Modeling the Relationship Between Autonomous Mower Trampling Activity and Turfgrass Green Cover Percentage

Autonomous mowers' navigation pattern plays a crucial role in turfgrass quality, influencing both esthetic and functional performance. However, despite extensive research on mowing efficiency, the effects of different navigation patterns on turfgrass damage and visual quality remain inadequately investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of three different autonomous mower navigation patterns (random, vertical, and chessboard) on operational performance and the effect of trampling activity on turfgrass. Each pattern was tested in terms of data on the number of passages, distance traveled (m), number of intersections and the percentage of area mowed using a remote sensing system and an updated custom-built software. Green coverage percentage was assessed weekly using image analysis (Canopeo app) to evaluate the turfgrass green coverage. The green coverage percentage, together with the number of passages, is analyzed and correlated. The random pattern generated the highest number of passages and intersections, leading to lower average green coverage (64%) compared with the chessboard (80%) and vertical (81%) patterns. Data of the green coverage percentage in the function of the average number of passages recorded using the custom-built software for each pattern fit the asymptotic regression model. The effective number of passages to reach 60% green cover (EP60) was 56.26, 87.30, and 155.32 for random, vertical, and chessboard, respectively. The model could be integrated into DSS, useful for the end user in turf management in order to maintain a high quality. Future studies should extend this approach to other species and environmental conditions, integrating the effective dose (in terms of passages) method for smart mowing management.