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About Parks, Trails & Cycling

Parks Operations & Infrastructure

Autonomous Lawn Mower Pilot Project
This summer, the City of Richmond is  conducting an autonomous lawn mower pilot project at City Hall to mow a section of lawn in the south east corner along No. 3 Road. The goal of this pilot project is to explore the feasibility of using this technology in other City of Richmond Parks.

About the Project
Autonomous MowerThe trial project will run through the 2022 turf grass growing season and the mower will be programmed to operate from Monday to Friday between the hours of 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM. During its hours of operation the machine will automatically return to a station on site to charge as required and will also automatically return to this station at the end of each day. The operation of the machine is controlled and monitored remotely by City of Richmond staff.

About Autonomous Lawn Mowers
Autonomous lawn mower technology is developing quickly and the turf grass industry is anticipating rapid growth in professional applications. Compared to conventional gas-powered machines, autonomous lawn mowers provide the following benefits:  

  • Reduced noise – silent operation
  • Increased energy conservation
  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
  • Increased resource efficiency
  • Increased worker safety

Safety and Security
The autonomous mower used in this pilot has many design features that ensure public safety. The machine will notify Parks staff if there is any interruption in its operation. Anti theft sirens will sound if the machine is removed from its operation zone and it is also equipped with GPS sensors, making the location of the machine trackable. Autonomous mowers have been used safely and successfully in many busy urban environments here in Canada and in many European Cities. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
Parks Request Line: 604-244-1208

 

 

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