Outdoor power product developer Husqvarna is using a wireless sensor developer from Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity provider Telit Communications PLC and electronic design company Wireless System Integration AB for its city robotic mower pilot program. “According to the United Nations, 66 percent of the world’s population will be living in urban areas by 2050, creating sustainability challenges for cities to manage,” said Yosi Fait, interim CEO of Telit. “Cities that are already using IoT are building the infrastructure to manage their assets and relationships with their citizens. Husqvarna’s city mower program is an example of how cities are using IoT to become more sustainable and efficient. Through this collaboration, we have been demonstrating again our unique sensor-to-cloud capabilities, cutting our customers time to market through our integrated lines of products and services as well through our professional services team’s significant IoT know-how.” Cities are using the Husqvarna mowers to collect data about the environment, including air and water quality, along with levels of light and sound, while maintaining the cities’ green spaces, saving time and money, reducing emission and noise pollution. “The need for green spaces is growing more and more in urban areas, and it is inspiring to think about how parks in cities will be maintained in the future,” said Pavel Hajman, president of the Husqvarna division. “I am excited about the pilot program [and] learning more about the possibility to increase sustainability and productivity in professional landscaping for urban areas.” The mowers cut grass daily within a boundary wire and keep the severed blades, collecting data 24 hours a day from the sensors. The sensors collect real-time data on UV radiation, air quality, ambient noise, luminosity and vibration. The sensor box, designed by Telit, is mounted on top of the mowers, using the robots’ main battery for power supply and recharging upon base return. The sensor box transmits the data using Telit’s HE910 cellular module and Telit’s global IoT connectivity data plans. The Telit IoT Platform seamlessly connects, manages and delivers the environmental data in a ready-to-use format. In cooperation with Husqvarna, data communicator Quantified Planet receives the data and publishes it for citizens to review. Cities can then analyze the environmental data sent by the robots and implement programs to improve the health of its citizens based on these insights. "Collecting this city data gives researchers the opportunity to explore and research the health of urban public spaces in a way that has never been done before," said Maja Brisvall, CEO of Quantified Planet. “By using the Quantified Planet data exploration platform, this new data can provide insights and innovation on how to develop and improve sustainable open green spaces [that] impact the citizens living nearby. We are excited to be part of the project.”