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Published in Radio-Electronics, April 1961.
The Lazy Man's Delight … An Automated Lawnmower
By GORDON CARLSON – Development engineer, DeVry Technical Institute. Chicago, Ill.
MUCH has been done with remote control, but a remotely controlled device that must maneuver in tight spaces (such as a grass cutter near the wife's flower beds) and in near panic situations (like a very close miss) requires constant and close observation. This means radio control from the lawn chair is out. Instead, a completely reliable, fully automatic device that doesn't require watching, that does not run over the neighbor's dog or the children's toys is the type of easy living lawnmower that allows plenty of time for relaxation.
Basically, the operation of this automatic lawnmower is this: A length of ordinary plastic-covered hookup wire is buried about 1 inch under the lawn in the pattern the grass is to be cut (Fig. 1). The distance between wires depends on the width of the cutting blade and the amount of overlap desired.
Mounted about 16 inches in front of the steerable wheel of the mower are two pickup coils (Fig. 2), about 6 inches apart and 2 inches above the lawn. When a small alternating current is passed through the buried wire, an electromagnetic field is set up around it. When the coils are near the wire, the magnetic field induces voltages in them. The amplitude of these voltages increases as the coils move nearer the wire. If the coils are equally distant …. see attached pdf for complete text.

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1952 – Stewart Automatic Lawn Mower by Sterling Stewart

SCIENCE IS SERVED

Seattle: Sterling Stewart of Sioux City, IA., a graduate science student at the University of Washington, isn't lazy in the true sense of the word. He's able to relax with a cold drink while his lawn is mowed only because he had the ambition to invent a remote control gadget to do the job.  The lawn mower, called "The Monster" by the neighbors, was built  from salvage parts at a cost of $7. The machine, electrically controlled by a push button box at the end of a 75 ft cord, has a rotary blade and weighs 100 lbs. Dated 6/10/1952. 

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Remote Controlled Lawn Mower (Patent) – Barton G. Siebring

Patent Abstract:

This invention relates to power operated lawn mowers and more particularly to a power operated lawn mower equipped for remote control, so that the operator does not have to follow and guide the lawn mower, but can control the lawn mower without moving from a selected location.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved power operated lawn mower which can be effectively controlled by an operator stationed at a selected location, so that the operator does not have to follow and guide the lawn mower; which can be controlled to move forwardly or rearwardly and to turn in either direction; which has electrically operated driving and control mechanism of simplified construction and arrangement; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to operate, and positive and effective in operation.

For full patent info, see here.

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ROBOT GARDENING

Selected Originals – ROYALTY SEE FLOWER SHOW

1583.19 | Selected Originals – ROYALTY SEE FLOWER SHOW (1:41:04:00 – 1:45:47:00) 28/05/1959

Robot lawn mower
Selected originals (offcuts, selected scenes, out-takes, rushes) for story "Royalty See Flower Show" 59/43.

Various shots Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip) and Princess Margaret. Various shots Princess Margaret looking at remote control lawn mower. Various shots Queen and Duke arriving at show, they are greeted by a couple, the Queen pecks them on the cheek as if they were old friends. Various shots Queen and Duke looking at robot lawnmower in action. Otherwise, rest of shots similar to newsreel story.

Pensioner Alfred Ellery controlling the Webb Radio-Controlled Lawnmower at the 1959 Chelsea Flower Show. 

He Waited 76 Years For This: A Radio-controlled lawn mower was demonstrated at the high point show of the British gardening year, London's fashionable Chelsea Flower Show. Photo Shows 78-year-old Chelsea Pensioners Alfred Ellery, feet up, puffing a cigarette makes a gardeners dream come true. The lawn mower, speed two miles an hour, travels where he wishes at the touch of a Switch. Note: Chelsea Pensioners, a familiar London sight in their red coats, live at the Chelsea Hospital, founded in 1682 by Charles II so that old Soldiers could end their days in comfort and peace.

RADIO-CONTROLLED LAWN MOWER ON SHOW AT THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW. [26 May 1959]

The first radio-controlled lawn mower will be shown to the public for the first time at tomorrow's opening of the Chelsea Flower Show. 
                                     
The mower travels at nearly 2 m.p.h., has a 14-inch cutting width and makes 60 clips to the yard.  It has independent "four-point" suspension to ride undulations in the lawn.   Its 1/3 h.p. 24-volt battery operated motor is remotely controlled by two switches on the user's radio transmitter, The effective range of radio control is up to a mile.

ABOVE PHOTO SHOWS:-  The Webb Radio-controlled electric lawnmower, pictured at today's private view of the Chelsea Flower Show.

Pamela Webber controlling the Webb Radio-controlled electric lawnmower at the Chelsea Flower Show, 1959.

Webb lawnmower [tondeuse radiocommandé] at the Miracle Garden Exhibition in Paris, 1960.

H.R.H. The Duke of Windsor at the Miracle Garden Exhibition in Paris, 1960.

Vic Rigby was the electronician working for E.D. Ltd who developed the R/C and electrical equipment.

See full pdf here of the Radio Control Models & Electronics, Sept 1960 article.

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Image Source: Corbis.

Electricity may do your yard work. One day, by simply speaking into a microphone, you may be able to command an electric "gardener" to mow the grass, cultivate the flower beds, trim the hedge and do other yard work. And all the while you'll be relaxing in the shade.

Power companies build for your future electric living
AMERICA'S INDEPENDENT ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COMPANIES

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