The Honda AMW is the lawn mower I dreamed of in the summer of 1996 when I was tasked with mowing my Grandmother’s sprawling lawn in Northwest Iowa. Seriously, she had the largest back yard. And a long driveway, which I shoveled in the winter. I hope Honda makes a snowblower like this next.
We have seen autonomous cars and robotaxis, but what about an autonomous lawn mower? Fresh off its revival of the Motocompacto personalized scooter, Honda has made us smile again with the prototype debut of the Autonomous Work Mower, or AWM for short. The AWM is Honda’s first battery-powered and electric zero-turn riding mower that can learn different mowing routes as determined by the operator. Following a successful field test with a proof of concept model, Honda is launching a new pilot program in 2024 and is seeking companies to participate in assessing AWM’s applicability to their work environments. Ultimately, Honda hopes to boost worksite and on-the-job efficiencies by allowing employees to focus on other essential tasks as the electric AWM operates autonomously.
Teaching & Playback Modes
The Honda AWM has two modes: Teaching and Playback. Teaching mode lets the operator set up autonomous operation later by manually maneuvering the AWM according to the best route for the mowing job. Complete with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), the AWM will focus on learning the path and patterns set forth by the operator. Teaching mode allows operators flexibility and customization as the AWM can learn multiple worksites and route maps, all of which are saved to the cloud.
After the Teaching mode is finished, the AWM can operate in Playback or autonomous mode. Once the specific mowing route is downloaded and set, the AWM gets to work chewing up grass. This frees up lawn care and landscaping staff to focus on any number of other tasks, such as string trimming, weeding and pruning, planting and fertilizing, or cutting branches.
“Our development of the prototype zero-turn Honda Autonomous Work Mower comes at a time when technology is shaping the future of the landscaping industry,” said Hirokazu Hara, Vice President of New Business Development, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “To address labor shortages and help support companies’ sustainability goals, the Honda AWM aims to provide zero-emission alternatives to gasoline-powered mowers that can reduce operating costs and help accelerate the electrification of landscape maintenance equipment.”
Honda AWM Specifications
The Honda AWM has a 60-inch cut with a selectable cutting height between 1.5 and 5.25 inches. Its differential two-motor traction control is designed to mitigate tire slip and optimize straight-line and turning performance on slopes, hills, and rougher ground. The AWM will automatically reduce blade rotation at lower speeds and loads to conserve power. In high-demand situations, the AWM will reduce blade speed to prevent clogging, a nice feature if you have ever fished clumps of wet grass out from underneath a mower. On the AWM’s spec sheet, Honda has these features listed under a category called “Mowing Assist” (wheel traction control, mowing load control, blade speed control, and slope management).
The Honda AWM tips the scales at 1,378 lbs. The length is 84 inches, width is 61 inches, and the height is 73 inches. Front tires are 13 inches x 6.5 inches, while the rear tires are 24 inches x 12 inches.
Like all autonomous applications, the Honda AWM is equipped with an omnidirectional sensing system that includes lidar and radar. Should the AWM encounter an obstacle or potential hazard, it will stop. Similarly, the AWM’s top speed is lower in Playback mode versus manual mode (six mph max in Playback mode versus 10 mph in manual mode).
Honda AWM In-Person & Photo Gallery
Honda will showcase its new electric Autonomous Work Mower at the 2023 Equip Exposition, October 17th through the 20th, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Honda will be located at booth number 3134 during the event.
