What does “autonomous” really mean when it comes to mowers?

Are all autonomous mowers created equally? Wait — what does autonomous even mean?

The conversation around autonomous mowing has never been louder, but much of it is clouded by confusion over terminology, with important nuances getting lost in the noise. Earlier this winter, I set out to categorize the different styles of autonomous mowing and found inspiration in the established autonomy levels used for cars and vehicles. While not a perfect match, adapting these levels provides a helpful framework for understanding the varying degrees of automation available in turf management today.

Level 0: No automation

At this stage, all tasks — steering, speed control, reel lift and turning — are handled manually. Traditional riding, push and walk-behind mowers fall into this category. While reliable, they require full-time operator control and come with labor challenges that automation aims to alleviate.

Levels 1/2: Operator assistance and partial automation (retrofit kits, traditional units)

This level introduces automation that assists the operator without removing them from the process. Features like cruise control, controlled reel lift and turning speed adjustments improve efficiency and reduce fatigue while still requiring full operator control. These features are already common in modern fairway and triplex mowers, and many superintendents may not even realize they are using the first steps toward autonomy.

Further along this combined level, aftermarket kits on existing fairway units use GPS/RTK corrections to enable straight-line mowing and more efficient turns.

Operators may still ride along, but their hands-on involvement is reduced. This helps to lower the skill barrier for operation.

Levels 3/4: Conditional and high automation (Drop-and-go, larger robots)

Mowers in this category operate autonomously within designated zones but still require human involvement for transport and oversight. Some aftermarket kits or hybrid autonomous/manual mowers fit into this category if they can run without a ride-along operator.

These units lack self-docking capabilities, meaning they must be manually relocated for charging. However, advanced obstacle avoidance enables self-navigation within designated zones, making them viable solutions for specific areas of the course. Cloud-based operation and remote monitoring enhance efficiency, but at a certain mower size, safety regulations may require direct supervision.

Level 5: Full automation (self-docking, smaller robots)

At this level, mowers return to charging stations independently, enabling continuous operation with minimal human input. Cloud-based controls allow fleet management from anywhere.

While maintenance tasks like blade changing and regular cleaning still require human involvement, daily intervention is typically limited to error resolution and troubleshooting.

Finding the right fit(s) for your course

Transitioning from traditional mowing to higher levels of automation depends on factors like equipment cycles, infrastructure, terrain, labor needs and budget. Lower levels of automation fit more naturally into existing workflows with minimal changes, while fully autonomous, self-docking robots require a bigger shift in mindset.

A great starting point for automation is smaller, contained areas that need frequent mowing. Clubhouse lawns, driving ranges and practice areas are ideal spots to introduce fully autonomous, self-docking mowers. These areas let superintendents test robotic mowing with existing infrastructure, remove a time-consuming mowing task and gain hands-on experience before scaling up to larger areas of the course.

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