John Deere’s New Robot Lawnmower: The Future of Landscaping?

At CES 2025, John Deere unveiled its latest innovation — an electric robot lawnmower designed for commercial-grade landscaping. This autonomous mower could revolutionize the landscaping industry, but it also raises questions about its impact on human labor in the sector.

With the robot lawnmower set to run on a powerful 21.4 kWh battery, John Deere claims the mower can operate for up to 10 hours on a single charge. That’s a significant upgrade compared to traditional gas-powered mowers, which tend to be much louder and require more maintenance. The company also boasts that this quieter operation will allow workers to start mowing earlier in the morning, without disturbing the peace.

How the John Deere Robot Lawnmower Works

The robot lawnmower uses four pairs of stereo cameras, placed on each side of the mower, to create a 360-degree view of its surroundings. This allows it to navigate obstacles, avoid collisions, and ensure a clean, consistent cut across large areas, making it ideal for commercial landscapes, golf courses, and other outdoor spaces.

Key Features of the John Deere Robot Lawnmower:

Electric powered with a 21.4 kWh battery for up to 10 hours of operation.
360-degree stereo cameras for autonomous navigation and obstacle detection.
Quieter operation compared to traditional gas-powered mowers.
Designed for commercial-grade landscaping and large properties.

Could This Robot Lawnmower Replace Landscapers?

While the robot lawnmower is designed to improve efficiency and productivity, it’s clear that John Deere sees automation as a way to address the labor shortage in the landscaping industry. According to the company, qualified labor has become increasingly difficult to find, which is why they believe that autonomous mowers can fill the gap.

Jahmy Hindman, John Deere’s Chief Technology Officer, highlighted the labor challenge, saying, “Our agriculture, construction, and commercial landscaping customers all have work that must get done at certain times of the day and year, yet there is not enough available and skilled labor to do the work. Autonomy can help address this challenge.”

A Growing Trend of Autonomous Machines

John Deere’s robot lawnmower is part of a broader shift toward autonomous technology in the agriculture and landscaping industries. Other CES 2025 announcements included an autonomous 5ML orchard tractor for spraying crops, a larger 9RX tractor for tilling fields, and a 460 P-Tier autonomous dump truck for quarry operations.

These innovations are pushing the boundaries of automation, making it clear that autonomous machines are becoming an essential part of industries like agriculture, construction, and landscaping. The robot lawnmower is likely to be the first of these machines that many of us will encounter in our everyday lives.

When Will It Be Available?

Currently, John Deere has not released specific details on when the robot lawnmower will hit the market. However, with the company’s commitment to autonomy, it’s clear that this mower — and others like it — will become a common sight in the near future.