Are you thinking of getting a tractor mower? Why not take the time to consider the benefits of a robotic mower verses a tractor mower. The robot: Your silent gardener Our first point is obvious, the robot is completely automated. Unlike its traditional ancestor by comparison, requires and remains dependent on human beings. Common respones to this often are… “I enjoy mowing the outfield. It’s relaxing. Sitting down while mowing is also comfortable” Yes, while its true you’ll be seated, is being bounced around, with a constant deafening noise, really that comfortable and pleasant? “I don’t want to fire my staff” The is not strictly necessary, the robot do require minimal maintenance which they can still undertake. With the time saved employees can be redirected to other tasks within the facility. Another factor to consider is the impact of noise on health. There are many studies showing the harmful effect of noise on the nervous system and the cardiovascular system. Studies state the danger is present from 80 dB and with the average noise made by a classic lawnmower being 95 dB, this is definately an aspect worth considering. Kinder to the environment You do not need to be an environmentalist to choose a green solution for your facility but economically it can be a winning bet. By selecting a traditional tractor mower is not a very forward-looking sustainable decision, particularly fuel wise. Switching to a green solution like robots shows respect for the environment and offers sustainable development. The benefits of ecological branding, convenience and savings are also of benefit. Demand the perfect cut The primary function of a mower is to cut grass with a view to obtaining lawn/turf that is has an even regular surface. Central to this is a regular mowing length, which is not easy to obtain with all mowers. With robotic mowers this goal becomes easier to achieve as it offers a unique real mulching technique, that helps to promotes turf that is very green, with thick growth and free from impurities. Unique real mulching The robotic mower performs real mulching, effortlessly! In fact, the mulching technique cannot be performed properly unless the cut is regular! In other words, many buyers choosing a mulching-type tractor mower can often be disappointed with the results, because it demands frequent mowing. A classic mulching-type mower requires up to 3 mows per week in season which is not always feasible, so it avoids leaving too much residue! Grass without impurities By replacing your tractor mower with a robotic mower can automatically eliminate undesirable features such as weeds, grass diseases, moles and soil damage without any difficulty. In conclusion, the robot alternative is very much the smart investment that will satisfy and benefit your facility much better than a tractor mower can. Consider switching to the Belrobotics BigMow robotic mower so you can permanently forget about the inconveniences associated with manual riding mowers. Make a sharper choice by discovering our robotic mowing solutions

When it comes to collecting golf balls, traditional methods are always improving, however how efficient are they when compared to robots? Cost Savings: Switch from manual golf ball collector to a robot One of the main selling points of the robots is the financial savings. Switch from manual golf ball collector to a robot. By signing up to our outfield maintenance service solution “Range Ball Plan”.  Your facility can benefit from a potential saving of between 10%-50% in maintenance costs. The robots require no capital outlay and you only pay a monthly fee based on the balls collected.  You will soon start to make savings: better management of your personnel and unlimited accessibility. Ease of management and reduced personnel Unlike other traditional solutions currently used, the BallPicker robot is totally autonomous. It’s just one machine for a professional job. Unlike the traditional ball collectors which, despite recent advances, still require a towed solution i.e ssv utility vehicle that needs a human operator. The potential reduction in personnel is all the more valuable because of the seasonal nature  of the task, which can vary according to demand. For this reason it can be extremely difficult to find employees who are that flexible and available. Thanks to the robot, personnel management becomes much more easier. No opening hours interruption and total safety The robot works continuously and is like having an employee at your service 24/7!  No longer do you have to close the range to collect balls and lose revenue.  Even at the busiest times, the driving range is under perfect control. The added safety benefit of BallPicker means you also avoid any potential accidents that can occur due to ball collection. No damaged, plugged or lost balls The robot ensures that all of the balls will be retrieved in perfect condition. Traditional ball pickers have an annoying tendency to bury a large number of balls each year . Costing the facility money when replacing them, this is eliminated with the robot ball collector as it makes all balls retrievable! Ecological equipment By switching to the ball collecting robot, you are investing in tomorrow’s economy. Reducing the environmental footprint of your business is an important challenge for every company. Investing in green technologies is no longer just a luxury of big business; it is becoming a real requirement. Ecological branding is good for everyone. The change to turn away from needless fossil fuels is long overdue! The ball collecting robot offers you: A 90% reduction in CO2 emissions (compared to the equivalent thermal machines) Consumption similar to that of a refrigerator No exhaust gases, no odour Unbeatable silence and performance They say silence is golden. At a golf course/facility, quiet surroundings is considered an essential requirement for concentration. Golf etiquette is well established, and each player is expected to be quiet when another golfer is playing. Therefore it is fair to say that the maintenance infrastructures should be governed by the same code of conduct? With robots you can have continuous action with no annoying noise. The ball collector robot outperforms  traditional market solutions by: Continuous ball collection Returning to base and recharging autonomously Easy agile programming Silent and systematic ball collection Guaranteed protection of the balls Get ahead of the curve by choosing the world’s only ball collecting robot , BallPicker

What care is involved in the maintenance of Belrobotics outfield robots? Is end-of-season servicing necessary? Your outfield robots are autonomous. It maintains your grounds according to set programming based on your requirements and needs. What can an owner do to preserve the robots? There are certain steps should be taken regularly to maintain optimum robot operation and to ensure a longer working life: Clear any large obstructions such as tree branches or other refuse from the grounds Check that the grounds have no big holes that the robot could get stuck in. (This is usual flagged during the site survey if pre-existing) Use a brush or compressed air gun to clean robot’s tyres, BigMows cutting heads along with Ball Pickers ball collecting wheel. (This should be repeated every two to three days in rainy weather, and once a week in dry weather). A regular check of the charging contacts on the robots and the charging station BigMow cutting heads should be replaced at least once every three to four months. For the sake of its appearance, feel free to wash the robot’s body using clean or soapy water. Is end-of-season servicing necessary? Just like a car, the outfield robots require annual servicing. This is because they cover between 5000 to 8000 km per year, so should be serviced by AMS technicians only. For customers signed up to Range Ball Service Plan this is included as part of the service contract. The servicing is performed according to a detailed maintenance plan. The process involves the robot being disassembled, inspected, cleaned, along with certain parts being replaced. The software is updated and the wheel motors are greased. The electronics, sonar system, and wiring are also checked. Where should I store the robot during the winter months? This is more directed to private home users rather than commercial facilities but can be applied if necessary. When not in use, ideally the robots should be stored in a location protected from frost and humidity. Apply this procedure before an idle period:  Carry out a final cleaning before storage. Charge the battery and set the switch to “Off”. Please contact us if you have any further questions about the care and maintenance of Belrobotics outfield robots.

Questions on the possible theft and vandalism of the robots are very common. Other related questions include, are there many thefts of Belrobotic robots? What kind of damage can occur to the robots? Who repairs the robots if damaged? Tracking the robots location The Ball Picker and BigMow robots are both equipped with a GPS system, so they can be located in real time at all times. An SMS alert notifies the range operator/owner and the AMS control centre, when an abnormal event occurs. The robots also have a Track & Trace system that will also send a SMS notification if an error occurs on the robot. Robot theft is very unlikely In the unfortunate event the robots are stolen from your golf facility, the robots would be rendered inoperable. The robots have been designed in that they cannot function on their own, they require an expert technician to install the station/ball return system to make them operational. Vandalism or accidental damage Accidental damage to the robots caused by visitors to the facility can occur, however intentional damage is rare. Nonetheless, if a robot is damaged by a person’s weight, is turned over, or flying objects hit it. The robots security system immediately detects this and notifies the person in charge at the facility. Who repairs the robots if damaged? Robot repairs will need to be carried out by our specialist AMS technicians. Belrobotic robots are equipped with an extremely robust aluminum chassis that is separate from its hood. In general most part can be replaced individually, so the robot can almost always be repaired if damaged. For more information on possible theft and vandalism of the robots, contact our AMS team . We are happy to help!

Why let robots take charge of your football pitch maintenance? How is robotic mowing a more cost effective? What are the results and benefits? The football groundskeeper needs to invest in quality equipment with a good return on investment. With BigMow offering up to 50% savings on operational costs and is 100% ecological, makes it a cost effective alternative to traditional mowers. A single BigMow mower can mow one football pitch , cutting the grass to the same height every time. The innovative manicure style mulching technique returns the grass to soil as nutrients leaving no waste to dispose of. This creates stronger grass thanks to better root growth, reducing the overall need for chemical fertilisers. Better ball performance and turf quality Grass is more supple and uniform Improved ball trajectory Enhanced shot precision and playing sensation Better grass anchoring into the soil Grass is more impact-resistant Grass is no longer prone to being torn out Easier management of personnel and infrastructures The BigMow robot allows you to have the perfect healthy pitch at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods. Since managing personnel can be a tricky task. BigMow gives you the freedom to deploy personnel to other aspects or running the football grounds. Deploy staff to other areas Better optimisation of staff management and duties A matter of sustainable development and compliance with environmental standards Environmental management is a crucial issue for the 21st century. BigMow is a great example of blending economic and ecological values for the benefit of all: 10 times less CO2 emissions Less watering and natural fertilising thanks to real mulching No noise pollution Let robots take charge of your football pitch, to find out how your pitch care program can benefit from BigMow automated robot mower, give us a call 01462 676 222 or contact us for more information.

How do the range balls collected get back to the dispenser? Is the process fully automated? Are the balls washed? The automated ball return system is responsible for the washing and transportation back to the dispenser of golf balls. It works in conjunction with the robot ballpicker that goes out and collects the balls out on the outfield. Once the robot is full it returns to its base and drops them into the return system. This process is fully automatic, from the time the balls are collected to being transported back to the dispenser, no human interaction is involved. The design itself consists of a stainless steel ball drop zone that is shaped like half a diamond. This is installed into the ground and it is what the robot drops the balls into. The half diamond shape allows the balls to be funnelled towards the centre, at the base of the drop zone container is a slider that moves back and forth. With each back and forth motion the balls drop into a u-bend shaped cage, this allows any debris such as small stones to fall away. Leaving the balls to roll into a connected vacuum pipe, the suction process of the vacuum pipe propels the golf balls back to the ball dispenser. During this transportation process water is introduced and the balls are cleaned. The return system is controlled via control panel that is usually located alongside the ball dispenser unit as well as the air compressor for the vacuum pipe. The design and development of the new system was undertaken by the owner of AMS Philip Sear and his technical director Sam Daybell. Philip had this to say about the ball return system: The new return system is currently being installed at FourAshes Golf Centre based in Solihull, who have been utilising robot technology at their facility for the past 4 years.  It is also part of a new installation being undertaken at Grimsby Golf Club and was installed at High Legh Golf Club based in Knutsford, seen in last month’s issue.

The rise of automation continues with the installation of the automated managed service solution at Grimsby Golf Centre. Newly refurbished Grimsby golf centre has recently undergone a complete refurbishment. Its driving range has had new netting, range balls, ball dispensers, golf mats and the robots installed. They have partnered with American Golf to boost its profile within the local golfing community. Forward thinking owner The progressive thinking of the owner Colin Jenkins, meant the decision was taken from an early stage to install the automated system. In preparation for this the neglected overgrown nature of the golf range outfield, which stood at almost a metre high, required managing. Ground works had to be undertaken, before the robotic system could be intriduced. This was successfully completed thanks to a lot of hard work by local farmers, the Council, specialist grass cutters and the golf centre’s maintenance team. Eliminate the chores The robots are designed to ease the chores of ball collection and outfield mowing, that are often seen as unpleasant and thankless tasks for golf operators and staff. Initially, many were quite sceptical as to how a robotic ball collection system would work in poor weather and ground conditions. Philip Sear managing director of Automated Managed Services explains: Grimsby golf centre is located at Littlecoates Road, Grimsby, DN34 4LU. Contact us for more info about the AMS Outfield Robots

With 35 locations across the UK utilising our robotic maintenance system, 2018 looks set to be an exciting year ahead. One of the highlights in our 2018 calendar is the BTME show at the end of January. Which is always a great opportunity to showcase the automated maintenance system to turf managers, golf club owners, managers and industry decision-makers. As the UK’s exclusive distributor of the Belrobotics BigMow and BallPicker robots, our close partnership is set to continue with Belrobotics interest in rolling out our AMS ball return system in their European territories. Managing Director Philip Sear states: Another development in the months ahead will see the upgrade of the BigMow robot mower by the manufacturer Belrobotics. This upgrade will include the redesign of the body mould to match the Ball Picker, along with some enhancements in software and mechanical components. These continued developments ensure BigMow continues to outperform traditional equipment in terms of cost, turf quality, carbon footprint as well as convenience.

With the BigMow robot mower stored away for the winter season, the robot ball collector ‘Ball Picker’ has been working solo. We contacted some of our customers to get their perspective on how the automated ball management system has performed during the winter season. Slinfold Golf and Country Club Based in Horsham have had the automated system for over two winters, their general manager Luke Blacker had this to say: Waterfront Golf Located in South Yorkshire, have had the system for roughly two years. Richard Jones, their Head Green-keeper gave his insight: Chadwell Springs Family Golf Centre Based Hertfordshire and have been using the automated system for over 10 months. Dave Smith, the Head PGA/Golf Manager reply was: Horsham Golf and Fitness Also based in Horsham, they’ve had the robots in for two years. The owner Neil Burke, response was: In conclusion, it is fair to say the automated ball management system has performed well during the winter period and has even improved the health of their outfield. If you would like more information about the AMS Outfield Robots can enhance your golf facility send us a message or give us a call us on 01462 676 222.

Brickhampton Court Golf Complex selects robots for their outfield maintenance. Set in 200 acres of rolling Gloucestershire countryside it was opened in 1994 by Creed Golf & Leisure Ltd, a family run business. * AMS Ball Wash & Transportation System: Close up of the Ball Pit, which Ballpicker drops the ball into. Over the years the family have maintained a keen interest to ensure it’s development into a golf centre of true quality. This can be seen through implementation of the robots in their driving range. It’s floodlight driving range is fully carpeted. Along with 28 sheltered bays for practice or have a lesson from one of their golf professionals. * Left Image: Range Ball Room, featuring the transportation pipe theat returns the ball to the ball dispenser. Right Image: AMS control panel, ball wash unit and the compressor The golf complex was designed by Simon Gidman, a member of the British Institute of Golf Course Architects. He is known for designing challenging and attractive golf courses that offer a fair test to golfers of all abilities. It’s facilities include a 27 hole parkland complex with the 18 hole, par 71 (6303 yard) Spa Course and 9 hole, par 27 (1826 yard) Glevum Course. Visit our AMS range ball washing and transportation page for more information on how automated ball management can benefit your facility.

Will the future of pitch care mowing still require someone to walk behind or sit on a machine? Perhaps not. AMS (Automated Management Services) firmly believes automation is key to bringing productivity and sustainability to pitch care. AMS distribute the BigMow robotic mower as part of their automated maintenance service, catering for not just football pitches but other turf based sport fields, cricket grounds, golf facilities and parks. The mower is capable of covering up to 2.5 hectares working within the parameters of an underground wire boundary. The perfect cut Equipped with 15 blades it gives grass a manicured style cut. that allows the finely trimmed stalks to quickly decompose and fertilise the soil in a 100% ecological way. BigMow is lightweight and imposes no stress to the grass. Its regular mowing frequency (approx. 5 to 7 times a week). It also helps reduce the development of weeds, moss and the need for chemical fertilisers. Low noise levels allow for extended mowing hours and zero emissions due to battery operation and less reliance on petrol products. Strong grass roots The grass has better soil anchoring, due to strengthen sowing ability. Creating a denser sward, thats better resistant to wear and tear. Frequently used areas, such as goalmouths experience progressive, natural and abundant grass growth, making them more shear resistant. Over a period of time the quality of the pitch becomes softer and more consistent, allowing for improved ball trajectory, shot accuracy and playing experience. Cost effective Football clubs with limited resources, robotic mowing is still a viable option. With the help of the FA’s Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP), grassroots football clubs can reduce the overall cost even further. Offered in partnership with the FA facilities & investment team alongside the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) with the simple aim of improving the quality of grass pitches. “We understand the importance of groundskeepers and the overall level of resources open to them can impact the appearance and performance of the pitch. Our automated maintenance solution can help groundskeepers kick start a sustainable healthy pitch care programme. Costing less than traditional mowing methods, it can offer potential pitch maintenance savings of up to 50% and increased productivity by allowing the groundskeeper to focus on other duties.” Philip Sear, Managing Director of AMS BigMow can be found at 38+ golf clubs across the UK along with 800+ football clubs in Europe such as Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven and RKC Waalwijk. Evidence of is its continued recognition as an eco-friendly, reliable and affordable solution for sports fields/pitches. The future of pitch care mowing, will involve automated mowing .

What makes robot mowers safe? Worried about buying a robotic mower or automower? How do they react to the presence of a human or animal? Will an obstacle damage the blades? Intuitive design, making Belrobotics robot mowers safe Sonar The robots sonar system allows it to detect the presence of people or animals and objects in its path (as long as the obstacle is at least 50 cm high with a diameter of at least 10 cm). The warning issued by the sonar causes the robot to slow down immediately. Reversing detectors As soon as the robot first encounters the obstacle, the robot mower slows down then stops and changes direction. The pressure-sensitive bumper is very responsive, even in the case of a very slight contact and without human involvement. Lift detectors When the robot is lifted, the lift detectors trip automatically and the cutting heads stop rotating. If the action is caused by human intervention, the mower stops immediately; if an obstacle is the reason, the robot manoeuvres itself so as to be able to continue mowing. Retractable blades fitted to Belrobotics robots Safety is very much central to the design of Belrobotics robot mowers. The special patented cutting blades retract automatically when they come into contact with an object. With protection and safety are fully optimized, this means accidents are reduced and the robot’s blades remain intact while still guaranteeing an impeccable cut. Please note that the number and seriousness of accidents are much less that those caused by conventional tractor mowers. What precautions should be taken? It is strongly recommended to clear the grass of any objects (like toys or bulky tree branches) and not leave children or animals unattended while the robot is in operation. Children and persons with impaired physical, sensorial, or mental abilities are forbidden to handle the robot or charging station. We advise all users must have familiarized themselves with the process for using the robot.