Introduction
Welcome to the RoboCut web-site. Here you can read and learn abouth the RoboCut autonomous lawnmover kit.

RoboCut, is a BASIC Stamp powered robot. Two 12Volt motors with gearbox gives the two large drivewheels good traction and the robot can manouver in very small areas.

Powersource is a NiMh accu-pack at 12V, 4.1 Ah. One motor gives the cutterdisk a rpm at approx. 3500 rpm. A Basic STAMP 2 is the brain in the PCB mounted in the front of the Robocut. This PCB has the following features.

-Two-chanel (right/left) Buried Wire Fence (BWF) detectors.
-Two-chanel (right/left) active IR obstacle detection
-Two chanel (right/left) drive motor control on/off, Forward/Rewerse
-One chanel cutter-motor control on/off, MOS-FET 20 Amp
-Charging/accuvoltage measuring with high resolution
-Charger detection On/off
-Optional temperature sensor to check accupack temp during charging.
-prototype area
-prepared for optional "self-charging" and navigating to the chargingstation via an IR_beacon.

The original idea for the robocut was born spring 2000 at Robotshop in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Robotshop is a parallax distributor, so the natural choice for control was a BASIC Stamp. The project has evolved from an "experiment-rig" to a "Do-it-yourself" kit. The whole "process of evolution" is described on a very popular project diary.

RoboCut Kit is now for sale in Sweden at SEK 5120:- Approx USD 695 exclusive local taxes and shipping.
contact us for more info. The RoboCut Controller PCB ( set of two PCB:s) is available at USD 149 (No STAMP)
contact us for more info
Send us a mail if you want information when news about RoboCut is available!

2004-04-14 New video clips showing a testrig for autonomous self-charging, and the RoboCut in "edge-cut" mode
2004-03-26 Large VIDEO ! Mechanics/Electronics/Testing! -An introduction video in English -A 40 minutes long video presentation in Swedish, vill play "streaming" or be downloaded.
2004-02-17 During summer 2003 we sold a "testserie" of the RoboCut Kit to a selection of customers. The feedback from them have led to some minor adjustments . The cutter-motor/disc has been moved slightly backwards to increase the cutter-effeciency. Drive wheels has a slightly different design..
Electronics has has also been further developed.Now alla drive-circuits are of MOS-FET type, the PCB has place for one more IR-transmitter, placed in the mittle of the PCB. The BWF-reciever is prepared for future digitizing of the system.The cuttermotor control circuitry now has current-monitoring. The BWF transmitter/charger PCB, now has charge circutry of switch-type. Charging current adjustable in four levels. BWF-power is adjustable in to steps, high/low. BWF-transmitter is prepared for future digitizing
Read more about the RoboCut PCB PDF-manual	click for large image
2003-05-09 RoboCut Kit Ready! At last, all bits and pieces are now ready and we have started to supply the swedish market with a limited test series of the KIT, a lager batch will be produced later on this summer, eventually with some minor adjustments, due to the input from our test-builder. The kit now has a yellow "front-shield" covered with a transparent lexan shield...this yellow shild adds the final functionality to the IR-obstacle detection system, and makes the RC fully waterproof. All nuts and bolts are now in stainless steel.	Klicka för storbild
Most common query is regarding the price. We are still negotiating with supplier, one key component is the motors, which must be at very high quality. We guess that the price will end up somewhere arond USD 700. But we still have not finally decided about the US-market, since we are slightly worried about the security issues and how to handle product responsibility...	Klicka för storbild
2003-04-20 More videoclip RC5
2003-04-20 The complete manuale as PDF
2003-01-07 The PCB:s now ready. Images shows the main PCB and the BWF transmitter. The BWF transmitter now includes circuitry for charging. Main PCB is monted "standing" in the RC front, all sensors "on-board". Electronics will be available separately for thoose of you preffering build your own mechanics.
BWF transmitter now has circuitry for charging. The design gives about 400 mA constant current, not any fastcherger...but it will not harm the accus. Power comes from a 18Volt wallpack which also powers the BWF transmitter .
"Exploded" RC5 The CAD system has rendered a image with details "exploded" (what do you call thees images in english ??) high res.
2002-11-20 Statusreport RoboCut Kit. Our efforts in creating a kit from the RoboCut project continues and is now close to a production start. Our prototypes have been working the whole summer, by clicking on diary, you can read about our "field experiences " Preliminary, the RoboCut Kit will contain the following: -All mechanical parts except "cutting sharp parts" -Two drivemotors with gearbox.l -Cuttermotor -Control electronics including BASIC Stamp 2 -Accumulators for a 12V accupack 4.5 Ah -BWF transmitter, including charging regulator. -Programmingcable -Programing tools, BASIC Stamp -Several software examples, including testroutines -Assemblyinstructions -Documentation
2002-07-20 A small Video-clip
2002-06-25 RoboCut5 Kit, real soon now.... RC5 has been tested during the Swedish spring and summer season and we are very satisfied with the design. The "centrepoint of mass" has been adjusted, we have added a bumber, protecting the cutter from feet etc. RC5 has a new set of drivemotors, and a new type of cuttermotor, which have added some power at the price of a slightly shorter drivtime. Depending on the amount of work, ie the length of the grass, the RC5 will run between 2 and 3.5 hours with the supercompact accupack at 4.1 Ah you can see on the images.	Klicka för stor bild
The electronics now includes high resolution measure of the actual voltage from the accu, this means that the STAMP can control the chargin process and detect when accus are full, and in a near future, back up and leave it's chaging station. By monitoring the accu voltage we also have been able to detect a stuck cutterdisk, since such a thing generates a significant decrease in voltage, several similar ideas are to be tested... Electronics also has a new, improved BWF amplifier, a prototyp-area, "faststopp" of cutterdisk etc. mail till oss	Klicka för stor bild
A view of the new motorarrangement, which leaves a lot of space for individual additions, we have used a wonderful "radiomodem", the "STAMPER" from ewave inc, which quite simple replaces the cable, and software adjustments, debugging etc can be made from your "deckchair" or indoors.	Klicka för stor bild
The cutterdisk has three alternative hole positions, which gives users the option to choose how much of the cutters will be exposed, and the "amount" of damage made at an accident...the three positions gives 5, 10 or 15 mm of "free knife", you could also put knifes in all 9 positions to maximize effect. from security and "responsibility reasons" the RC will be shipped without any sharp parts or elements to attach such cutting devices with, to keep us absolutely free from responsibility from any harm created by the finished RC, there will also be several warnings ad "seals to break" before the end user can assemble his RC, still, the overall recomendation we have recieved from our advisors is, not to sell this kit on the US-market since there is always a risk that someone will sew you if anything goes wrong, and the risk is that the legal process will be to expensive, regardless of who's right or wrong... Hopefully we can find a way to protect ourselves, and make the RC available all over, since the interest is very big, there is a a lot of "lawnmover men" out there.	Klicka för stor bild
RC5 now has "bumpers" in the front and in the back, it protects the cutterdisk and feet&fingers from each other.	Klicka för stor bild

2002-03-06 RoboCut5 Kit Yet some more adjustments of mechanical details. RoboCut Rev.5 will be produced in a small serie as KIT, theese will be sold to a selection of customers, who are supposed to give us feedback on pro:s and con:s about the KIT. Most of the serie is already booked, but there are still a few left. Send us a mail if you are interseted in becoming a "testbuilder"

2001-11-11 this is roboCut in its "fourth edition". All the parts ar "laser-cut" from our CAD originals, material is a strong, lightweight-foam-PVC".
The controller PCB is situated behind the blue front-panel. We have integrated all necessary sensord and actuators on one PCB, all of it controlled by a BASIC Stamp 2.
Inside "the box" you see the two drive-motors, in center the cutter motor, in front the controller PCB and at the back the 4.1 Ah 12V accupack. This accu-pack keeps the robocut moving for approx. 3-4 hours!
The cutterarrangement with foldable cuuet-knives of "Stanley"-type. RoboCut will be delivered without any knives or mounting details, since the cutterarrangement is NOT CERTIFIED for security, all cutter arrangements and responsibility has to be on the user. the RoboCut is only intended to be a platform for experimentation and should never be used without supervision.
An early prototype of the Buried Wire fence (BWF) transmitter. One of the potentiometers is used to set the output power. Power kan be from 9-15 Volt.