Operating & Safety Manual RL1000 & Docking Station www.friendlyrobotics.
EC Declaration of Conformity 1. F. Robotics Acquisitions, 1 Ha’yassur St., Hasharon Industrial Park, Kadima, Israel declares that the machines described in item 2 conforms with the directives listed in items 3 & 4. 2. Product: 24 Volt Battery operated automatic lawn mower, models RL500, RL550, RL800 RL850 and RL1000*. Serial number: see mark on the machine. 3.
The products are manufactured by F. Robotics Acquisitions (Friendly Robotics). © Friendly Robotics, 2004-A. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, electronically or translated without the prior written consent of Friendly Robotics. Product, product specifications and this document are subject to change without notice. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. CE approved.
Table of Contents Safety Warnings & Precautions ………………………………………….….……… 5 Safety Features …………………………………………………………….….…..…. 7 What’s in the Box ……………………………………………………………….……. 9 Chapter 1 – Docking Station & Perimeter Wire Setup…………………….….….. 11 Chapter 2 – Preparing the RoboMower® …………………………………………. 28 Chapter 3 – Manual & Automatic Operation…………………………………….…36 Chapter 4 – Setting the Weekly Program…………………………………………..
Safety Warnings & Precautions 1. Read the owners/operating manual carefully and follow all safety and warning instructions. 2. This machine has sharp rotating blades! Never allow the mower to operate unattended; keep bystanders, children and pets away from mower when in operation. 3. Never allow anyone to ride or sit on mower. 4. Never allow children or persons not familiar with the safe operation of the mower to operate the mower. 5.
Safety Warnings & Precautions Warning Decal Definitions 1 2 3 4 5 6 1. WARNING-this is a dangerous power tool. Use care when operating and follow all safety instructions and warnings. 2. Read the owner/operating manual carefully and follow all safety instructions. 3. Objects can be thrown from mower while operating, take caution. 4. Keep children, pets and bystanders away from mower. 5. Sharp rotating blades. Keep hands away and do not attempt to lift mower from this area. 6. Sharp rotating blades.
RoboMower® - Safety Features 1. Child Guard / Safety Guard This menu option offers a safety feature to help prevent children or others not familiar with the safe operation of the mower to operate it freely. 2. Lift Sensor There is a sensor located on the front caster wheel of the mower. In the event the front of the mower is raised approximately 1-inch from its resting position on the ground during blade operation, the blades will stop rotating immediately (< 1 second). 3.
11. Over-Current Monitoring Protection Each of the three blade motors and each of the two wheel drive motors are monitored continuously during operation for any situation that may cause these motors to over-heat. In the event this is detected, the RoboMower will stop operation of at least that motor and possibly the mower itself and indicate that the motor is cooling down.
What’s in the Box (RoboMower®) 1. RoboMower® 2. Power Pack 2 3. Operating & Safety Manual 4. Standard charger Used for recharging the RoboMower power pack. Indoor use only. 5. RoboRuler Used for setting the distance of the perimeter wire from the lawn edge. 4 5 6. Pegs Used for securing the perimeter wire to the ground around the lawn perimeter and around obstacles. 7. Wire Used to create a virtual wall for your RoboMower. 7 6 6 8.
What’s in the Box (Docking Station) 12. Base Used for directing the RoboMower to the charging contacts. 13. Cover including the Perimeter Switch & a Power Supply Used for recharging the Robomow Power Pack and activates the perimeter wire, which defines the area in which the RoboMower will operate. 14. Docking Fence Used for preventing the RoboMower to climb on the Docking Station during operation. 12 13 14 15 15. Docking Stake x5 Used for securing the Docking Station to the ground. 16.
Chapter 1 Docking Station & Perimeter Wire Setup 2 Cover Base 5 Screw (x2) 3 1 Stake (x5) 4 Fence Figure 1.1 Docking Station Assembly CAUTION! Refer to the specific safety instructions related with operation of the RoboMower with a Docking Station, as specified in the Safety chapter. 1.1 Docking Station Zone Before setting up the perimeter wire and Docking Station, it is best to examine your lawn and determine the best location for the docking station.
Important Note: The power supply is for indoor use only, be sure to locate it and its connection to the extension cord in a dry location. It is recommended to place the Docking Station as close as possible to a receptacle, roll the extra cable and store it near the power supply. See paragraph 1.15 for further details on the cable.
• A minimum distance of 8 feet (2.5 meters) is required between the Docking Station fence and the perimeter island. See figure 1.5. Greater than 8 feet (2.5m) Figure 1.5 – Distance From Perimeter Island Place the Docking Station on level ground. Do not place the Docking Station on a slopping ground. See figure 1.6. The area under and around the Docking Station MUST be flat to insure proper docking of the mower into the Docking Station. Ensure both drive wheels are leveled with the Docking Station base.
• The RoboMower is impervious to water and rain, however it is recommended to place the Docking Station away from sprinkler heads for maximum protection. See figure 1.7 Figure 1.7 – Avoid Placement Near Water Sprinklers Now, knowing the location of the Docking Station, you can begin to setup the Perimeter Wire in the docking zone. 1.3 Perimeter Wire Setup for Docking Zone and Non-Docking Zone The perimeter wire setup in a docking and non-docking zone is identical in terms of placement and fastening.
WARNING! ! Damage to the eye is possible. Use proper eye protection and wear appropriate work gloves when hammering the pegs. Hard or dry ground may cause pegs to break when driving them in. In extreme cases, watering the lawn where the pegs will be driven can be beneficial. Figure 1.8 – Starting The Perimeter Wire in a Docking Station zone 1.
Add pegs in to pull the perimeter wire down to the ground surface, below the grass tips. Perimeter Wire Figure 1.10 – Pegging the Perimeter Wire 1.6 Corners & Sharp Turns Care must be taken not to create a corner sharper than 90 degrees when setting up the perimeter wire. A corner sharper than 90 degrees can cause the RoboMower to lose track of the perimeter wire.
1.8 Defining Obstacles-Perimeter Islands Many obstacles can be left in the lawn without consideration to excluding them using the perimeter wire. The basic rule of thumb is that the obstacle must be at least 6 inches (15 cm) high from the ground and the obstacle must be relatively rigid. Good examples of these kinds of obstacles include many trees, phone poles, power poles and flag poles.
Figure 1.13 – Perimeter Wire Setup Distances for Obstacles Trees large enough to allow RoboMower to bump into do not require a perimeter wire around it Tree too close to perimeter, less than 4 feet (1.2m), loop out with perimeter wire Small tree, must exclude with perimeter wire Minimum distance between obstacle wire and perimeter wire = 5 feet (1.5 m) Greater than 3 feet (0.9 m) The RoboMower can freely move across this section, but will still recognize the perimeter island.
1.9 Multiple Zones/Areas As mentioned earlier, your home may require more than one zone to be set up in order for the RoboMower to work in all of your lawn effectively. Having two or even three zones does not affect the efficiency of the RoboMower and in many circumstances is more desirable than one large zone. Where grass areas are not contiguous, or are separated by fences or other objects, it is also recommended to make each of these a separate zone.
1.10 Slopes As a general rule of thumb, any slope that can safely be cut using a walk behind mower can also be cut using the RoboMower in the automatic mode. The maximum slope limit is 15 degrees, the same as a traditional walk behind mower. Bear in mind that a 15-degree slope, though it may not sound very steep, is in fact a relatively steep slope.
1.13 Docking Station Assembly Align the two tabs on the lower section of the cover with the mated openings in the front lower section of the base, see Figure 1.20. Carefully push the tabs of the cover into the openings in the base as shown. While in the position pictured, attach the perimeter wire connector to the Perimeter Switch board as shown. Pivot the cover towards the base and confirm proper way out of the power supply cable from the notch in the base, as shown in Figure 1.21.
Carefully align the three slots on the fence with the three tabs on the base. See figure 1.23. Once aligned, push the fence firmly down onto the base until it has snapped into place. Base Fence Figure 1.23 – Fence Alignment 1.14 Placing and testing the Docking Station • Use the RoboRuler to place the Docking Station on the perimeter.
• The longer distance (18 inches / 45 cm) is used where the area outside the immediate perimeter of the Docking Station has a wall or is not the same relative height as the perimeter edge. See figure 1.25. Area outside perimeter has a wall as an obstacle. RoboRuler Long distance Figure 1.25 – Using Long Distance of RoboRuler to Place Docking Station Fasten the Docking Station in place using a hammer to drive the five stakes.
Test the Docking Station setup. Connect the power supply to a regular household receptacle 120 Volts AC (models outside the US use a 230 volt main power). Press the ‘On’ button on the Docking Station Operation Panel. A small flashing green light next to the ‘On’ button indicates the system is on and functioning correctly. The Docking Station operating panel also disconnected/broken perimeter wire (Figure 1.27).
Setup in Non-Docking Zone 1.16 Perimeter Switch Placement and Perimeter Wire Setup Find a convenient spot outside the perimeter of the non-docking zone, but a location that is relatively easy for you to access. Consider placing the perimeter switch near shrubs or bushes to hide them. Now, knowing the Perimeter Switch location, you can begin the setup of the Perimeter Wire in each of the zones, as was explained in articles 1.3 to 1.10. 1.
Take the Perimeter Switch and squeeze the tabs on both sides of the Perimeter Switch as shown in figure 1.30, and remove the back cover from the Perimeter Switch. Insert the 3 C-cell batteries in the battery holder as shown in Figure 1.31 and reassemble the Perimeter Switch. Figure 1.30 Squeeze to remove cover Figure 1.31 – Inserting Batteries 1.18 Test the Perimeter Switch Plug the perimeter wire connector into the Perimeter Switch (see figure 1.32) and press the ON button.
1.19 Placing The Perimeter Switch The Perimeter Switch connector is designed for quick and easy disconnection, a flexible feature should your lawn require more than one plot. You easily disconnect it by simply pulling the connectors apart. This allows you to easily move the perimeter switch between plots.
Chapter 2 Preparing The RoboMower® Charging Contact Pins Carrying handle Bumpers with touch sensitive sensors Manual Controller Operating Lamp Power Pack Figure 2.1 - A basic ‘what is what’ of the RoboMower® 2.1 Inserting Power Pack Fuse Your RoboMower is shipped with the Power Pack fuse removed and it will not operate without it. The fuse is contained in a small plastic bag attached to the top of the Power Pack. Remove the Power Pack from the RoboMower and insert the fuse.
2.2 Using The Manual Controller The RoboMower is equipped with a Manual Controller. It enables you to manually drive and operate the mower. To get started on using the Manual Controller, study figure 2.3 to view the various operating controls and their functions. Refer to Chapter 5, Manual Operation for full details regarding use of the Manual Controller. 1. Manual blade engagement button 8. Navigation button 2. LCD display window 7. Manual drive speed control – fast/slow 3. Clear/cancel button 4.
2.3 Manual and automatic operation The RoboMower is safely designed so that operation in the manual mode is prohibited unless the Manual Controller has been removed from its’ holder and is in the possession of the user to operate the buttons. See Figure 2.4. The manual mode is used to primarily move/drive the RoboMower into the lawn and to return it after mowing. It is also used for moving the RoboMower around to other areas if needed.
2.5 Setting The Cutting Height And Ground Clearance Remove the Power Pack before making any adjustments. The RoboMower has two basic adjustments, cutting height and ground clearance. The cutting height is adjustable from approximately 1.5 inches to 3.5 inches (3.8 cm – 8.9 cm). (RL550 Europe 1 to 3 inches / 2.5 – 7.6 cm) The ground clearance has two adjustment positions.
2.6 Set Country and Perform One Time Calibration The RoboMower uses a sophisticated navigation system that utilizes an on-board compass type device, which responds to the magnetic poles of the earth. Magnetic North can vary from one point on the earth to another, based on geography. In order to accommodate this variance, it is necessary to calibrate the compass device to the area of the earth where the mower is being used.
Figure 2.10 – Calibrating Sequence LCD Display Dock Zone Action Required MAX Press GO Press ‘GO’ Press ‘GO’ Set Country Press GO Scroll up or down to find your country Not Set! Scroll Press ‘GO’ to confirm selection USA Confirm Dock Zone: Press ‘GO’ MAX Press ‘GO’ Press GO Press ‘GO’. Process will begin and last 1-2 minutes.
2.7 Enabling the Docking Station Option Press the ‘GO’ button and the following will be displayed: Enable Dock ON Press GO Press ‘GO’ and scroll to display ‘ON’ Enable Dock ON Confirm Press ‘GO’ to confirm ‘ON’ setting Figure 2.11 – Enabling Docking Function 2.8 Testing the Docking Station and Perimeter Wire Position for Docking It is best to test the position of the Docking Station and to determine if any small adjustments need to be made before driving the rest of the stakes into place.
2.9 Test the Perimeter Wire Position for Edge Mowing: As mentioned in Chapter 1, it is best to test the position of the perimeter wire on edge mowing to determine if any small adjustments need to be made to the wire position before driving the rest of the wire pegs into place.
Chapter 3 Manual and Automatic Operation 3.1 Activating The Perimeter Switch – Docking Zone Area/zone with Docking Station If the RoboMower is operated from the Docking Station in automatic or manual-depart (see paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3), the RoboMower will automatically switch the Perimeter Switch at the Docking Station Control Panel on and off to coincide with depart and dock events. 3.
- Insert the Manual Controller back into the holder and pivot down flush. Confirm the Perimeter Switch is turned on and the mower is pointed at any perimeter wire section (not an island or excluded obstacle). Press the upper scroll arrow once for the ‘Go to dock’ message option to display and then press GO. The RoboMower will find the perimeter wire and will follow the wire to the Docking Station – ‘Searching dock’ message is displayed during this sequence.
Chapter 3 Page 28 3.7 Edge Mowing – Non-Docking The first mowing chore for the RoboMower is mowing the edge. By edge, we mean the outer perimeter of the active zone the RoboMower is working within. This is essentially where you placed your perimeter wire in the wire set-up. Edge mowing provides a clean even cut around the perimeter and helps to minimize the amount of trimming along walls and other obstacles. The RoboMower will always mow the edge in a counter-clockwise direction. Figure 3.2.
3.9 Skipping Edge Mowing The RoboMower provides a means that will allow you to skip the edge mowing process and start directly with the scanning (mowing) process. In order to do this, simply press the ‘GO’ button two times at the initial startup of the mower. Pressing ‘GO’ the second time immediately following the first press will tell the mower to skip mowing the edge. See Figure 3.6. You may start the mower anywhere within the perimeter that you choose, but at least 4 feet (1.
The Manual Controller can only operate in manual mode when removed from the holder, which holds it in place during automatic operation. For safety it is designed in such a way that manual operation is prohibited while in the holder and automatic operation is prohibited when removed from the holder. You will also notice that the Manual Controller contains the keypad for starting automatic operation as well as the emergency stop. To access manual operation, remove the Manual Controller as seen in Figure 3.9.
Chapter 4 Setting the Weekly Program 4.1 Setting the Time The first step before setting the weekly program is to set the current time: day of the week and clock. Note that the clock is on a 24hour military time scale. There are two options to set the time. See figure 4.1.
4.2 Setting the Weekly Program Remove the Manual Controller and follow the steps as outlined below.
Note: The clock resets itself each time the Power Pack is removed; ‘Set time’ message will then display: Set Time Press GO WARNING! ! Serious injury can occur. If the current date and time are not set correctly or are failed to be set when prompted, the times scheduled for automatic departure will not be correct. Incorrect departure times can be dangerous if children, pets or bystanders are present in the mowing area. 4.3 How to cancel an active day? Two options to cancel an active day: 1.
2. RoboMower is in the Docking Station - press the up scroll arrow once – the weekly program is displayed for 10 seconds: M T W T F S S + - + - - - + This screen will display for 10 seconds and then disappear.
Chapter 5 Charging 5.1 Charging Of all the areas regarding the RoboMower, proper charging of the Power Pack is second only to safety in importance. Failure to follow the charging guidelines will result in poor performance and a short Power Pack life. After the completion of any daily cutting session it is very important to bring the RoboMower to its storage area and plug it into the charger as soon as possible, preferably within 6 hours from the time it stopped. The standard charger, Figure 5.
5.3 Charging Using the Standard Charger Connected to the Charging Socket If the need arises, the Power Pack may be re-charged using the standard charger and connecting it to the charging socket on the Manual Controller holder. This is designed ONLY for indoor use and should never be used to charge the RoboMower while still docked in the Docking Station. When the charging plug is disconnected from the Manual Controller holder, the following message will be displayed on the LCD screen. See Figure 5.3.
The LCD on the Manual Controller will display the text seen in Figure 5.7 and the battery icon will continually move from empty to full to show the charging. Once the battery is fully charged, the message will change to that as shown in Figure 5.8, reminding you to keep it connected to the charger until the next use.
The ‘Recharge Battery’ level has a higher priority in the power management system than ‘Time Completed’ for the obvious reason that the Power Pack voltage is at a lower level. For this reason, immediately following a ‘Recharge Battery’ message the RoboMower will emit a buzzer sound every 30 seconds for the next 20 minutes in order to alert you that the mowing session is completed and it is now time to re-connect the charger to the RoboMower.
Chapter 6 Operator Settings and Advanced Features 6.1 User Options Lifting the Manual Controller from its holder will change the text display on the LCD to the manual operating menu, as seen in Figure 6.1. Figure 6.1 Manual User options Pressing ‘GO’ once will take you to the next screen, ‘User Preferences’. Figure 6.2. Using the ‘Up ⇑ Down ⇓’ arrows keys will allow you to scroll through the menu items, as shown in figure 6.2. User Preferences Press GO Docking options Press GO Figure 6.
6.2 User Preferences Press ‘GO’ to view the menu of user preferences, beginning with ‘Sound’, Figure 6.3. Using the ‘Up ⇑ Down ⇓’ arrow keys will allow you to scroll through these menu items. Pressing ‘GO’ will take you to these various preferences. Figure 6.3. User Preferences Press GO Press ‘GO’ Sound on Press GO Mowing on Press GO Language Press GO Work time Press GO Wide scan off Press GO Learn edge Press GO Set default edge Press GO Enable dock on Press GO Anti theft off Press GO Figure 6.3 6.2.
Dock Zone: MAX Press GO Figure 6.4 6.2.5 Dock Zone: 2:00 Press GO Scroll to select different zones. Scroll to select different operating times. Times range from: 20 minutes to 2 hours to ‘MAX’ Wide Scan Wide scan provides the RoboMower a secondary navigation technique, which can prove to be beneficial in some lawns. Wide scan will increase the distance between subsequent legs of mowing after each movement off of the perimeter wire.
6.2.7 Set Default Edge Selecting Default Edge restores the factory default edge distance to the specific zone selected. 6.2.8 Enable Dock This option should be set to ‘on’ when using Docking Station to enable the Docking options to the user. If it set to ‘off’ the Docking menus are hidden. 6.2.9 Anti-Theft The anti-theft system provides the user a disabling function that will prevent anyone from using or driving the RoboMower unless they have the valid code to enter.
Under the ‘Entry points’ display you can find the following three options (figure 6.7): Entry Points Press GO Press ‘GO’ Set entry points Pres GO to learn Back to default Press GO Entry points on Press GO Figure 6.7 Set Entry Points It is possible to set up to four points (includes the Docking Station itself, which is always defined as entry point number one and cannot be canceled). Place the mower in the Docking Station when the Manual Controller in its place and follow the steps below (Figure 6.
Back to default Selecting ‘Back to default’ restores the factory default entry points – there is no distance in the memory and the mower should complete the lawn’s edge at least once before it will use the default of 30% and 60% percentages of the perimeter as entry points. To set this option follow the steps appeared in Figure 6.7. Entry Points - on/off Allows user not to use the entry points.
Chapter 7 Text Messages and Troubleshooting 7.1 Messaging The RoboMower is equipped with a sophisticated monitoring system that will notify you in the form of a text message in the LCD panel when common operational faults occur. In addition, it will also communicate in text form several messages that are meant as a prompt to the user to perform a certain function or action.
Probable Cause/Event Message Displayed Corrective/User Action Drive Overload Cooling, Wait… - Drive problem - Internal failure - Contact service provider Front/Rear bumper disc. CAUTION – DO NOT attempt to disable this safety device in the event you are unable to isolate and correct the problem. Contact your service provider for repair before using.
Probable Cause/Event Message Displayed No Wire Signal Ready Keep Charging - Perimeter Switch is not turned on or not connected to the zone intended to mow The battery is fully charged - Recharge Battery - The maximum operating time has been reached Replace lamp - The Operating Lamp is burnt out Retry elsewhere - Calibration failure from interference in the immediate area Set Country - Set Time Start Elsewhere - Displayed only on first use.
Problem Encountered Probable Cause/Event - Power supply/charger is not plugged into the main power supply Corrective/User Action - Confirm power supply is plugged into the main power receptacle. Check for power to this main receptacle by plugging in another appliance. - Turn power on to the main receptacle. - Disassemble the Docking Station Cover by unscrewing the screws and check the connection of the power cable (black) and the wire connector (green).
Problem Encountered Perimeter Switch will not activate when turned on. RoboMower will not operate and nothing will display on the LCD screen. RoboMower drives but blades will not mow. Short run time, operates less time than normal. Probable Cause/Event Batteries are completely discharged. Batteries installed with wrong polarity position. Perimeter Switch not installed vertically and exposed to water/rain. Mower is in deep sleep. Power Pack has been discharged from lack of charge maintenance.
Problem Encountered Large patches of uncut grass remain after RoboMower has completed mowing. The bumper does not activate when striking an obstacle. The RoboMower gets stuck frequently when traveling over less than optimal terrain. RoboMower does not complete the edge Probable Cause/Event Corrective/User Action Power Pack is not fully charged for operation. Connect the charger to the mower and keep it connected until the ‘Ready – Keep Charging’ message displays in the LCD screen.
Chapter 8 Specification Top Bottom Dimensions 89cm l x 66.5cm w x 31.5cm h (35” x 26” x 12.5”) Weight 22.6kg (50lb.) Unit + 12.6kg (28lb.) Power Pack Front Noise level < 85 db (A) Mowing Width 3 Blades and a total cutting width of 56cm (21”) Cuts 1.5cm outside the wheels Mowing Height 6 settings at the front and 2 at the rear High Cut Blade: 44-81mm (1.75”-3.25”) Low Cut Blade: 26-63mm (1”-2.
* Side by side comparison Chapter 9 Care and Maintenance 9.1 Mowing Deck The underside of the mowing deck needs to be inspected, and cleaned if necessary, between operations. The RoboMower is a dedicated mulching mower and because of this can accumulate clippings under the mowing deck, particularly when mowing wet and damp grass. Figure 9.2 WARNING! ! Serious injury can occur. Always remove Power Pack before lifting mower. Blades are very sharp and can cause severe cuts or lacerations.
Figure 9.1 Squeeze tabs & pull Squeeze tabs & pull CAUTION! ALWAYS REMOVE POWER PACK BEFORE SERVICING BLADES! Locking tabs Squeeze here Squeeze here Mating spline To remove blades, squeeze locking tabs on each side of blade retainer, then pull blade assembly off, away from mower. When reinstalling the blade, line up the mating splines and push until a firm click is heard, indicating a proper seating of the blade onto the shaft. Figure 9.
9.5 Docking Station Keep the docking station entrance and area clean from leaves, sticks and twigs and any other debris that may tend to collect in these areas. Do not spray a water hose directly onto or into the docking station. Use a damp rag and brush to clean the surface and area under the docking cover where the contacts are. Use care when trimming around the Docking Station with a powered weed trimmer. Damage to the surface or power cord may occur.
Chapter 10 Accessories Perimeter Switch Convenience of having a switch for each zone and not moving one switch from zone to zone. Peg Pack (50) For larger lawns and additional zones. Perimeter Wire For larger lawns and additional zones. Power Pack Convenience of increasing capacity with a second battery. Connector Kit Includes two Perimeter Switch connectors for additional zones and three silicon filled wire nuts for repairing or splicing the perimeter wire.
Friendly Robotics RL Series Limited Warranty Friendly Robotics warrants to the original purchaser that the RL series ‘Product’ is free from defects in materials and workmanship when used under normal residential* purposes for a period of 24 months, 12 months for the batteries, beginning from the date of purchase. Product accessories, including replacement batteries, are warranted for a period of ninety days from the date of purchase.
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