The IT Nerd

For dad’s who are looking to save a couple of hours every week, the Automower 315X can help with that. This robotic mower creates the ultimate turf with minimal supervision and can be controlled on a smartphone via Automower Connect. The app for iOS and Android devices lets owners receive their Automower’s current status and change settings remotely. This model is also compatible with Google Home and Alexa. Just simply ask, “Hey Alexa/Google, ask Automower to mow the lawn!”

The Husqvarna Automower 315X goes for $2,499.99. To find a local dealer, visit Husqvarna.ca.

Husqvarna today announces the launch of its new Husqvarna Connect application in Canada. This new app connects users to their Husqvarna power equipment and provides immediate access to information about their tools, such as technical specifications, parts and accessories lists, maintenance history, and Operator’s manuals and more. Husqvarna Connect helps make outdoor projects more productive and easier to manage by keeping users updated on their power equipment from the convenience of their mobile devices.

Once users download the app, they will have access to:

• A digital service book to create a log of maintenance activities to keep track of their maintenance history and ensure equipment is running at its best.
• Product overviews that provide technical specifications for products all in one place.
• Various parts and accessories lists, including part numbers and descriptions to ensure parts and products always match.
• Dealer information, including store hours and contact information.
• Operator’s Manuals and troubleshooting guides to reduce product downtime and keep productivity levels tracking.
• Monthly releases of new product connectivity options, which is currently only available for zero-turn mowers and tractors.

Additional features coming to the app will include:

• “Buy Now” option where users will be able to purchase parts and accessories directly.
• “How-To” videos with step-by-step information for performing maintenance tasks.
• Push notification reminders for service activities.

Husqvarna Connect is now available for download through the App Store and the Google Play Store.

As we all know, not every homeowner is blessed with a perfectly flat lawn. Some of us have to struggle with cutting our lawn due to tough inclines, bumps and slopes. Luckily, Husqvarna recently released an all-wheel-drive Automower that not only can relieve you of your lawn care duties, but it can handle every curve ball your lawn throws at it.

New for 2020 Automower is available in all-wheel drive (AWD) options. Automower 435X (MSRP: $5,599.99) is designed for residential use and can handle slopes up to 35 degrees and mow up to 0.9 acres. Automower 435X AWD models feature technology that optimizes the control of each individual wheel in order to enable superior operation in the most demanding terrain for the perfect cut, every time.

Husqvarna Automower produces no direct emissions, delivers the same consistent results 24/7 and can work rain or shine, and even at night because it is ultra-quiet. Equipped with Husqvarna’s cloud-based Fleet Services management system, Automower can be integrated into a full fleet solution that allows operators to monitor and control an unlimited number of robotic units at no extra fee. Automower includes GPS-assisted navigation, remote object detection, control via smartphone app and a new rubber bumper design for extra protection.

To better understand the adoption of smart home technology, Husqvarna Canada released a survey to learn Canadians’ attitudes towards using smart technology to get rid of chores. The survey found that 55 per cent of Canadians plan to integrate smart home technology into their daily routines to reduce chores and improve their lives. Outdoor chores are not favoured by Canadians with 39 per cent wishing they could never mow the lawn again, and 59 per cent who would like to skip weed removal entirely.

Most Canadians agree that smart home technology will continue to play an important role in our lives (78 per cent), which is especially relevant with Millennials (71 per cent). While this is no surprise for this tech-forward generation, Generation X and Baby Boomers, the two generations who could really use smart technology to aid with various health and safety issues they often face, are less likely to tap into smart home technology to eliminate chores and improve their lives (56 per cent and 46 per cent respectively).

For those looking for a solution, Using a robotic mower with smart technology, like the Husqvarna Automower, eliminates lawn maintenance chores like mowing and removing weeds. This gives Canadians more time to enjoy their backyard and less time spent on lawn maintenance. According to the survey, at least 64 per cent of Canadians are already spending up to 2 hours per week on their lawn maintenance routine.

Key findings from the Smart Tech Adoption survey include:

• 46 per cent of Canadians currently use some form of smart technology
• 52 per cent currently don’t use home technology, by 26 per cent would like to start

• 75 per cent of Canadians often spend time in their own backyard
• 59 per cent of younger Canadians spending 3+ hours per week maintaining their lawn interested in smart technology for their lawn maintenance chores
• The majority of Canadians say having the perfect lawn is important to them (64 per cent).
• 47 per cent of Canadians are willing to spend up to $1,000 on smart technology for their lawn

Thanks to every goal scored by Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecapsand Montreal Impact teams, Canada will have 17,600 more trees! Husqvarna Canada Inc., the official and exclusive lawn partner of each team during the 2017 season, is working with One Tree Planted to see through its commitment from its Goals for Trees program that promised 100 trees to be planted for every goal scored by the three Canadian teams.

Goals for Trees will complete the planting between April and May, with 5,000 trees in B.C., 7,400 in Ontario and 5,200 in Quebec.

This commitment is evident through Husqvarna’s involvement with the United Nations Global Compact and FTSE4Good initiatives. Both of which help push innovation forward within the professional-grade battery-powered tool industry that include chainsaws, leaf blowers and lawn and hedge trimmers that offer traditional performance, but with a power source that provides a cleaner and quieter experience. Globally, Husqvarna Group is the market leader in outdoor power products and is also the market leader in development and sales of robotic mowers.

Today, at a press event in Aycliffe, United Kingdom, Husqvarna demonstrated the functions of “Just ask Alexa” and future Amazon Alexa features for Husqvarna robotic mowers. The first version will be available September 1 in all Automower Connect equipped robotic mowers from Husqvarna, including the many thousands of connected Husqvarna robotic mowers already in gardens and parks across the world today.

This first version will be able to take care of the most commonly used commands such as start, stop and park, hence providing an additional way of integrating with the robotic mower, besides the existing mobile applications. You can expect additional innovations to appear in the near future.

Husqvarna is expanding its best-selling Automower lineup and will release several new models in 2018, positioning it to further dominate the robotic mower market with innovative new technology and products designed for new audiences.

The Automower 310 (MSRP: $1,899.99; install kit sold separately) will join the current lineup as a new entry-level model, serving 0.25 acres and slopes up to 22 degrees. This new model also comes with “Connect from Home,” the Automower’s new connected Bluetooth functionality. The existing Automower 315 model will see a competitive price drop to MSRP $2,339 (install kit sold separately) and will now serve up to 0.4 acres.

Husqvarna will also introduce the Automower X-line, which makes the Automower Connect app standard for those models. Automower Connect allows owners to control the mower from their smartphone, wherever they are. The app for iOS and Android devices lets owners receive their Automower’s current status and change settings remotely. It also transmits the Automower’s precise GPS-tracked location in the unlikely event of a theft.

• Automower 315X (MSRP: $2,499.95; install kit sold separately)
• Automower 430X (MSRP: $3,199.95; install kit sold separately)

Every Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact goal isn’t just good for the teams, they’re also good for the environment. Husqvarna Canada Inc., the official and exclusive lawn partner of each team, is working with One Tree Planted to fulfill  itsGoals for Trees program that will see 100 trees planted for every goal scored this year by the three Canadian teams.

Goals for Trees is part of Husqvarna’s sponsorship programs with the Canadian soccer teams. Along with the tree-planting commitment the programs include half-time events with Husqvarna leaf blowers, branded field crew members and giveaways of custom-painted Automowers, decked out in each team’s colours and logos.

At just over half-way through the season, goals scored to date will account for more than 8,500 trees to be planted, which will have the potential to absorb more than 176,000kg of carbon dioxide per year.

This commitment is evident through Husqvarna’s involvement with the United Nations Global Compact and FTSE4Good initiatives. Both of which help push innovation forward within the professional-grade battery-powered tool industry that include chainsaws, leaf blowers and lawn and hedge trimmers that offer traditional performance, but with a power source that provides a cleaner and quieter experience. Globally, Husqvarna Group is the market leader in outdoor power products and is also the market leader in development and sales of robotic mowers.

Starting this May, homeowners in Stockholm can access pay-per-use power tools for the garden, eliminating the need to maintain and store hedge trimmers, chainsaws and other tools that are used less frequently. The project is a pilot, and part of Husqvarna’s commitment to explore innovative and sustainable solutions for taking care of gardens and green spaces.

The Husqvarna Battery Box, is a “smart”, 8×3 meter, unattended container with 30 electronic lockers that store battery powered garden care products. Via an iPhone app, homeowners can reserve tools, get instructions, pay, and open the locker to pick up their pre-booked power tool. The “box” will be placed at Bromma Blocks, a shopping center 15 min west of Stockholm city. Renting a garden care product will cost 350 SEK a day (approx 35 Euros or 38 USD).

Sustainability and innovation put to the test

This pilot project supports Husqvarna’s sustainability agenda to drive the conversion from petrol powered products to silent battery products with no direct emissions in urban areas. Additionally, the purpose is also to test the real-world applications of this technical solution, as well as collect insights on market maturity, customer behaviour, and potential future revenue streams for Husqvarna’s distribution network. The test period runs from May 1 to October 31, 2017.

How it works

After completing registration in the iPhone app (also called ”Husqvarna Battery Box”), the customer can reserve one of the 30 available battery powered products (chainsaw, hedge trimmer, trimmer or blower). The app guides the user on how to open and close the door to the particular locker where the product they want to rent is kept. The app also includes “how-to-films” to explain how the product works. The Box, powered by solar cells, will be serviced by Husqvarna staff daily, ensuring that products are in good condition and that the batteries are fully charged.

The connection between the Husqvarna Battery Box and the customer is enabled via Bluetooth. For identification purposes, the customer uses the Swedish ID app “BankID”. Payments are charged to the registered credit card at the end of the month.

Powerful and silent products in the box

From a performance perspective, the battery products in the box are equivalent to the petrol versions of comparable size, but without the noise and direct emissions. The battery series in the box is powered by a 36V Li-ion battery, and one battery fits all products in the box (chainsaw, hedge trimmer, blower, trimmer).

Project partners and set-up

Husqvarna Battery Box is the result of a partnership that includes Telenor, Flex, Zuora and HiQ. Flex builds the connected Box and reports its status on events handled through a cloud solution with Telenor Connexion. Zuora supplies the subscription payment solution and HiQ builds the app and the system needed to bring everything together. The shopping center Bromma Blocks provides the space for the test.

Husqvarna – a world leader in outdoor power equipment – is committed to innovation in its industry, and has proved this as one of the leaders in perfecting its version of the robotic mower – the Automower. 

Equipped with GPS assisted navigation, free movement pattern auto-theft security and charging, as well as a mobile app connection, the Automower is the future of lawn care, taking yard maintenance off the homeowner’s list of chores.

There are two models that I’d like to highlight

Automower 315: Advanced 4-wheeled robotic mower for larger and more complex grass areas. Suitable for medium sized areas up to 1500 m² and can also handle slopes with an incline of 40%. Smart technology adapts the amount of mowing to the lawn’s growth rate, enables spot mowing of a limited area of longer grass and guides the mower through narrow passages. The intuitive menu system on the large, user-friendly display allows personal settings for when you’d like the machine to mow. Snap-covers in different colours are available as options.

Automower 450X: Top of the range model from the world leaders in robotic mowing. Smart enough to negotiate the challenges of large and complex lawns – like multiple narrow passages, obstacles, tough terrain and slopes up to 45%. GPS-assisted navigation and a host of features including Automower Connect make it the intelligent way to keep your lawn green, healthy and perfectly mowed. The Automower Connect app keeps you in control: track, interact and stay updated at the touch of a screen, wherever you are in the world.

These mowers along with the rest of the Automower line are available from Husqvarna dealers now.