Potential Reduction in Weeds & Disease

More frequent robotic mowing may also provide turf-management benefits. In a number of settings, robotic mowing has been associated with reduced weed and disease occurrence.

Possible reasons include shorter periods of leaf wetness, reduced plant stress and more frequent mowing that can limit weed flowering and establishment. A canopy that is cut often and lightly may dry faster and compete more evenly with opportunistic weeds.

Golf turf still needs a full agronomic program. Robotics will not replace fungicide strategy, drainage or traffic management. It may change the pressure those programs have to fight, especially on cool-season fairways and rough in Ontario and similar climates.

Foxbridge wants engineers and turf professionals working together so that autonomous mowing is evaluated against real disease and weed patterns, not only against a neat lawn. That is the difference between landscape robotics and golf-course robotics.

See how robot mowers affect turf management and how Foxbridge tests technology on the course.