ProZision Autonomous supports improved efficiency and zero emissions in landscape management
Since launching the HR21 in 1978, its first walk-behind lawn mower, Honda has continued to develop a range of lawn mowers for home use. Honda lawn mowers are popular among people everywhere, and in North America and Europe in particular, thanks to their mowing performance, operability, and safety. In 2012, Honda launched its robotic lawn mower “Miimo” for automated lawn care, which focuses on labor saving for lawn mowing. In 2025, Honda turned its gaze to landscape management by landscaping companies, public facilities, and others in the North American market, where the need for greater efficiency in lawn care of large sites was extremely high. This resulted in the development of the electric autonomous lawn mower ProZision Autonomous for commercial use.
Lawn mowers come in different types; walk-behind types that must be pushed by hand, robot types like the Miimo, and riding types, with the riding types further divided into steering-wheel types and handle-operated types. An example of this latter type is the ZTR*1, a zero-turn riding mower with left and right handles for individual operation of left and right drive wheels to control speed and direction. Based on this, Honda simultaneously developed the electric automated lawn mower ProZision, a battery-powered motor-driven version of the manually operated ZTR with the addition of an autonomous driving system.
The ProZision Autonomous records the work patterns of experienced operators mowing various job sites. It can then be used to autonomously mow in the same route to beautifully reproduce the lawn finish. After ensuring safety within the area where the automated work will be performed, the operator can leave the mowing task up to the ProZision Autonomous and be free to do other work, which dramatically improves work efficiency. In developing the ProZision Autonomous, Honda aims to save labor while contributing to zero-emission operations for landscape management companies. It is also another way in which Honda is working toward its goal of achieving carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050.
*1 ZTR stands for zero-turn radius, with ZTR riding mowers operated by left and right handles to achieve a zero-degree turning radius and higher work efficiency.
Autonomous operation for accurate and automated mowing, with route maps created by experienced operators
Teaching Mode: route maps automatically generated from the mowing work of experienced operators
To use the ProZision Autonomous in autonomous mode, an operator must first manually drive the mower. After selecting Teaching mode, the operator mows the lawn within an area as normal. A highly skilled, experienced operator is able to groom a lawn to perfection, with straight lines and no grass left uncut.
From that trajectory, wheel speed and acceleration from the machine is combined with GNSS*2 positioning data to automatically generate a route map for autonomous operation. A high level of positioning precision is required to achieve a finish without any uncut sections, with that precision improved to within centimeters by using satellite signals corrected with data from terrestrial base stations.
Because data collected in this manner is then stored on a cloud server, a single ProZision Autonomous can create route maps for multiple job sites. This system also enables extremely efficient landscape management for companies with multiple PrioZision Autonomous, with route maps for each site able to be downloaded to any ProZision Autonomous for appropriate mowing.
In addition, if the mower gets too close to an obstacle during teaching, its obstacle detection function may prevent autonomous driving. For cases such as these, the mower is equipped with a function to automatically correct the route map.
*2 GNSS stands for global navigation satellite system, a collective term for a satellite-based positioning system that includes the Global Positioning System (GPS) and covers the whole Earth.
Playback mode: large sites automatically and accurately mowed from route maps
In Playback mode, the ProZision Autonomous autonomously mows the lawn. To use this mode, the operator moves the mower to anywhere within the route used in Teaching mode and then uses a dedicated app on a smartphone or tablet to download that specific site’s route map to the mower. After selecting Playback mode, the operator sets cutting height, etc. and starts playback. The mower then travels autonomously to the mowing starting position and starts to work. This reduces the operator’s setup time. Once work begins, mowing safely, accurately, and in accordance with the route map generated in Teaching mode.
The ProZision Autonomous can be easily operated even by operators who are unfamiliar with operation of riding lawn mowers. It is expected to deliver dramatic improvements in work efficiency because the operator can spend time on other tasks within the same site while the ProZision Autonomous is operating.
Note: Downloading is not required if using the same machine that was used to create the map in Teaching mode.
Smartphone app enables easy operation of multiple ProZision Autonomous and across various job sites
Honda developed a dedicated app for the ProZision Autonomous, with intuitive operation of both Teaching and Playback modes. The app makes easy work of advanced functions to create beautifully finished lawns.
Note: The above illustrations are example screens from the development stage.
Traction control system for high-precision autonomous mowing even on slopes and rough ground
Mowing a vast lawn in straight lines, back and forth across the site, is considered to produce an attractive appearance. However, conditions are not always the same, with a single job site having different ground evenness or slopes, or lawn that changes according to the season or weather. In order to realize accurate autonomous mowing, Honda developed the unique traction control system based on similar automobile technology. With differential dual-motor traction control applied to the left and right rear wheels, which are the drive wheels, this system suppresses tire slip to achieve stable straight-line and turning performance even on hilly terrain, slopes, or rough ground. At the same time, it is capable of high-precision work, maintaining an overlap of ±150 millimeters while tracking straight back and forth across the site. On sloping ground in particular, the system is able to minimize deterioration of the lawn finish caused by tire slippage tearing at the turf.
Honda combined this stable driving with know-how built up from its proven walk-behind lawn mowers, such as the use of twin blades, to achieve a carpet-like finish that only Honda mowers can provide.
Omnidirectional sensing with LiDAR and Radar sensors for obstacle detection
Safety measures around the machine are the most important when the mower operates autonomously. If there are obstacles that were not present during Teaching Mode, such as stationary vehicles when unloading work materials and temporary placement of cones, LiDAR*3 senses them and stops operation. There are also other risks, such as operators entering the vicinity or the path of the mower when in autonomous operation when conducting other tasks, or the mower approaching the operators. With this in mind, the ProZision Autonomous is also equipped with LiDAR and radar sensors to detect moving objects. Four of each sensor are provided to achieve omnidirectional (360-degree) sensing. If the mower stops, a notification is sent via the cloud server to the app on the operator’s smartphone.
*3 LiDAR = Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging: A sensing technology that uses laser light to measure objects.
In addition to emergency stop brake, a gentle speed reduction system reduces lawn damage
In Playback mode, the mower sets an intermediate target point for correcting travel to ensure it accurately traces the recorded route map in autonomous operation. At the same time, if the LiDAR detects, from a greater distance, an obstacle that is close to the intermediate point, it will gradually slow down. This helps reduce damage to the turf that could be caused by sudden braking.
There are limits to the capabilities of each function (recognition and control capabilities). The mower must be used in accordance with the instruction manual and under appropriate conditions, such as the work site conditions, weather conditions, and condition of the mower.
Other safety features
●Rear discharge mechanism for lawn clipping disposal and safety
The ProZision Autonomous is equipped with a discharge mechanism that disperses grass clippings while traveling to eliminate the problem of bagging and disposing of the clippings. Also, in consideration of the unmanned operation, the mechanism discharges to the rear, instead of the usual side-discharge, to minimize the impact of flying stones and other debris.
●Workload-linked vehicle speed control
The vehicle automatically slows down during high-load operations to prevent grass clogging and uncut sections of grass.
●Remote stop switch
Emergency stops can be performed manually during autonomous operation. The smartphone app can also be used to stop mowing in non-emergency situations.
Outstanding basic performance that replaces manpower and handles a day’s work with ease
In Playback mode, the ProZision Autonomous achieves a maximum speed of 6 miles/hour even on sloped sites. Mowing up to 3 acres (approximately 12,000 square meters) per hour, with battery capacity of at least four hours on a single charge, it dramatically improves landscape management efficiency.
Green spaces with large expanses of lawn create landscapes that are both visually appealing and mentally relaxing. On the other hand, the landscape management companies responsible for maintaining those lawns are facing a range of societal challenges, from cost issues related to capital investment and rising fuel prices, to labor shortages and environmental measures.
The ProZision Autonomous is an autonomous lawn mowing solution that delivers dramatic efficiency improvements at job sites. It contributes to reduced management costs and zero emissions as well, thereby supporting the sustainability of corporate activities.
