Self-propelled mower on autopilot

Here's an experiment I did with my self-propelled mower. It's cutting most of the back yard (a large circle) by wrapping a rope around a couple of stakes.

The video is played at 4x speed. Yes, we have a lot of weeds, and yes, I need to grease the wheels.

Also, this is dangerous, so kludge at your own risk.

There are a few photos at: http://www.atterberry.net/photos/?lzk...

• Category

  Autos & Vehicles

[SWV1787]

I would greatly like to see a close up of how you attached the rope to the mower and stake but I think it was a very successful experiment...

[Korey Atterberry]

I have a few photos that may help.

The stake end is a big wood block with two holes drilled in it. I pound the rebar into the ground through those holes, then cap it with another board. This holds the two stakes apart. The mower end was just a matter of finding something to tie to.

[Korey Atterberry]

Ok, I couldn't post a link in my comment, so I added the link to the video description.

[justin banks]

prolly stoped recording to go stop the mower before it wound all the way up cut the cord and started mowing everything lol youtube red green show self propeled mower he mounts a chainsaw to the front of the mower in case anything gets in the way enjoy

[stevendidntsay]

I, too, just clicked on that comment.

[Drocks027]

WHY did you STOP the video?! Let us see it finish!

[John Smith]

Now I just need to buy a house with perfectly-circular backyard.

[SirCutBurner]

thats the only possible place I might actually read a comic...

[SirCutBurner]

With this simplistic type of autopilot, the chances of electrical malfunctions, electronic guidance failures, and GPS locking problems causing crashes from software glitches are reduced to nearly nothing!

[greigo Last]

AWESOME.. sit back and have a beer and watch the mower do the rest.. PERFECT.

[qwertypoopbath]

I wanted to watch it hit the stake in the middle :(

[Blueskywatcher]

This is where crop circles originate. So cool!

[4842Chuck]

I'm just glad I read 4X speed. I thought you had the sob on liquid nitrogen. I owe my neighbor a dog, but he's cool with it.