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From: hollombe@ttidca.TTI.COM (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Re: CALM (computer-aided lawn mowing)
Keywords: feasibility, beer
Message-ID: <27089@ttidca.TTI.COM>
Date: 21 Jun 91 20:07:10 GMT
References: <1991Jun20.192334.24623@auto-trol.com> <20073@csli.Stanford.EDU>
Distribution: na
Organization: The Cat Factory
Lines: 27

In article <20073@csli.Stanford.EDU> cphoenix@csli.Stanford.EDU (Chris Phoenix) writes:

}Another possibility:  Bury a wire under the yard, and make your machine follow
}the wire.  This is simplest--you don't even need a computer.  But it takes a 
}lot of wire for a big yard, and you have to worry about something breaking the
}wire.  ...

This is a very old idea.  I first saw it in Popular Electronics about
thirty mumble years ago.  I can think of other disadvantages:

     The yard must be clear of all obstacles (anything not accounted for
     in the wire's path and/or mower's ground clearance).

     The yard better be guaranteed clear of small children and pets.

     If the mower hits a bump and takes off at a sharp enough angle, it
     will lose the wire and get lost.

Remember, you're dealing with a massive blade driven by a gasoline powered
engine.  The potential for damage is serious. (Now you know why there
aren't any commercial versions on the market).

-- 
The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, M.A., CDP, aka: hollombe@ttidca.tti.com)
Head Robot Wrangler at Citicorp                   Illegitimis non
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (213) 450-9111, x2483       Carborundum
Santa Monica, CA  90405 {rutgers|pyramid|philabs|psivax}!ttidca!hollombe