Answering the most frequently asked questions about Toro’s new autonomous technology

1. Is the technology used to control the mowers impacted by areas with poor connectivity?

This is one of the most asked questions, especially from links courses or those in remote areas. 

The short answer is no, RTK doesn’t require internet access to function. It works using a radio signal between the mower (rover) and the base station (mast) installed at your club, so the core positioning system remains solid even without a reliable internet connection. 

However, RTK does require a subscription to a service provider to allow the Rover to connect to a base station.

2. What about GeoLink and NTRIP?

GeoLink works with NTRIP (Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol), which intelligently connects machines to the internet for additional correction data. Combined, these technologies deliver an accuracy of 1cm.

GeoLink requires access to our national network and NTRIP needs an internet connection. Before you purchase a GeoLink and NTRIP-enabled machine, we’ll visit your club, assess both signals, and advise you on the best setup going forward.

3. How well do these mowers handle real-world turf conditions?

Toro’s autonomous mowers are designed with real turf in mind. They’re tested to handle a wide range of conditions, including wet and long grass. For optimum results and battery life, regularly maintained grass with a shorter height of cut will allow the machines to operate longer per charge.

Mild slopes and undulations are no problem, but as with any autonomous system, even terrain helps with consistent performance. It’s worth pointing out that these machines aren’t decision-makers; they won’t adapt to the terrain. But there is a specific ‘slope’ version of the Turf Pro mower which is for use on slopes of up to 24 degrees, providing options to those variations in terrain.

There are some accommodations you may need to make to the areas you intend to mow. Raised manhole covers, uneven irrigation heads, and excessive slopes can throw off navigation. That’s why we conduct detailed site surveys before installation. If any areas need adjustments, we can work with your team to address them ahead of time.

4. Are autonomous mowers safe?

Safety is a top priority in the design of these new mowers. Each product in the range is equipped with numerous onboard sensors that detect obstacles, pressure changes, and terrain variation. If the machine does encounter an obstacle, it will stop and alert the user. Machines can also be PIN code protected, so the user settings can’t be changed.

While the Turf Pro robot mowers are small and capable of working through the night on their own, the GeoLink Solutions Autonomous Fairway Mower requires supervision – a ‘shepherd,’ so to speak.

LiDAR, radar, and sonar work together to make sure the unit always knows what is going on around it. When the mower reaches the edge of a predefined work zone, it keeps within it. The operator still controls working perimeters, no-go zones, mowing patterns, cutting height, and transport paths.

5. Can I monitor and control everything remotely?

Absolutely. Once working, the autonomous mowers can be monitored 24 hours per day via a desktop dashboard or mobile app. You’ll also be able to:

• Set and adjust mowing schedules
• Create or edit no-go zones
• Assign mowing patterns
• Monitor machine location and status in real time

6. How does Intelli360 work with autonomous technology?

Launching later this year, Toro’s Intelli360 software will bring a new level of insight to autonomous products. 

The new cloud-based platform will replace MyTurf Pro, providing real-time data, remote diagnostics, and two-way communication between machines and operators. From your phone or desktop, you’ll be able to see mowing patterns, receive fault alerts, and even adjust machine behaviour – whether you’re on-site or off.

7. Can these machines help save on costs and will that mean they take away jobs?

Although autonomous mowers come with an upfront cost, long-term savings can be significant. The Turf Pro and Range Pro robots, for instance, require no fuel or hydraulic servicing and need minimal maintenance. Blades are the only regular service item for the former. 

When it comes to the fairway mower, because it’s a hybrid engine, you can expect the same benefits as Toro’s other hybrid mowers, including reduced fuel costs and minimal servicing.

In many cases, autonomous mowing can be up to two-thirds cheaper to run than traditional machines, especially when factoring in reduction in labour requirements and fuel savings. Provided they’re properly maintained, these mowers will last for many years, while the cleaner, electric design and fewer moving parts also contribute to reliable, long-term performance and improved sustainability.

8. What does this technology mean for greenkeeping jobs?

These mowers won’t take away any jobs; it simply allows clubs to better distribute resources and prioritise jobs. It brings back the art of greenkeeping, freeing up labour to tackle high valuable, more skilled tasks. There will also be a requirement for an on-site expert. 

Similarly to how you will more than likely have a member of the team with a greater understanding of an irrigation system, we recommend that clubs nominate a resident expert, who we will then train on autonomous technology to understand them and configure them, meaning this technology brings with it the need to upscale knowledge within the industry to existing members of staff, boosting the skill set and knowledge. It may even get to the point where it is a whole new job for someone, it certainly has been for me!

While the Turf Pro and Range Pro mowers can operate genuinely autonomously, Toro’s autonomous fairway mower requires supervision. So it’s less about replacing greenkeeping teams and more about assisting them. 

Having an autonomous mower in your team gives you more time to get on with other (perhaps more specialist) jobs: cutting tees, remedial work on bunkers, fixing divots, or trimming around sprinkler heads.

One of the great things about the Toro GeoLink Solutions Autonomous Fairway Mower is that while it’s autonomous, it still has manual controls. This means you can operate the machine manually to cut greens in the morning, before changing the cutting units and letting the machine cut fairways on its own in the afternoon – when you can then concentrate on other pressing tasks.

9. Investing in the future of turfcare with Reesink Turfcare

Beyond immediate operational gains, autonomous mowing represents a long-term investment in the future of turf management. Indeed, with the GeoLink Solutions Fairway Mower, Turf Pro, and Range Pro, Toro is giving turf professionals a toolkit to future-proof their courses and facilities.

Once installed, the supporting infrastructure, such as charging stations and communication hardware, gives you flexibility to add new technology as it evolves. Clubs adopting Toro’s autonomous solutions, will then be well-positioned for future developments in robotic mowing as new and improved models are released.

If you have any more questions we haven’t answered in this article or would just like to chat through this technology and what it means, please get in touch with us by calling 01480 226800, emailing info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visiting reesinkturfcare.co.uk.