DIY Autonomous GPS Mower - Parts List, Schematics, Build Details

This is a follow on video to my previous overview Autonomous GPS powered mower. Jump to 2:00 to get right into the details.

BOM - Total $1301 cube orange costs more than 1/2 of that, I had one from a separate project so my build was less than $1000, you may be able to use a much cheaper pixhawk autopilot instead to get the cost below $1k
ethernet cable - $5
angle iron (bed frame) - Free, go to your recycling center/dump or side of road
Use the outside diameter of this to determine the inside diameter of the steel pipe above
You can probably get a better price at your local hardware store
12v wire - $5
18 gauge wire - $5
car battery - $50
Push Mower - $30 (Craigslist or FB Marketplace - used)

[RobertLBarnard]

Wow, you pulled off an obtainable, and actually USABLE automated mower.

Excellent job explaining it, providing components, and sources. Thank you, thank you, X3!

I'd like to think that after I order the parts, I may actually build one.

[tjrpmw]

Very frustrated youtube took so long to share your channel with me. Love all of your projects and the in depth tutorials. You're awesome Nathan! Keep building!!!!

[pjwlk]

Outstanding! Hello from Canada. I've been thinking of a project like this for years. The information you've provided is invaluable. Thanks!

[vsknwvz]

I like RC but this is on another level of automation. Great development work.

[beckettevans]

absolutely fantastic build, lovely setup in its simplicity and function

[philtimmons]

Now that you have it ready to GO -- might be a good idea to consider some (Safety) ways for it to STOP. You could put bumpers around it so that it cannot run into anything or anyone. At least not very hard. Anything touches the bumpers opens a Normally Closed kill circuit. And maybe some of the big Emergency Stop buttons on top for folks who may have to shut it down in a hurry. Those are not complaints -- just ways to make a good thing better. Thanks for the build, the video and sharing the details.

[sigung]

Nothing short of brilliant. I learned so much in one place. Thanks!

[christiangradl]

Thanks for your great video and especially the circuit diagram sketches, I built a remote-controlled petrol lawn mower last winter (Igor 3.1 ^^), which is basically for the really rough stuff. Next winter I also want something autonomous for fine cutting.

[HughD]

Impressive and useful. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

[bobmcbob]

This is pretty much what I had in my head for mowing my own section, including the RTK GPS. But I never knew about mission planner or ardupilot etc. But since I don't have a house on it yet, that one is on the back burner lol. Sounds like most of the firmware/software is 100%, so it's just implementing the design to your needs.

[moharibali]

Great project mate. I am also working on a similar kind of thing but due to some budget limitations i am trying to make a mower using Arduino UNO that remembers the path its being trained on using an android app. As a mechanical engineering student i must say the its a very impressive and sturdy frame design. Keep up the good work. Hope to see more projects like this.👍👍

[nallaperumalthanthondri]

Dear sir Nathan, thank you so much for your tutorial. Inspired by this video, I made my own automow (but mechanics is different) and it is working via RC remote control. Really grateful to you. Now, I am working hard to set up the RTK GPS and finding it tuff to NTRIP server in southern part of India.

[derpinbird]

Very cool ideas, not just like the whole thing but stopping the chains from derailing and making it so that it will actually do work for an hour without screwing up

[gerarddantel]

Outside of the large area to mow, we have the same goal. I happen to have no skills yet with welding and such. I then opted to use wood for my chassis. Instead of using scooter motors, I'm re-using some e-scooter hub wheels that have the motor in them. I thought about using parts of mower, but figure it'll help me to not use any gas, if I just power another motor with a string like a trimmer to cut the grass. The idea is that eventually I can move that motor up and down to control cut height. I love how "simple" your auto-mow looks, but that it works well. Kudos to you! I'm inspired...again.

[gibbyrockerhunter]

Super awesome. I’ll definitely have to check out what else you have posted.

Thanks for the content

[SD_Alias]

Very cool! You should sell this as a kit with all that electronic and computed parts and motors. I think most people can build the chassis and mower themselves, but as soon as it comes to the electronics and controls, it becomes difficult, at least for analogue hobbyists like me.

[CncObsession]

Crude AF but it proves the concept. Always fun to see 1st or 2nd iterations and then the possibility of refinements. Easy to do from here ;-) Thanks for sharing.

[arcrad]

Awesome project. Thanks for sharing all the details

[evertonlechechen]

Your video is AMAZING! Keep producing more videos.

[lpofemw]

Very cool project!!! I hope to see a solar powered one project like this!!! 👍👍👍