No it is not the programming.
I have another theory...
I move him to the front yard every now and again and run him in manual by setting the time to 2 hours. I then put him back in the charger waiting for him to come out the next day in auto mode.
I do not think he makes this transition.
Lately I have tried to turn him on/off between when i run him in auto/manual. When I am done the front yard, I power him down/up and I press start which runs him in auto and lets him put himself back into his charger. He has not done the strange action since i have done this.
The best i can figure, he comes out and is confused or something because of the way i used him in manual the day before.
Anyone have any thoughts?