The future of ground care: Automation, technology, and alternative fuel sources.
In the last few years we have seen more and more developments of innovative technology within the ground care industry and we continue to do so. Some of the major developments we have seen are a rise in automation and alternative fuel sources.
These are not new concepts and have been around for a while however, as with all innovations the more they are developed from the feedback gained from those using them in the field the more they are improving and are being more widely adopted.
Significant growth within both of these sectors is expected to continue and it’s no surprise why, but are these innovations going to overtake the norm that currently exists within ground care?
How is Automation developing ground care?
Domestic ground care has been changed by the introduction and then the development of robotic mowers. Spoken about previously in our blog
The development of the robotic mower industry has been a fast one filled with huge developments and they continue to be highly innovative, particularly with the introduction of Husqvarna’s EPOS™ technology spoken about in our previous blog.
Although we will continue to see an increase in people adopting this innovation in their own homes as well as commercial areas with the introduction of Husqvarna’s CEORA™, it will most likely not be the phase-out of the traditional mowers. This is for many reasons, one of the most important ones is that people like to mow their lawns. What seems like a chore to some is an enjoyable, even relaxing task to others. As well as this the current price point of robotic mowers can be a barrier to some people and a small mower may be more suitable for them.
Interested in robotic mowers? Browse our range now.
Commercial ground care
As well as automation within lawnmowing itself there is also robotics use elsewhere which is changing the tide of how we work. Gardening warehouses and greenhouses are currently utilizing the benefits of robotics to see an increase in productivity and efficiency by using them to tackle labor-intensive tasks such as cutting, de-leafing, trimming, and harvesting.
As well as handling more repetitive and labor-intensive tasks, machines are also providing valuable information. The software which provides information regarding disease and pests for greenhouses as well as soil and nutrient information for more agricultural applications is a highly important innovation within the ground care, agricultural and horticultural industry.
One of the benefits of this type of innovation is its impact on sustainability. By utilizing this information gained from the technology, the users can identify less environmentally harmful methods of improving soil health and how to better utilize their resources to result in a reduction of waste.
Battery technology
As discussed in previous blogs, Battery technology has developed in recent years and as the length of battery life has increased so has a general enthusiasm around adopting these more sustainable machines.
As well as the clear attraction of reduced emissions and playing a hand in reducing our carbon footprint, powered by the government’s push for net zero and the current unprecedented climate changes we are experiencing there are also other associated benefits.
Noise level is a huge attraction to why many councils and companies are adopting the use of battery-powered tools. The noise reduction allows you to work within noise-sensitive areas, during unsocial hours and also benefits the user’s health if they are frequently using this type of equipment, this same premise is taken when speaking about the reduction of vibrations that battery-powered tools offer.
Within our current economic state, a largely attractive benefit of battery-powered alternatives lies in the cost. While occasionally the initial investment cost may be larger than that of the purchase of a new petrol machine, the universal battery system, running, and repair cost make up for it. In particular with rising fuel costs, those who have already taken the change to the battery are enjoying no rise in cost for the running of their machines and tools.
Browse our range of battery-operated tools on our site now
App Tracking
On a commercial scale, as well as the reduced noise and lower running costs, reliability can be a huge factor in making this switch. With many brands of professional battery-operated tools, an accompanying app is used to monitor location, charge, lifespan and so much more information regarding the tools.
This gives professionals who operate a large fleet of tools the ease and flexibility of having all of their information to hand and enables them to monitor the performance of their tools easily. An example of this is Husqvarna’s fleet services™ which gives the user a wide variety of information regarding the tool including when you need to service or replace it.
All Electric Tractors
When looking at electric technology tools are not the only thing getting a re-vamp. Tractors now have a battery alternative and it isn’t just the large, agricultural standard tractors to look out for. Compact tractors with competitive price points such as Farmtrac’s FT25G Which has allowed smaller farms, paddocks, estates, and equestrians to have access to cleaner, eco-friendly machinery without compromising on price or power.
Browse our farmtrac range including the FT25G on our site now
The future of the ground care industry is not just one individual innovation. As a vast sector, the inclusion and development of new technology will enable different parts of this sector to thrive and become more environmentally sustainable.
