Hey everyone, I wanted to share a success story about integrating my Robomower with SmartThings. I’ve been using a Robomower RL850 for a while now, and while it’s a great product, it didn’t come with a docking station. This meant I had to manually bring it back indoors after each use, which was a bit of a hassle. The main issue was knowing when it had finished mowing, as it can take anywhere from 1.5 to 3.5 hours depending on battery life and grass height. Plus, it occasionally gets stuck, and I wouldn’t notice for hours!
One day, while browsing through the SmartApps, I had an epiphany. I thought, why not treat the Robomower like a laundry machine? After all, both involve detecting when something stops moving. So, I decided to give it a try. I purchased a SmartSense MultiSensor, which detects vibrations, and installed the Laundry Monitor SmartApp. I attached the sensor to the Robomower and set it to work. To my delight, the sensor detected when the Robomower stopped moving, just like it would with a laundry machine!
I was initially worried about connectivity issues since the Robomower operates outdoors, away from the SmartThings hub. But to my relief, there haven’t been any problems. I’ve tested it several times over the past few weeks, and it’s been working flawlessly! This setup has been a lifesaver, as it eliminates the guesswork of when to check on the Robomower.
I thought I’d share my experience in case anyone else is looking for a creative solution to monitor their outdoor devices. It’s been a fun project, and I’m happy to have found such an effective workaround. Happy mowing everyone! -Eric