Gizmodo: Lawn Care

Dixie Chopper Excalibur 3874: Smoke Your Neighbor in a Lawnmower Drag Race

Sean Fallon — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:30:07 EDT

With words like "Chopper" and "Excalibur" in the title, you know that this lawnmower can haul some ass and cut some grass. In fact, the manufacturer is touting it as the world's fastest lawnmower with a top speed of 15 mph on 38 hp. It may not seem all that fast, but you could tear up your yard and be inside getting loaded before your neighbor even starts his engine.

In fact, the product site claims that you can obliterate a 9.2 acre plot of land in about an hour—which is just enough time to work your way through a Slayer album using the 12-volt iPod / Cellphone compatible adapter. After all, that is the only way to cut grass with a beast like the Excalibur 3874. Pedal to the floor with metal music blazing and a middle finger extended in the direction of your neighbors. Unfortunately, you won't be enjoying that unbridled masculine lawncare moment unless you can come up with the $11,332 it takes to buy it. [Dixie Chopper via DVICE]

Husqvarna's Autonomous Solar Powered Lawnmower: Never Mow Again

Sean Fallon — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 03:00:28 EST

That neighbor of yours thinks he is so badass with his top-of-the-line riding mower. With the Husqvarna's new autonomous lawn mower, you can sip a beer on your porch and tell your neighbor to suck it while he toils away on his yard. And the best part is that the mower is a solar/electric hybrid—so it will mow your lawn whisper quiet with nearly zero emissions.

If that wasn't enough, the mower will also trim your grass short enough that you don't have to bother with bagging. And when the job is done, it will return to its charging base for around 40 minutes—which is about the same amount of time you will get out of a single charge. It is also capable of mowing around 7,500 square feet of grass and it can be programmed to work at certain times or days of the week. Sure, it costs £2,000 ($4,000), but in the battle for suburban dominance, there is no room for second place. Hit the link to check out the mower in action. [Megawat and Pocket-Lint]

Cyber-Rain XCI Waters Your Lawn When The Internet Commands It

Sean Fallon — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:40:59 EST

I love green technology, especially when it doesn't involve me lifting so much as a finger. With the Cyber-Rain XCI, you can take control of your sprinkler system across eight zones and help conserve water and a little cash at the same time. Via a wireless connection with your PC, the Cyber-Rain can make adjustments to scheduled watering times using current weather data.

If the forecast looks like rain, the unit is smart enough to suspend operations. It can even optimize its schedule based on the changing seasons. And the best part is that it isn't as expensive as you might expect. If you already have an irrigation system in place, Cyber-Rain can be added for only $349. So it may actually pay for itself in a short amount of time. [Product Page via GTW via Sci Fi Tech]

F1 Inspired Lawnmower: Yardwork Just Got a Lot Sexier

Sean Fallon — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:45:08 EST

Wouldn't it be awesome if you could bust out of your garage sporting one of these F1 concept lawnmowers from Kadeg Boucher of France? You would surely be the new king of the cul-de-sac. The mower features a steering wheel with an LCD display, an F1-style front wing, full racing suspension, rear view mirrors and a spark plug with race helmet. It also comes in three styles —Schumacher/Ferrari red, white and John Player Lotus black-and-gold. Again, this mower is a concept, so don't expect to find one at the local hardware store. Too bad, because I know a lot of hardcore suburbanites who would pay a lot of good money for one of these. Hit the jump for a gallery.

[CG Forums via Autoblog via Jalopnik]

Husqvarna Robotic Lawn Mower Makes Chores Easier

Adam Frucci — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EDT

Lawn mowing, the bane of teenage boys' existence everywhere, just got a whole lot easier. Husqvarna's Auto Mower is the robot lawnmower we all dreamed about while pushing that POS John Deere around as kids, and now it's here. Although, with the price hitting the thousands of dollars mark, it's probably cheaper to just buy a crappy push mower and hire some local kids to do it for you. The cycle of punishment continues. [Product Page via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Neuton Cordless Electric Mower

Charlie White — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:54:19 EDT

Get rid of all that noise and exhaust from those infernal internal combustion engines with the Newton cordless electric mower, a 48-pound lawnmower that runs for an hour on a charge. Its 15-pound battery takes 12 to 24 hours to charge up, and it lets you quietly mow the grass on a small to medium-size yard.

Although this electric mower—with its 14-inch cutting width and humming motor—is no 12,000RPM super mower, it looks like it will get the job done. The next step is to roboticize this machine (which has already been done with a cordless lawnmower but not very well) like a roomba, and then you won't have to cut the grass ever again. – Charlie White

Product Page [Neuton, via Consumer Electronics Net]