Using LB 3500 in closed area

[pellep]

Hi guys-

I recently moved and my yard configuration has changed.  There is a area surround by flower/tree beds that bot cannot access on its own.  I ran a wire loop to the area with the intent of manually placing the lawnbott in the area when mowing is needed.

In the manual, there is a "manual" mode in the programming menu for closed areas such as this, but when I cycle through my menu, its not there.  

I assume if I put the robot in the loop now, it will just follow the perimeter wire in circles looking for the base when its work time is completed.

Anyone have success with "closed areas"

Thanks,
Paul

[toolbelt]

Bummer, why not make a path that the Bot could follow on it's way back.  With a little tweaking of the wires at both ends it should work.  If a path is doable I'll post my idea.

You would carry it to the enclosed area, it mows, and when finished follows the path back.

I have a 3200 so I don't know about the menu on a 3500, sorry.

[jzawacki]

toolbelt, but if it can make it back to the charger on the path, why wouldn't it be able to make it to the area on the path?  The wires only need to be 3 inches apart, isn't it?

[evblazer]

I tried a few times and failed to get mine to follow a path through a number of trees and flower beds to another area to mow. If you have a straight shot it should be easy. If you are really careful and can make sure it won't try any obstacle avoidance, slipping tires or too many turns where it might switch wires it should be possible I just wasn't patient enough. I had though once to put a nice footpath perhaps with pavers or such through the area and let the bot go that way but never tried it.

I had to make a number of twists and turns and the bott would get lost trying to go to the area bouncing between the wires. Carrying it out and letting it run and try and return on it's own it would die in the path. Unfortunately I just gave up and mowed it by hand.

I'd be interested if you figure something out because you know I wouldn't mind not having to mow that area too. Unfortunately too many people drive and park in my lawn to not have to mow some of it by hand but the less the better  

[RobotLady]

Great news for you, you don't have to do anything in the menu since you have wired the area.  All you do is put your robot down in the center, turn it on and press start.  Stand a few feet away immediately because it will spin 360 degrees and then start mowing.

If the area was not wired, then you would have to turn the border off in the menu. 

[pellep]

Great news for you, you don't have to do anything in the menu since you have wired the area.  All you do is put your robot down in the center, turn it on and press start.  Stand a few feet away immediately because it will spin 360 degrees and then start mowing.

If the area was not wired, then you would have to turn the border off in the menu. 

I agree- it mows fine doing as you described.  The problem  occurs when its time to go back to the charger - it just circles the perimeter looking for the base that it can't get to.   

The manual shows the option for an external work cycle where the bot just stops instead of searching for the base.    Could it have been removed in a firmware update and not updated in the manual?

Thanks
Paul

[pellep]

Bummer, why not make a path that the Bot could follow on it's way back.  With a little tweaking of the wires at both ends it should work.  If a path is doable I'll post my idea.

You would carry it to the enclosed area, it mows, and when finished follows the path back.

I have a 3200 so I don't know about the menu on a 3500, sorry.

My problem is the area consists of fence surrounding the grass, with flower/shrub beds surrounding the fence.  So the only way in or out would be to use some type of "robogate" (not really cost effective).    I wouldn't be able to set it to just bump off the fence (without wire)  or it would just mow down my shrubs  (I tried     )

Thanks for your opinions
Paul

[evblazer]

Is the fenced in area used to keep something in or out? Could you put in a little tunnel under the fence? I had thought about that for one little section I had but never tried it.

[toolbelt]

Two path solution. 




Build two paths leading from the fence to the enclosed area.  They do NOT have to be next to each other.

They can be winding etc, just smooth enough that the Bot doesn't get stuck.  I think they would look neat going through your trees and flower beds.  Make them out of compacted crushed Granite.   Make sure you insert the wire before you compact.

You would program the enclosed area as a separate area so that it would plan on going directly to it.

Install something like this Gate http://paradiserobotics.com/forum/index.php?topic=12.0  in your fence.  You could build it out of wood/chicken wire/whatever.  Just make it strong enough so that the kids can't destroy it.  If you're worried about other dogs getting in your yard put a second one on the other side.  Not too many dogs exist that will craw through 4 feet of tunnel.  You could add a flapper that would only flap one way.

Re-layout the wire so that it makes a loop before heading through the tunnel.  That will stop it from getting hung up while mowing the Main area.  Immediately after the loop insert an island/bush/flower-bed loop that is only one foot wide but runs to the next gate.  At that point put a triangle point on it so that the end points towards the returning wire from the enclosed area.
There should be a 3 inch gap so the Bot on returning from the enclosed area does not pick it up.
http://paradiserobotics.com/forum/index.php?topic=11.0
Note:
When mowing the Main area it will still go to the enclosed area when it's time to return if it hits the wire that is prior to the first gate.

In the enclosed area loop requires the same layout. 

However, if you're using the One Gate layout just drive a stake into the ground to block it from a direct hit that would let it run between the two wires.

Hope that helps  toolbelt

[jzawacki]

Yup, now that I have decided to keep my LB3200 (actually, the wife made the decision for me, as I'm not allowed to "dump" that kind of money into another robot mower)

I'll be following up on the links above and will probably cut my fence up pretty soon.  Originally, I thought I was going to do the double "gate" method, but am now sold on a single gate for ease of installation and cost of parts.

I'll keep you guys posted on my progress.

[RobotLady]

If you don't separate the wires and the area is small, you can press charge, have it circle one time to trim the edges and then carry it back to the charger.  If the area is large and you want it to mow a whole cycle, then you are right, it will just circle until the battery goes dead.

[pellep]

If you don't separate the wires and the area is small, you can press charge, have it circle one time to trim the edges and then carry it back to the charger.  If the area is large and you want it to mow a whole cycle, then you are right, it will just circle until the battery goes dead.

So was the "manual" programming mode removed from the firmware?  Its listed in the instruction manual as a programming option.

Paul

[shep874]

I found this some time ago.  Thought this robot gate  might solve your problem

http://www.robolawn.com/robogate.cfm?cfid=4311995&cftoken=61284078

[toolbelt]

Didn't someone say that robot gate manufacture never got off the ground? 

I wonder if a normal doggie gate that opens when the dog comes close would work.  You could glue the thingie that the dog wears to the shell of the robot, maybe inside under the headlamp lens.  A little chopping and channeling may be required on the door mechanism.

[jzawacki]

I don't know if the project ever released or not.  When it was getting close, I was informed that it might be using substandard parts (aka, cheap parts from China) for the price tag.

As for the dog gate you are referring to, could you please provide a link?  It seems it would defeat the purpose of a fenced in yard and I couldn't seem to find anything trying to google it, but I am very interested.