√Honda unveils autonomous electric ride-on lawn-mower

Without an operator on-board, this electric Honda lawn mower is at the cutting edge of autonomous vehicle technology, using cloud-based mapping software to trim the grass.

Fully autonomous cars could be years or even decades away, but Japanese automotive giant Honda is aiming to be at the cutting edge of the technology – by starting in front lawns around the world before coming up with a suitable self-driving vehicle to put in driveways.

Honda has unveiled an electric ride-on lawn mower that it says is capable of autonomous operation.

Dubbed the ‘Honda Autonomous Work Mower’, this prototype is set for a public debut at the upcoming 2023 Equip Exposition power equipment convention in Kentucky, USA.

According to Honda, the Autonomous Work Mower (AWM) has already been tested by a commercial landscape company in the USA.

The Japanese brand notes the AWM “supports” the company’s global goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

In the release, Honda explained how the AWM has two modes in which it’s designed to function.

The first is a “teaching mode” in which an operator maneuvers the AWM to create a digital map in the “Global Navigation Satellite System”.

This map is then reportedly uploaded to a cloud server.

Once the “teaching” phase is complete, Honda claims the AWM can launch its autonomous operation in “playback” mode.

Here, an operator will use a smartphone or tablet to download the mowing route, and position the AWM in the starting position.

Once autonomous operations have commenced, the Japanese brand notes the operator is able to direct their attention to a different task entirely.

The release states the AWM is fitted with a “differential 2-motor traction control system” which is designed to reduce tire slip and allow for straight mowing on uneven surfaces.

As for obstacle detection, the AWM features a total of four radar and four LiDAR sensors.

Honda also claims the AWM is capable of modulating blade speed to conserve battery power in low-density areas, and speed up to avoid a grass build-up on the blades.

Though Honda is yet to reveal any details surrounding the battery size or operating range of the AWM, it states the mower weighs 625kg.

Currently, Honda doesn’t sell any zero-turn mowers globally, but when compared with a similar-sized mower from Husqvarna at 373kg, the AWM shows its size.

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