The idea behind the concept of the autonomous lawn mower is no different to that of the vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer or coffee maker. If there's a human task that can be fulfilled by a robot, you can be sure humankind will find a way to create that robot.
Robotic lawn mowers have, at least in the past, proved to be much more of a niche product rather than an essential one. This is doubtless due not only to the high price of robot lawn mowers in general, but also the awkward and time-consuming installation process that, in many cases, still involves laying a perimeter wire around the lawn where it meets the flower borders, ponds, outdoor furniture and other obstacles. Were it not for the enormous hassle of having to lay a perimeter wire around the lawn, perhaps robot lawn mowers would have caught on a lot more quickly than they have.
