City testing autonomous mowers at Calgary athletic fields
Glenmore and Frank McCool parks are piloting grass-cutting robots this summer to free up staff for detailed maintenance.
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Calgary is testing autonomous grass mowers at two city athletic fields this summer as part of a pilot project to explore how new technology can support maintenance operations.
The city's recreation and social programs department is leading the trial at Glenmore and Frank McCool athletic parks. The goal is to better understand how the technology performs in real-world conditions and where it may be appropriate to deploy in the future.
"This is a small, controlled trial that allows us to explore how new technology can support our crews and day-to-day operations," said Marc Sackman, the city's team lead. "We're focused on learning what works well and where it makes sense to use tools like this."
The autonomous mowers are designed to handle routine grass cutting in open areas along preprogrammed routes. By taking on this repetitive work, the pilot allows staff to focus more time on detailed maintenance and site upkeep. The technology also supports more consistent mowing throughout the week, helping maintain healthier and more evenly cut grass.
Flexible scheduling allows mowing to take place overnight or between bookings—difficult to achieve with traditional equipment given competing site demands. The units operate at a low noise level of up to 52 decibels.