Gardena Sileno Robot Lawn Mowers

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ashtonaut

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#306488 28-Jul-2023 08:00

Does anyone have one of these? Any comments on how good they are? Husqvarna options seem a bit fancier but I think Gardena is owned by Husqvarna so they appear to share at least some of the ‘backend’.

Specifically, I’m trying to wade through the marketing BS about Gardena’s ‘Smart System’. It appears that the basic models have only Bluetooth control, which is fine. But some models (I think prefixed by ‘smart’, and I can’t find any on sale in NZ), have better connectivity which allows api access and smart home control. Here’s an example (discontinued): https://www.gardena.com/int/products/lawn-care/robotic-mower/robotic-mower-smart-sileno-city-500-m2-set/967647303/

The ‘smart’ models appear to use a Gardena Smart System gateway:

https://www.gardena.com/tdrdownload//pub000070911/doc000120830

But I can’t find out what this actually does. Does it connect to the mower by Bluetooth and then expose it to the LAN, or some other protocol?

Two main questions:
- Which models are compatible with the smart system? My lawn would only need the entry level Gardena Sileno Minimo 250.
- How does the smart system actually work?

Any real world experience (with Gardena or another brand, specifically relating to Home Assistant integration) would be appreciated!

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gordy7
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#3109030 28-Jul-2023 10:53

For what it is worth - I have had a Gardena R80Li (no smarts) for 4 years.

Rated for 800sq m and does my 550sq m no problems.

Price was $2k when Husqvana models were $3k to 3.5k.

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ashtonaut

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#3109048 28-Jul-2023 11:53

Yeah the Gardena is about $1300 entry level (all I need) and the Husky is about $2200 I think.

antmaclean

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#3110996 2-Aug-2023 13:01

Hi, just installed a Sileno 250 last week. Its the basic model, but does have Bluetooth app for scheduling. Install was ok (still took me 3 hours though). They say do a drawing of your garden, I didn't and I learned the hard way why they suggest doing it. I am a keen gardener with a medium sized section. So far all good. I made a garage / shed also to keep the worst of the sun and rain of it; that is still WIP.

Take care installing the perimeter wire. You'll still need a weed eater or similar to do the edges. My lawn is too boggy to mow with my petrol mower - Robert the lawn guy - does it ok. However he doesn't chop up leaves. My lawn is quite bumpy at the moment from roots and I am guessing all the rain, so dont expect it to fix itself. I reckon with just a little TLC by summer the lawn will be excellent (I'll put on some weedkiller and fert, and maybe roll the lawn when the weather gets dryer, but that's me trying to get a nice lawn with little effort).

The app is simple; scheduling, spot cutting, return to home and alerts. Doesn't seem to connect to any of my home smart apps - frankly I don't care, as it now just looks after itself with no interventions from me.

ashtonaut

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#3111090 2-Aug-2023 15:17

I enquired with Gardena NZ, and it turns out the ‘Smart’ variants can’t be sold in NZ as the way they communicate with the mower (using the ground loop wire apparently) conflicts with Police and military radio frequencies or protocols (!). So that explains why there are no smart models available in NZ and why the Smart Gateway isn’t on sale.

So, if you want more than short range Bluetooth control of the Gardena Sileno mowers, it looks like your options are:
- Buy something else, like a more expensive Husqvarna
- Try to hack something DIY, like these people appear to be trying to do:
https://community.home-assistant.io/t/gardena-bluetooth-lawn-mower/400399
- Buy something along the lines of this and hope it works (website in German):
https://www.robonect-shop.de/

Is anyone using a (non-Gardena) robot mower with smart home integration?

antmaclean

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#3111116 2-Aug-2023 16:56

Why so keen on smart home integration? The mower has a scheduler, and you can programme loads of schedules via the app. You can also override via the mower or the app. So its pretty flexible.

ashtonaut

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#3111118 2-Aug-2023 17:07

With smart home stuff it’s never about *need to have*, right? ;)

I’d like the ability to start, stop, and monitor status remotely, including the ability to set some basic automations, like ‘stop mowing and return to base if X condition happens’.

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LostBoyNZ

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#3111203 2-Aug-2023 19:45

I have one of the non smart versions myself, been running it for two years now, and would recommend. I can see the appeal in being able to remotely start or stop it because while it can run in rain, it needs a good hose down after it's been cutting in the rain for awhile.

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tdgeek

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#3111233 3-Aug-2023 07:41

Do they mow in a pattern (up/down/up/down) or randomly?

ashtonaut

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#3111234 3-Aug-2023 07:48

At least for the cheaper ones, it’s randomly, a bit like the earlier/cheaper robot vacuums.

I haven’t investigated the top of the range options.

jonathan18

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#3111237 3-Aug-2023 07:59

After reading this thread I checked out a YT video on one of these models; this is the 'from above' shot. Note: they do say the tracking disappears after "an hour or two'.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr0wMSLirns&t=323s

johno1234

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#3111244 3-Aug-2023 08:38

jonathan18:

After reading this thread I checked out a YT video on one of these models; this is the 'from above' shot. Note: they do say the tracking disappears after "an hour or two'.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr0wMSLirns&t=323s

And as much as the idea of a robot mower appeals, this is why I wouldn't get one. A lawn should be mowed in straight, parallel lines!

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antmaclean

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#3111556 3-Aug-2023 17:57

I think the straight parallel lines appeal too....BUT.... with a rotary mower, which is what almost every Kiwi has, you won't get them.

The lines in this video just don't exist (so far). I'd show you a picture of my lawn, but summer was wet, winter is wet and so although its looking ok, it probably the worst its ever been right now, and so my pic would make you think - well that's not too flash.

tdgeek

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#3111559 3-Aug-2023 18:03

antmaclean:

I think the straight parallel lines appeal too....BUT.... with a rotary mower, which is what almost every Kiwi has, you won't get them.

The lines in this video just don't exist (so far). I'd show you a picture of my lawn, but summer was wet, winter is wet and so although its looking ok, it probably the worst its ever been right now, and so my pic would make you think - well that's not too flash.

My rotary does straight lines, although thats more about me then the mower. Our back lawn is horseshoe shaped, so I may mow N-S, or E-W, or in circles. Looks good

But the random mow, not so much. It must also be very very inefficient?

johno1234

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#3111573 3-Aug-2023 19:05

I know what @antmaclean is saying. Reel mowers impose a knap to the grass giving it stripes. My rotary mower has a trailing flap which does something similar plus the wheels leave stripes. Not as good as reel mower stripes.

The other thing about parallel lines is efficiency. Random is very inefficient with much passing over mown areas. Robot vacuums are good at mapping rooms and covering them efficiently with parallel passes.

jonathan18

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#3111578 3-Aug-2023 19:20

I had made the (in retrospect, clearly stupid) assumption that they’d work much like a robot vacuum cleaner - not in the sense of auto-detection of edges etc, but in a deliberate pattern.

Googling it I came across this article which mentions a machine made by a Christchurch company called Conga - anyone heard of it? Claims to use AI and doesn’t need an edge wire; app-based; mows in parallel lines… given the wider state of technology with robot mowers (kinda like vacuum cleaners were 10 years ago) I wonder if it’s too good to be true?!

https://www.congarobot.ai/

Edit: here’s a demo of it mowing: https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx3ziQkMhRycTW9sqnzYYCqruzZ3FIH872

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