Mar 29, 2018 | By Benedict
Maker [v.loschiavo] has developed an incredible 3D printed Lawnmower Robot for the 2018 Hackaday Prize. The robot is solar-powered, made from 3D printed ABS components, and can be controlled with a Playstation controller.
As summer approaches, you might well be glancing at your overgrown, under-loved back yard, wondering just when you’ll have the time to turn it into a habitable place. Well, wonder no more: tidying up the garden is about to get a great deal easier thanks to a 3D printed robot that cuts the grass for you.
The brilliant 3D printed Lawnmower Robot was designed by maker [v.loschiavo] and has been entered into the 2018 Hackaday Prize competition, which kicked off two weeks ago.
It’s a stunning creation, and a practical one too: the bot has a rechargeable battery and a 10-watt solar panel for juicing it up (as well as a standard charging base for cloudy days), while its chassis is constructed from 3D printed ABS components, making it a highly achievable DIY project for those who’d rather leave their horticulture to someone (or something) else.
The Lawnmower Robot, which measures 495 x 340 x 195 mm, is also both powerful and smart. Two gear motors are mounted on two large 150 mm diameter wheels, while two small pivoting wheels serve to orient the machine.
(Images: [v.loschiavo] / Hackaday)
In terms of chopping that messy grass, a nylon blade with 255 mm diameter is attached to the shaft of a powerful engine. The blade has a safety sensor system that locks it immediately to prevent anyone from coming into contact during operation.
That safety feature isn’t the only intelligent feature of the 3D printed robot, however. The semi-autonomous lawnmower also uses ultrasonic, infrared, and shock sensors to detect obstacles, and a particular sensor allows the robot to know where to cut.
For manual grass trimming, the 3D printed Lawnmower Robot can even be controlled with a Playstation controller or remote control!
Follow the project and give it your approval here. The maker hasn’t yet uploaded schematics and files, so it might be a little hard to replicate at present, but we imagine this will change in the near future to fit the spirit of the Hackaday Prize.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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