Electricity Instead of Gasoline

For 30 years, the Nimbus Model Aircraft Club has been based at Seehof in Geiss. Our good relationship with the family that owns the property and the local residents is strengthened every year with an invitation to a barbecue party. Thanks to a well-developed set of flying regulations, we have so far been spared any complaints about noise pollution, and any minor disagreements are, if necessary, gladly resolved through mutual discussion. Our flying field features a grass runway set amid beautiful countryside. Thanks to the careful use of fertilizer and the avoidance of pesticides, maintaining a natural environment is one of our priorities.

Regular maintenance of the grass runway is undoubtedly one of the main tasks of any model flying club. Until now, this was the responsibility of our mowing crew, which cut the grass twice a week during the peak season. It was a lot of work, and the results were only partially satisfactory. Mowing was particularly tedious in bad weather or during dry spells. If we were unable to mow for a while, the grass would grow so tall that the clippings would litter the runway the next time we mowed (the clippings are not removed). In preparation for our anniversary year, we purchased a GPS-controlled robotic lawn mower to make the maintenance of our grounds even more environmentally friendly. To do this, we had to install a charging station with a power connection near the field. Our in-house electronics department, in collaboration with the firm Elias Häller in Buttisholz, took on the task. To do this, the power line was run from a nearby power distribution box to the field and routed to a table specially designed for this purpose (by carpenter and model builder Robert Disler). This table serves as both a parking and charging station for the mower and, equipped with two multi-outlet power strips, also as a charging station for the aircraft batteries. The table is also frequently used as a work surface or for storing the transmitter cases.

The robotic lawn mower is a huge help to us. Now the lawn is mowed regularly around the clock; the area to be mowed is about 3,000 square meters, but the mower can handle areas up to 5,000 m². For optimal results, the robot should run for about 14 hours a day. This is set up with a daily mowing schedule, so during the week it mows mainly at night and takes a break on the weekends. The cutting depth is continuously adjustable and can be controlled via the app. The lawn has improved without any additional effort on our part: fewer weeds, more consistent mowing, and denser growth are becoming apparent. Likewise, the lawn continued to be mowed during last year’s wet summer—using a heavy lawn mower would have been impossible in certain areas of the slope. Operation requires a GPS receiver, which we installed on a mast near the table. The mowing area is defined by having the mower drive over it; this is a one-time process. The virtual boundary, based on satellite technology, offers an accuracy of 2 to 3 cm. This means there’s no need for boundary wires, which are often chewed through by mice in agricultural areas. The mower can be conveniently controlled from home via an app. This task is shared by two members, who park the mower during storms or heavy rain. The Automover includes active theft protection; if it is removed from the property without entering a password and code in the app, a loud alarm sounds, and the mower can be located at any time via GPS. According to the manufacturer, Husqvarna, no model in the GPS series has ever been stolen, as operation without identification is simply not possible. Our John Deere is still used to mow the parking lot and the driveway, but only once a week now. This saves us on service costs and labor. Conclusion: Thanks to the generous support of Martin Ruckli AG and the manufacturer Husqvarna, our experience with the Automover 550 model has been entirely positive so far. The total cost, including everything, amounts to

During flight operations, the mower must be taken out of service to prevent collisions during takeoff and landing. To do this, simply press the stop button and park the mower at the edge of the runway; at the end of the workday, return it to the runway and press the start button. After that, our “Robi”—as everyone now affectionately calls him—works day and night without complaint.

Author:
Thomas Portmann, President
of MFV Nimbus, Löwenacher 3,
Ruswil, Phone 079 276 53 01.
For more information, visit:
www.modellflug-nimbus.ch