Getting Started
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
- Build time: A weekend for a YardForce-class mower; longer for custom chassis
- Estimated cost: ~€700 (excluding the mower and RTK base station)
- Skill level: Intermediate electronics, Linux, and mechanical skills
- Community: 2k+ members on Discord ready to help with reviews and troubleshooting
New to the project? Start with the Overview page.
Important Warnings
Read Before Starting
- Ongoing Development: OpenMower is continuously evolving. Be prepared to troubleshoot and update software.
- Lithium Battery Safety: You will build your own charger. Understand the risks of working with lithium batteries.
- Your Responsibility: Ensure you understand each modification step before proceeding.
- Read the entire documentation and gain a high-level overview: Understand each step involved in the build before starting.
- Evolving Documentation: This documentation is continuously improved. If you find errors or have questions, ask on Discord.
Is Your Mower Compatible?
Before purchasing anything, verify your mower is compatible with the OpenMower project.
Officially Supported Mowers
The following mowers are fully supported with dedicated carrier boards:
- YardForce Classic 500(B) - Most common, well-documented
- Other YardForce Models (SA Series)
- SABO MOWit 500F (Series-I & II)
- John Deere Tango E5 (Series-I & II)
- Many other models using the universal carrier board
- If you want to build a mower from scratch, that’s also possible
See the full Compatible Mowers List for additional models and community builds.
What You Need to Know
Required Skills
- Linux Basics: Comfortable with terminal commands, basic file system navigation, and text editing
- Raspberry Pi Experience: Ability to set up and configure a Raspberry Pi
- Electronics Knowledge: Experience with PCBs, connectors, and basic electrical safety
- Mechanical Skills: Ability to disassemble and reassemble your mower
Note
While the OpenMower app simplifies configuration, you may need to debug issues via SSH or adjust settings manually.What Parts You’ll Need
The OpenMower project requires these main components:
1. The Robot
A compatible lawn-mowing robot with its case and motors. You’ll replace the electronics with OpenMower hardware. Some people are building a custom mower chassis from scratch.
2. OpenMower Hardware
Hardware Version 2
OpenMower v2 hardware is now available and recommended for all new builds. v1 hardware is deprecated. See the v2 Announcement for details.
To purchase v2 hardware: Contact @Apehaenger on Discord.
Custom electronics consisting of:
- Core Board: Universal computing module with Raspberry Pi CM4, STM32 controller, IMU
- Carrier Board: Model-specific board (YardForce, SABO/John Deere, or Universal)
- 3x xESC Board: Advanced motor controllers which can drive BLDC or DC motors and provide position feedback as well as closed-loop speed control
3. RTK GPS System
RTK GPS enables centimeter-level accuracy by sending error corrections to the robot via Wi-Fi or radio. Therefore, you will need one or two RTK GPS receivers:
- Rover (required): GPS module mounted on the robot
- Base Station (optional): Fixed GPS module providing correction data OR access to an external NTRIP service which provides the corrections via the internet. Some countries have free RTK services available.
Build Overview
Follow these steps in sequence:
Ready to shop?
Check the detailed Shopping List.
Get Support
Discord Community
Join our active Discord community for:
- Build guidance and troubleshooting
- Hardware availability updates
- Software tips and tricks
- Feature discussions
Documentation & Resources
- This Documentation: Reviewed, official information
- YouTube Channel: Video tutorials and project updates
See the Links page for all resources.
Next Steps
If you are ready to start building:
➡️ Check the Step by Step Guide