Hospital employs autonomous mowers

Aspirus Langlade Hospital in Antigo, Wis., has deployed autonomous lawn mowers across its Antigo campuses. Battery-powered and guided by GPS and smart technology, the mowers are changing how the hospital maintains its grounds and how staff allocate their time.

“Switching from gas-powered mowers to autonomous mowers was an easy choice,” says Jason Noskowiak, manager of maintenance, facilities and environmental services at Aspirus Langlade. “These autonomous mowers help reduce the environmental impact of our lawn maintenance and deliver a higher value to our landscape operations.”

Before they can get to work, the mowers must be “taught” the layout of each property. “A map of the lawn areas is created with identified boundaries that allow the auto-mower to adjust its pattern accordingly,” Noskowiak explains. “GPS-assisted navigation ensures coverage by distributing the mowing evenly.” The system learns the location of obstacles and features while varying its route to create a more natural, uniform cut that enhances the appearance of the turf.

The technology is fully integrated with a smartphone app and desktop interface, allowing staff to monitor performance, track mowing progress and adjust schedules remotely. “The mower’s patented passage-handling system automatically detects narrow or complex areas, adjusting its path for safe and efficient operation,” Noskowiak says. This level of automation not only reduces overlap but also ensures no area of grass is missed.