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Home > FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How do the Belrobotics robot-mowers work?
Belrobotics robot-mowers mow your lawn in a randomised pattern, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This ensures that the robots cover the entire surface at least once every two days. The blades are tiny cutter blades that rotate silently at 3000 rpm. The robots are entirely autonomous, recharge themselves and are even able to function on irregular surfaces. Their surface area is cordoned by an invisible peripheral wire buried at a depth of 2cm beneath the ground.
What is the purpose of the peripheral wire?
The peripheral wire delimits the robots’ working surface area. It plays the role of an invisible artificial barrier.
The peripheral wire can also be used to cordon off obstacles on your terrain such as swimming pools, flower-beds and flower banks, gravel walks, trees with protruding roots, etc…
What about trees or obstacles that are not protected by the peripheral wire?
The robot is equipped with a sonar and an obstacle detecting peripheral bumper. When a “non-protected” permanent or unforeseen obstacle (e.g. you or your dog) is detected by the sonar, the machine slows and cautiously approaches the obstacle. When it makes a very slight initial contact with the obstacle, it turns away from the obstacle and continues on its way.
Is the peripheral wire installation complicated? Does it damage the terrain?
No. Our technicians use a sort of small motorized cultivator, which lays several hundred meters of sheathed cable in an hour. The lawn is not damaged, and the small trace line visible in the grass after the placement will disappear after the first rainfall.
How do these robots compare to other similar products?
Our mowers are designed as semi-professional or professional machines.
Belrobotics robots are made with robust, top quality components. Mounted on an aluminium chassis, our mowers rarely suffer damage. The traction and mowing motors are designed to withstand those conditions encountered on our northern terrains.
The electrical components are tried and tested, and our algorithms benefit from over 10 years of experience.
Belrobotics is in fact the only company offering robots that can cover up to 2 hectares of lawn surface!
Can the robot-mowers be used on irregular surfaces?
Certainly. This equipment is capable of climbing inclines of up to 30%. Prior to installation, certain minimal adaptations will be requested if necessary: to turf, surface the terrain, soften inclines in order to make the evolutions easier and, where necessary, plan for sufficiently large passages from one zone to another. A pre-installation visit is systematically organized by Belrobotics in order to ensure the feasibility of the installation.
How does the mower recharge itself?
When the robot’s batteries run below a certain charge level, the onboard computer decides to bring the machine back to its docking base for a recharge. In order to do so, the mower follows its peripheral wire to the station where it autonomously connects itself. The charging cycle begins. Once the charge is complete (after an approximate hour and a half), the mower returns to mowing for approximately 1-1½ hours depending on the configuration of the terrain.
What battery life can I expect?
The batteries have 2-3 year life span, depending on the number of mowing cycles completed. Belrobotics will soon offer the option of a new generation of batteries whose life will be double that of the current batteries.
What upkeep does my mower require?
We recommended occasionally cleaning the underside of the machine (which can be easily placed in a vertical position) to remove any possible grass accumulation. We also recommend replacing the cutting blades twice a year. This 5 minute procedure requires only the use of a small flathead screwdriver.
Belrobotics also recommends a thorough winter inspection. During the winter months, the mower is collected at your residence. Our technicians then proceed with a detailed cleaning, a complete verification of the robot’s mechanics with eventual replacement of abnormally worn parts, as well as an update of the onboard computer software. We upload usage statistics in order to optimise the use of your robot.
How much energy does my mower consume?
For a terrain of ½ to 1 hectare, the daily electrical consumption is approximately 1.8 kW/h. This amounts to 25 cents a day if your electricity is configured on a day/night time schedule.
Does my mower make a lot of noise?
Absolutely not. Our robot-mowers generate sound level comparable to that of a fan. From a few metres away, they are almost inaudible.
My garden has several different areas. How can the robot adapt to this?
The Belrobotics robots require either a 4m wide passage for a Parcmow robot, or a 5m wide passage for a Bigmow robot between areas to be mowed. As long as such passages exist between the different parts of your garden, the mowers can move between the different areas.
How does my mower react to mole mounds?
Moles do not like when objects move above ground on their territory. If however one of these little animals were to create a mound, the reaction of the mower will depend on the size of the mound. If larger than 25cm, the robot will contour the mound after having detected it. If smaller, it is possible that the earth of the mound will be spread out due to the speed of the rotating heads. If the machine were to clog, the onboard computer will automatically put the machine into a security stop mode.
What happens if the mower stops?
The onboard computer controls a number of parameters: blade speed, individual heads, cut resistance, traction motors, the furthermost position of the mower, component failure etc…
In the event of a anomaly that threatens the security of the system, the machine immediately stops. An error message will appear on the screen underneath the cover. In order to resolve the issue, simply lift the cover to view the message, and address the issue indicated on the screen. You can then restart the machine by the push of a button.
Belrobotics offers the additional option of an electronic module that sends a text message to a number of your choice. This function is useful in the event of prolonged absences.
What is the life expectancy of my robot?
Belrobotics robots use robust and high quality components. Mounted on an aluminum chassis, they are extremely durable. The machines have an approximate life of ten years.
Are the robot mowers able to finish the edges?
Yes, because the robot approaches the edges of lawns close to obstacles, and can if necessary exceed the lawn parameter by a couple of centimetres, so long as the edge is of the same configuration. If the edge is made of hard materials, it is recommended to mow the few centimetres of the terrain edge with an edge cutter in order to obtain a perfect detailed finish.
Does rain prevent the robot from mowing?
Belrobotics robots are designed to mow day and night, as well as in rainy conditions. Only snow impedes the function of the robots.
Children or pets are on the lawn. Is this dangerous?
Much safer than traditional mowers, the robots are equipped with small blades (cutter) which are incapable of inflicting any serious wounds. We do not however recommend voluntarily placing hands under the mower whilst functioning and recommend that you avoid leaving very young children to play in the grass while the mower is functioning. When the mower encounters an obstacle, its sonar and obstacle detection bumper will have the machine turn away. You can therefore leave garden furniture on the lawns without any concerns. Your pets do not risk getting hurt. You will be amused to find that they consider the robot almost as a companion. It is however possible to program the robot so that each day of the week, during a given time frame, the robot will stay at its docking station.
What is the maximum cutting height?
The maximum cutting height ranges from 22 to 65mm for the Parcmow® and up to 95mm for the Bigmow®. In the event that the grass height exceeds 10cm, we recommend first using a traditional mower and collecting the residual grass prior to putting the robots into action in order to achieve the desired result. The robot-mowers do not in fact collect grass; they are designed to mow continuously.
What is the difference between the Parcmow® and the Bigmow®?
The Parcmow® has three cutting heads and a width of 65cm, whereas the Bigmow® is equipped with 5 cutting heads and has a width of 105cm. The accelerated speed of the Bigmow® allows it to cover surfaces extending to 2 hectares, whereas the Parcmow® would be ideal for up to 1 hectare.
Is it good for the lawn to leave the grass residue?
Mulching is often blamed for moss growth and other inconveniences. Our robots mow continuously, 24/day, and therefore never cut more than a few millimetres of grass. This residue decomposes rapidly, which naturally regenerates the lawn’s organic state.
What happens in the event of a loss of electricity?
Should there be a loss of electricity, the machine will immediately stop in order to avoid leaving its work area as determined by the peripheral wire and, for example, falling into your pool…
Where must the charge station be placed?
The station can be placed anywhere around the area delineated by the peripheral wire. We recommend placing it in an area that is unencumbered by objects a few metres on either side. Of course you must plan for an electrical supply.
These considerations are taken into account during the pre-installation visit and by our technicians during installation.
Can I install the system myself?
No. For proper functioning and optimal guarantee, Belrobotics (or one of its partners) handles the installation.
Can I change the cutting blades myself?
Of course. This is a simple procedure that takes approximately 5 minutes with a flathead screwdriver. The blades are sold in a kit.
Must all obstacles be cordoned off?
As long as they are higher than 25cm, furniture obstacles (garden furniture…) do not need to be cordoned off. Nevertheless, in order to avoid “trapping” the robot and therefore losing mowing time to unnecessary manoeuvres, smaller objects and other obstacles (such as children’s toys) should be removed from the mowing area. In the same manner, branches and pinecones should be occasionally removed in order to improve the longevity of the mini blades.
Permanent obstacles such as tress are detected by the machine itself, while swimming pools, flowerbeds, flower banks and paths, will be excluded from the mowing zone by the peripheral wire which will create off limit “islands”.
What should I do if I want my robot to stay at its docking station (e.g. for garden works or watering)?
It is possible to program a daily time frame during which the robot will stay at its docking station.
Do I need to stop my mower when the grass grows more slowly, in the summer for example?
No, as the onboard computer will detect that the work of the cutting heads has become unnecessary. The robot will progressively increase its pause periods at the docking station.
What does the contractual offer per week include?
The contractual offer per week includes absolutely everything!
- Financing of the machine which will then be yours after 5 years (*)
- Onsite maintenance and assistance
- Winter servicing by our technicians, including transportation of the robot
- Replacement of worn and defective components, including battery replacement every 2-3 years
- Insurance against theft and lightning damage
Belrobotics even reimburses you (once a year, in January) for the electricity used by the mower during the year. This reimbursement is calculated based on a provided copy of your last electricity bill, which allows us to determine your provider’s charges.
Not covered: vandalism and breakage caused by inappropriate use (e.g. children using the robot as a toy etc…)
(*) on condition of the credit company’s acceptance of the application.
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