A robot mower can be left outside
High-quality robot mowers are built to be left outdoors throughout the mowing season. Belrobotics robot mowers have an aluminium and stainless-steel chassis, hence their strength and stability are guaranteed. What’s more, their charging base must be located in a strategic area. The robot must be able to align its charging contacts easily with the station. Not putting this in a corner or close to a source of water (for the magnetic waves) are standard requirements.
A garage is not indispensable, but …
Although on the face of it the robot doesn’t require any additional protection, the option of a garage may be wise, in order to:
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Protect from the elements and other damage
Hail, snow, branches, or bird droppings can affect the robot. If it is frequently exposed to severe weather or a risk of external damage, covering it will prove wise, though mainly to protect the robot from the point of view of its appearance.
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Protecting from projectile impacts
Although the robot mower itself is able to withstand impacts from golf balls, another use for a garage is to protect the charging station from projectiles. Take the case of a golf course or football ground: errant balls can hit the station’s sonar or charging arm and damage it. In this instance, metal mesh is one option for protecting the station.
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Leaving the robot to recharge away from humans
Public parks and green spaces are places where a great many people pass through. People respect the robots, but can sometimes move the robot without meaning to and interrupt the charging. In this case, a small protective housing like the one here at the “Strandbad” beach at Lake Thun in Switzerland can be useful.
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Making the landscape more attractive
The garage can also serve a decorative function. Some owners like to customize the installation and choose this option simply for the beauty of the structure. Conversely, robot lifts allow the machine to be completely hidden away!
Do note that the protection function does not extend to vandalism. Discouraging the latter, quite apart from the fact it is extremely rare, does not specially require a garage. On this topic, consult our article on robot mower vandalism.