Toro Acquires Autonomous Mower Company

BLOOMINGTON, MN—The Toro Co. is well-known for its red, gas-engine lawnmowers and snow blowers that are popular with homeowners and grounds care professionals. It recently made a strategic move to branch into autonomous equipment by acquiring Left Hand Robotics Inc., a Longmont, CO, firm that has developed self-driving vehicles for commercial turf and snow management applications.

The company’s main product is the RT-1000 tractor. The autonomous machine features an articulating frame powered by a standard air-cooled gasoline engine. It weighs 1,250 pounds, is 93 inches long and has a 12-galllon fuel tank that enables the tractor to run unattended for long periods of time. During winter months, the mower deck can be removed and replaced with a 56-inch rotary broom to clear snow. A deicer box can be attached to the rear to distribute sand or salt.

The RT-1000 uses a variety of sensors to detect and avoid obstacles and people. Each machine is equipped with GPS, lidar, radar and six on-board cameras.

The ASSEMBLY Show South

ASSEMBLY is thrilled to return to the Music City Center in Nashville, TN for The ASSEMBLY Show SOUTH on May 1-2, 2024. This is a booming time for manufacturing and the U.S. South is right in the heart of the action. According to ASSEMBLY’s most recent annual capital spending survey, the South is projected to account for 31 percent of total spending this year, marking the fifth straight year this region has accounted for at least 30 percent of capital spending in the U.S.

In this session, manufacturers will learn how Quality function deployment (QFD) can transform consumers’ qualitative demands into quantitative parameters that will shape the design of their product and, ultimately, their manufacturing process.

Sponsored by: