iRobot is looking to take its popular robotic vacuum tech outdoors. The company recently got regulatory approval to create its new robotic lawn mower that uses wireless technology and a series of stakes to guide the autonomous yard tool.
iRobot’s beacon system uses wireless transmissions between the mower itself and the stakes or beacons to keep the mower on the right path. While there are already a number of hands-free mowers on the market like the Worx and Husqvarna options, iRobot says they all require underground fences or something along those lines for navigation.
Normally, the FCC prohibits the use of these kinds of outdoor fixtures using basic radio signals, but iRobot has managed to convince them otherwise, having now got the go ahead to move forward with the product.
While there is no word on when we will see something from iRobot for the lawn, most are expecting to wait a couple years. Many of the current competitors starting at about $850 and go way up from there, so it’s safe to say the iRobot option will likely be more than $1000.
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