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Husqvarna’s CEORA™ Available To Purchase This Month

Husqvarna Group showcased its latest lineup of commercial robotic lawn mowers by displaying the CEORA™ robotic mower at the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) Conference held last week. “I think the CEORA robotic mower helps the turf industry in many different ways. For one, it’s going to allow us to reallocate the labor to work on other skilled opportunities and tasks. But also, it cuts down on the compaction that a normal mower would create. So, we’re getting an outstanding cut, outstanding quality and multiple jobs done at once,” said David Mellor, senior director of grounds at Fenway Park. CEORA is a robotic mower that operates with Husqvarna’s EPOS™ (Exact Positioning Operating System), a satellite-based technology that enables the machine to work within virtual boundaries and independently mow up to 18 acres of grass day or night. The absence of boundary wires eliminates line breakages due to aerating or turf repair. “Husqvarna’s newest commercial autonomous innovation, CEORA, provides a state-of-the-art solution for cutting commercial sports turf, campuses and municipalities,” said Jason Connor, director of commercial robotics, North America. “We are excited to make this game-changing solution available to a wider audience now.”  CEORA is available for purchase starting this month through Husqvarna and select dealers. For more information on CEORA visit here.   For a previous Turf Magazine article highlighting Husqvarna’s robotic mower lineup, click here.

Lishman/Manterra Collaboration Produces Fully Autonomous Unmanned GPS Sprayer

Lishman Manterra
In a world of self-driving mowers, cars, and even snowplows, the call for the precision and reliability of GPS controlled tools is sweeping across all industries, especially the landscape business. For compact sprayer manufacturers Martin Lishman Ltd, their venture into the world of autonomous spraying became a reality when they were approached by UK based precision equipment specialist, Manterra Ltd. The plan was to mount a Martin Lishman Mini-Spray 125 liter demount sprayer with 3.5m boom on their XAG R150 fully autonomous utility vehicle and create a go-anywhere unmanned GPS controlled spraying system. “We were struggling to find a UK based manufacturer who could fill all our requirements for lead time, quality, specification and value,” explains Andrew Manfield, managing director of Manterra Ltd. “Martin Lishman were able to fulfill all our requirements regarding these critical aspects, worked closely with us to meet our needs and were always responsive to our requests.” The XAG and Mini-Spray combo provides a robust and versatile ground-based platform, which offers a variety of spraying capabilities at an affordable level. It utilizes the Trimble control system to deliver a full suite of variable rate application and targeted application solutions using Trimble Weedseeker sensors. The use of the unmanned sprayer vehicle brings many benefits. From a safety perspective, operators have greater separation from chemicals when the sprayer is in use. Additionally, from an environmental stand-point, the battery vehicle is quieter and lighter than typical UTV’s or tractors, minimizing disturbance, and ground pressure. “Field tests have been run ...

Lishman/Manterra Collaboration Produces Fully Autonomous Unmanned GPS Sprayer

In a world of self-driving mowers, cars, and even snowplows, the call for the precision and reliability of GPS controlled tools is sweeping across all industries, especially the landscape business. For compact sprayer manufacturers Martin Lishman Ltd, their venture into the world of autonomous spraying became a reality when they were approached by UK based precision equipment specialist, Manterra Ltd. The plan was to mount a Martin Lishman Mini-Spray 125 liter demount sprayer with 3.5m boom on their XAG R150 fully autonomous utility vehicle and create a go-anywhere unmanned GPS controlled spraying system. “We were struggling to find a UK based manufacturer who could fill all our requirements for lead time, quality, specification and value,” explains Andrew Manfield, managing director of Manterra Ltd. “Martin Lishman were able to fulfill all our requirements regarding these critical aspects, worked closely with us to meet our needs and were always responsive to our requests.” The XAG and Mini-Spray combo provides a robust and versatile ground-based platform, which offers a variety of spraying capabilities at an affordable level. It utilizes the Trimble control system to deliver a full suite of variable rate application and targeted application solutions using Trimble Weedseeker sensors. The use of the unmanned sprayer vehicle brings many benefits. From a safety perspective, operators have greater separation from chemicals when the sprayer is in use. Additionally, from an environmental stand-point, the battery vehicle is quieter and lighter than typical UTV’s or tractors, minimizing disturbance, and ground pressure. “Field tests have been run ...

Cat Trial 12: The Ultimate Assist

CAT Trial 12
“Cat Trial 12: No Hands” highlights the teamwork, agility and precision that goes into success for teams and job sites. Cat Trial 12 shows how autonomy is coming to other industries. The latest video features a semi-autonomous version of the Cat® 299D3 Compact Track Loader(CTL). With its vertical lift design, this CTL delivers extended reach and lift height for quick and easy truck loading. Its standard, suspended undercarriage system provides superior traction, flotation, stability, and speed. These features work in a wide range of applications and underfoot conditions. A semi-autonomous version of the machine was also available for preview to the public and press at Cat Trial 12. Caterpillar has decades of experience with autonomy – specifically in the mining sector. A 2020 acquisition helped advance the experience in large mining equipment and start on a path that features new, nimble, miniaturized technology. So, while not commercially available yet, the semi-autonomous 299D3 points to the potential Cat Command for Construction has to enhance job sites in the future. Also featured in Cat Trial 12: No Hands is former Major League Soccer player DaMarcus Beasley. Beasley played for the Chicago Fire and Houston Dynamo in addition to teams in The Netherlands, England, Scotland, Germany, and Mexico. He is the only American man to play in four FIFA World Cups. He made 126 appearances during his 16-year international career before retiring in 2019. And he wasn’t just a fantastic player, Beasley is an ambassador for the “beautiful game.” The course featured obstacles made ...

Cat Trial 12: The Ultimate Assist

“Cat Trial 12: No Hands” highlights the teamwork, agility and precision that goes into success for teams and job sites. Cat Trial 12 shows how autonomy is coming to other industries. The latest video features a semi-autonomous version of the Cat® 299D3 Compact Track Loader(CTL). With its vertical lift design, this CTL delivers extended reach and lift height for quick and easy truck loading. Its standard, suspended undercarriage system provides superior traction, flotation, stability, and speed. These features work in a wide range of applications and underfoot conditions. A semi-autonomous version of the machine was also available for preview to the public and press at Cat Trial 12. Caterpillar has decades of experience with autonomy – specifically in the mining sector. A 2020 acquisition helped advance the experience in large mining equipment and start on a path that features new, nimble, miniaturized technology. So, while not commercially available yet, the semi-autonomous 299D3 points to the potential Cat Command for Construction has to enhance job sites in the future. Also featured in Cat Trial 12: No Hands is former Major League Soccer player DaMarcus Beasley. Beasley played for the Chicago Fire and Houston Dynamo in addition to teams in The Netherlands, England, Scotland, Germany, and Mexico. He is the only American man to play in four FIFA World Cups. He made 126 appearances during his 16-year international career before retiring in 2019. And he wasn’t just a fantastic player, Beasley is an ambassador for the “beautiful game.” The course featured obstacles made ...

Scythe Robotics Surpasses 5,000 Reservations for its All-Electric Autonomous Mower

Scythe M.52
Scythe Robotics, a creator of commercial-grade autonomous solutions for the landscaping industry, has surpassed 5,000 reservations for its all-electric, fully autonomous commercial mower, Scythe M.52. Founded in 2018, Scythe has seen demand for M.52 from a broad contractor base— with businesses ranging from $1 million to $100’s of millions in annual revenue. This includes some of the largest and fastest growing businesses in the industry like Yellowstone Landscape, Clean Scapes, and Impact Landscaping & Irrigation. “The excitement that landscape contractors have displayed for M.52 shows the direction the market is moving,” said Jack Morrison, co-founder and CEO of Scythe. “The industry is hungry for technology solutions that not only solve some of its biggest needs like labor and productivity but also deliver the environmental benefits of zero emissions and quieter mowing.” The all-electric Scythe M.52 is designed from the ground up and integrates state-of-the-art autonomy with a rugged commercial-grade, all-electric design. “Landscape contractors agree – M.52 is a game-changer,” says Isaac Roberts, co-founder and COO of Scythe. “It is especially true this year as the season is under way and the labor pains seem to be more severe than ever. Our partners clearly see the opportunity to transform their operations with the next-gen technology and pro-level performance of M.52.” M.52 increases productivity while also improving the quality of cut and worker safety. The mower features a suite of sensors that enable it to operate safely in typical landscaping environments by identifying and responding to the presence of humans, animals, and ...

Scythe Robotics Surpasses 5,000 Reservations for its All-Electric Autonomous Mower

Scythe Robotics, a creator of commercial-grade autonomous solutions for the landscaping industry, has surpassed 5,000 reservations for its all-electric, fully autonomous commercial mower, Scythe M.52. Founded in 2018, Scythe has seen demand for M.52 from a broad contractor base— with businesses ranging from $1 million to $100’s of millions in annual revenue. This includes some of the largest and fastest growing businesses in the industry like Yellowstone Landscape, Clean Scapes, and Impact Landscaping & Irrigation. “The excitement that landscape contractors have displayed for M.52 shows the direction the market is moving,” said Jack Morrison, co-founder and CEO of Scythe. “The industry is hungry for technology solutions that not only solve some of its biggest needs like labor and productivity but also deliver the environmental benefits of zero emissions and quieter mowing.” The all-electric Scythe M.52 is designed from the ground up and integrates state-of-the-art autonomy with a rugged commercial-grade, all-electric design. “Landscape contractors agree – M.52 is a game-changer,” says Isaac Roberts, co-founder and COO of Scythe. “It is especially true this year as the season is under way and the labor pains seem to be more severe than ever. Our partners clearly see the opportunity to transform their operations with the next-gen technology and pro-level performance of M.52.” M.52 increases productivity while also improving the quality of cut and worker safety. The mower features a suite of sensors that enable it to operate safely in typical landscaping environments by identifying and responding to the presence of humans, animals, and ...

Deere Debuts Autonomous Tractor

We’ve seen the rise of autonomous mowers, cars, and even snow plows. But now we can add tractors to the list! During a press conference Tuesday at CES 2022, John Deere revealed a fully autonomous tractor that’s ready for large-scale production. The machine combines Deere’s 8R tractor, TruSet-enabled chisel plow, GPS guidance system, and new advanced technologies. The autonomous tractor will be available later this year. Geared toward farmers, the autonomous tractor serves a specific purpose: feeding the world. The global population is expected to grow from about 8 billion to nearly 10 billion people by 2050, increasing the global food demand by 50%. Not unlike landscapers, farmers must accomplish their jobs with less available skilled labor, while working through variables like changing weather conditions and climate, variations in soil quality, and the presence of weeds and pests. The autonomous tractor has six pairs of stereo cameras, which enables 360˚ obstacle detection and the calculation of distance. Images captured by the cameras are passed through a deep neural network that classifies each pixel in approximately 100 milliseconds and determines if the machine continues to move or stops, depending on if an obstacle is detected. The autonomous tractor is also continuously checking its position relative to a geofence, ensuring it is operating where it is supposed to, and is within less than an inch of accuracy. To use the autonomous tractor, farmers only need to transport the machine to a field and configure it for autonomous operation. Using John Deere Operations ...

Deere Debuts Autonomous Tractor

We’ve seen the rise of autonomous mowers, cars, and even snow plows. But now we can add tractors to the list! During a press conference Tuesday at CES 2022, John Deere revealed a fully autonomous tractor that’s ready for large-scale production. The machine combines Deere’s 8R tractor, TruSet-enabled chisel plow, GPS guidance system, and new advanced technologies. The autonomous tractor will be available later this year. Geared toward farmers, the autonomous tractor serves a specific purpose: feeding the world. The global population is expected to grow from about 8 billion to nearly 10 billion people by 2050, increasing the global food demand by 50%. Not unlike landscapers, farmers must accomplish their jobs with less available skilled labor, while working through variables like changing weather conditions and climate, variations in soil quality, and the presence of weeds and pests. The autonomous tractor has six pairs of stereo cameras, which enables 360˚ obstacle detection and the calculation of distance. Images captured by the cameras are passed through a deep neural network that classifies each pixel in approximately 100 milliseconds and determines if the machine continues to move or stops, depending on if an obstacle is detected. The autonomous tractor is also continuously checking its position relative to a geofence, ensuring it is operating where it is supposed to, and is within less than an inch of accuracy. To use the autonomous tractor, farmers only need to transport the machine to a field and configure it for autonomous operation. Using John Deere Operations ...