In Georgia, the Gwinnett Soccer Academy and Gwinnett County adopt Husqvarna robotic mowers

The Gwinnett Soccer Academy has partnered with Gwinnett County in Georgia to become the first entities in the state to adopt autonomous mowing on their sports fields, reports Husqvarna Group. More than 14 fields at two facilities will be autonomously mowed and maintained utilizing the Husqvarna Ceora robotic mower.

“Gwinnett Parks and Recreation is thrilled to express our gratitude toward the Gwinnett Soccer Academy for their generous contribution towards the upkeep of our public fields,” says Josh Harris, parks manager for Gwinnett County Department of Community Services. “Their recent purchase of these units will help us better maintain the quality of our fields, offset labor hours in a demanding area and, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all who visit.”

Ceora is Husqvarna’s robotic mower that operates through virtual boundaries with the company’s EPOS (Exact Positioning Operating System), a satellite-based technology that enables the machine to work within virtual boundaries and independently mow up to 18 acres of grass. The company initially announced the Ceora platform in December 2020.

Drew Prentice, executive director of Gwinnett Soccer Academy says: “Automated robotic mowing has allowed us to take key staff off mowers and focus them on other tasks in the fields, providing an excellent soccer experience for all.”

“In the short time we have used the robotic mowers, we have noticed a significant decrease in weeds, pests such as ants, and even geese, which negatively impact the playing surface,” he adds. “Fine tuning the height of the cut down to the millimeter has drastically improved both the health of the turf and the overall quality of the playing surface, and we anticipate saving tens of thousands of dollars on renovation costs each year by, finally, maintaining our soccer fields to the world class standard we strive for.”

“Husqvarna pioneered robotic mowing in 1995 and has continued to innovate and lead in the space ever since,” says Carlos Haddad, vice president of North America, professional products at Husqvarna Group. “We’re excited to see the adoption of our newest technology in incredible venues like GSA and Gwinnett County and believe this is only the beginning of a robotic revolution in turf care.”