, which performs a similar function, this sensor usually works on a non-contact principle — for example, ultrasonic or infrared. This allows you to reduce to an absolute minimum the likelihood of collisions with various obstacles, which is especially important if there are delicate objects in the cultivated area — for example, fragile garden sculptures.

Safety features included in the design of the robotic lawnmower (see "Type").

— Pin. Possibility to close access to the control of the mower using a digital pin code. Thus, only those who know the access code can turn on the device or change the settings. This can be useful both in case of theft (without knowing the “pin”, the robot becomes useless), and in case there are strangers on the territory. At the same time, the most critical functions, such as emergency shutdown, remain available without a code.

— Blocking. The ability to block the robot control in certain emergency situations. The specific features of the operation of this function may be different: for example, in some models, the lock is activated when installed on a “non-native” charging station, in others, when it leaves the working area (fixed by GPS coordinates), etc. Anyway this function prevents unauthorized use of the mower.

— Alarm. An alarm that warns the owner of an attempt to steal the mower, and in some models, other emergencies, such as a coup with wheels up. In the "anti-theft" format, such an alarm can be triggered, for example, according to data from the lift sensor (if the device is lifted and not lowered to the ground for a long time) or from the built-in GPS module (when leaving the working area). The simplest type of alarm is audible, but other notification methods can be provided, for example, sending a notification to the own...er’s smartphone.

— GPS tracker. A function that allows you to determine the current location of the mower and report it to the owner. The position, in accordance with the name, is determined by GPS data, and this information is usually transmitted via mobile networks — in the form of SMS or a notification in a special application. Other features of the operation of this function can also be different: for example, in some models it works automatically when you leave the working area, in others — at the request of the owner, in others, the position is monitored and broadcast constantly, etc. It used to be that the GPS tracker makes it much easier to find the device, not only in case of theft, but also in some other situations — for example, if the robot accidentally rolled down a steep slope that was not taken into account by the owner.

— Protection from children. Various features designed to protect young children from the dangers of the robotic mower. So, in some models, it is possible to block the control so that only an adult can access it; in others, shock and lift sensors automatically turn off the knives if a curious little child tries to play with the device, starts pushing it or turning it over. Specific protection features in each case should be clarified separately, however, anyway, this function is highly desirable if there are small children in the house.

Additional accessories included with the lawn mower. This point is mainly relevant for robotic mowers (see “Type”), they are most often equipped with the mentioned accessories, such as:

— Boundary wire. A wire designed to limit the working area of the robotic mower. Such a wire is laid along the perimeter of the work area (taking into account all permanent obstacles such as trees, flower beds, etc.) and is connected to the charging station in a special way. If everything is done correctly, when approaching the border of the site, the mower will change the direction of movement in such a way as not to go beyond the established perimeter - this is more convenient and safer than relying on collision, tilt sensors, etc. Note also that the absence of a wire in included in the kit may mean either the need to purchase it separately, or the fact that the mower, in principle, is not designed to use this function.

- Remote control. A remote control that allows you to control the robotic mower from a distance. Remote control is especially convenient during operation: the user does not need to chase a moving device, just press the desired button while at a fairly close distance. The operating principle of the remote controls may be different (infrared, radio), but they all have a range of at least several meters.

— Charger (charger). Device for charging batteries used in lawn mow...ers with appropriate power supply. For models supplied with such a device, the charger model may be further specified in the specifications. This information can be useful not only for finding a spare or replacement charger, but also in case the household has other cordless tools and/or batteries for them. The fact is that many manufacturers nowadays use universal batteries that are compatible with a whole set of tools from the same brand; so, for example, the included charger for a mower may be quite suitable for a cordless saw from the same manufacturer.
On the other hand, the package may not contain a charger at all. This option will be optimal primarily if a compatible memory device is already available, and there is simply no need to overpay for a second device. In addition, the absence of a charger will be appreciated by those who want to choose this accessory separately, without relying on the manufacturer’s decision.


- Charging station. Cordless robotic lawnmowers (see Type) may be supplied with a charging station. Such units independently return to the base after completion of work or when a low battery level is detected. Automating the charging processor allows robotic lawn mowers to operate autonomously and makes them more convenient to use. Typically, a charging station contains a “parking” platform (base plate) and special docking contacts for replenishing energy reserves in the battery cells. The base can serve as a place to store the lawn mower during periods of inactivity, and in advanced implementations, the charging station is integrated with smart control systems, making it possible to control the operation of the lawn mower through mobile applications (see “Control from a smartphone”).

Please note that the above list is not complete - other additional items may be included in the kit.