What technology is coming down the line, machinery wise ?

With emission laws changing, fuel getting expensive/depleted, battery powered gear making a breakthrough I wonder what other technology will change the equipment we use ?

For example; Stihl have been quite innovative in looking at improving / maximizing the old 'two stroke' in recent years and have changed them tremendously.

Will we see;

- EFI & associated electronics on smaller engines (ie mowers) ?

- Alternative fuel sources for these IC engines ?

- Ceramic mower blades ?

- New lighter materials replacing metal/aluminum (ie like Etesia, Honda use on their decks etc) ?

- Hyrdrostatic drive becoming more readily available ?

- What are the capacity projections for next gen batteries and will they make the prospect of a day's mower use a reality ?

- Improved user controls ?

Accepting change is always difficult in life, work and what we use daily - how will we all adapt to it ?

One of those Sunday morning thoughts while having a coffee - what would you like to see, or anticipate happening (even if a bit SiFi like)...?

The problem with Garden Machinery is that it largely employs old technology so if governments look to improve emissions then cleaning up our engines will be high priority. Much will depend on the USA though and Trump is less focussed on this area.

A few interesting items that were discussed over the years and may be coming soon - the blade brake clutch allows an engine to continue emitting and polluting whilst the box is being emptied. I have been told these will not be available on new machines within a couple of years but no factual evidence to support it.

Years ago one manufacturer was looking at lasers attached to side of properties to sweep across and keep the grass at a uniform level. Not sure where this went in terms of development but it would work in principle for many private and municipal area.

Emissions tests for mowers would clear out the worst polluting 20 year old side valve machines very quickly. Does the government have the appetite for this?

In the U.K. The idea of battery robot mowers patrolling public areas without being stolen/tipped over etc is hard to imagine. Some countries are employing this technology but the U.K. has some unique issues to deal with.

Replies

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Gary Whitney February 19, 2017 at 11:06am

I think you raise some interesting points..

About the capacity of a mower to cut all day. how many hours does the engine run for on your pedestrian mowers at the height of the cutting season assuming that you stop the engine every time you empty the box?

What is the best material to make a cutter deck out of and why?

Could we really get to the stage where a 'hover mower' literally hovers from one garden to the next cutting the grass?
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Derek Tucker February 19, 2017 at 1:59pm

The problem with Garden Machinery is that it largely employs old technology so if governments look to improve emissions then cleaning up our engines will be high priority. Much will depend on the USA though and Trump is less focussed on this area.

A few interesting items that were discussed over the years and may be coming soon - the blade brake clutch allows an engine to continue emitting and polluting whilst the box is being emptied. I have been told these will not be available on new machines within a couple of years but no factual evidence to support it.

Years ago one manufacturer was looking at lasers attached to side of properties to sweep across and keep the grass at a uniform level. Not sure where this went in terms of development but it would work in principle for many private and municipal area.

Emissions tests for mowers would clear out the worst polluting 20 year old side valve machines very quickly. Does the government have the appetite for this?

In the U.K. The idea of battery robot mowers patrolling public areas without being stolen/tipped over etc is hard to imagine. Some countries are employing this technology but the U.K. has some unique issues to deal with.
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  Gary Whitney > Derek Tucker February 19, 2017 at 2:27pm
  
  That's interesting Derek, I only found out the other day that in the USA lawnmower engines don't have thier rpm turned down from 3600 rpm because the noise regulations are not as stringent as they are in Europe. I think your point about the USA driving all things related to engine development is valid too. It's by far the largest market for garden machines and of course the largest manufacturer is based there.
  In Germany it is illegal to used petrol powered equipment on a Sunday, how do you think that would effect the traditional day for people to cut there own lawns?
  I think that on balance cordless will be taken up by consumers and contractors very quickly after all when was the last time you brought a corded power tool?
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Derek Tucker February 19, 2017 at 7:55pm

What about the other major piece of equipment the works Van. I see offerings now with 100 mile run limit on a single charge at under £20000. For crews travelling to site and doing a days work surely this makes sense? Any takers so far?
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  Gary RK > Derek Tucker February 19, 2017 at 9:07pm
  
  It's clearly coming. Our Town Council's grounds care teams already use little hybrid powered flatbed/caged vehicles, so full EV next?
  
  Ignorance here, but for a fully EV what happens if you really, really do run out of Juice - can you call the AA/RAC to jump start you :D ?
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    Derek Tucker > Gary RK February 19, 2017 at 9:39pm
    
    I think they probably do carry a generator/inventor that could do enough to get you to home or the next charge station. More of an issue for me is the lifecycle. We maintain vehicles well and expect 10 years out of them. Battery vehicles are cost effective, low maintenance but cold they last 10 years without major expense mid life for new batteries. Will the technology be supported through their life cycle?
Graeme Brown February 19, 2017 at 8:38pm

Not really relevent but it spung to mind. An engineering friend of mine claimed he could make my lawn mower blade last FOREVER he welded a cobalt edge onto my spare blade as is used on rolls royce aero engines. This could be a great energy saver for new blades and the energy sharpening them? Only problem is it lasts 100,000 hours on an aero engine ( he put it on the engines!) and only three weeks on a lawn mower blade. I hope other things do make our industry more sustainable after all most lawn mowers run on 1970's technology so there must be room for improvement.
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Richard Gadsby February 19, 2017 at 11:55pm

Do we really want small petrol engines to become over complicated? The only people who would benefit from it are the manufacturers and dealers imo. Honda engines use hardly any fuel and no visible emissions.
Battery mowers would be great if they could make them either last all day or charge quickly. The batteries aren't there yet but they will get there I think.
Only yesterday I had a Makita battery give up on me 18 months old only used on a drill and not very often.

How about graphene strimmer cord that is thin yet incredibly strong so it does not disintegrate like the stuff available now?

Carbon fibre commercial mowers so they are strong yet light?