Key takeaways
- Named storms need early robot parking, not last-minute fairway loops.
- Chargers and docks should be secured or elevated before wind and surge risk.
- Store maps offline and note parking locations before power loss.
- Crew safety rules for evacuation apply to robot retrieval timing.
- Service Robot Co. helps document storm storage and post-storm inspections under RoboCare.
When should fairway robots park before a named storm?
Park fairway robots when your hurricane plan tells staff to secure equipment and leave open turf, not when the outer rain band arrives. Autonomous units are still mowers that can tip, flood, or become debris if left on exposed fairways. Coastal courses should assume surge maps include pump houses you used as mid-season charger stops.
Most clubs target parking at least forty-eight hours before expected landfall, adjusted for local evacuation orders and contractor availability.
Once parked, disable scheduled passes so a reboot after power blips does not send a unit onto storm prep areas.
Add robot serial numbers to the club hurricane inventory list sent to insurers.
How is storm storage different from winter shutdown?
Storm storage is short and urgent. Winter shutdown is slow and agronomic. Batteries may stay partially charged for quick return after a near miss.
You may not winterize blades if play could resume in two weeks. You still secure decks and tie down units if barn doors are vulnerable.
Document which steps you skipped so spring winterization is not assumed complete after a storm-only park.
Tape charger cable heights on walls if past storms flooded outlets.
Where should units and chargers sit for wind and surge?
Choose the highest dry floor available, away from garage doors that fail in wind. Unplug chargers from surge-prone panels when the club sheds grid power.
Move portable docks inland if pump houses flood in past storms. A charger lost to salt water delays reopen more than a missed fairway cut.
Photograph parking positions before staff evacuate so insurance and service records match reality after the storm.
Practice parking once in May when stress is low and contractors answer the phone.
What happens to maps and software during outages?
Export the current map file to offline storage before networks go down. Cloud access may lag after power returns.
Note hold flags and geofences in a paper log in case software resets to defaults when generators cycle.
Service Robot Co. can push verified maps back after inspection if files corrupt during power events.
Keep OEM tie-down kits in the same cage as blower storm shutters.
Who retrieves robots after evacuation lifts?
Follow the same return-to-work rules as staff. No one retrieves robots on flooded paths because the barn looks dry from the road.
The watch lead walks shelter areas with the superintendent before wheels roll. Downed trees may block the route that worked last season.
Document debris removal on fairways before any autonomous pass restarts.
If robots shared a barn with carts, confirm cart removal order before units move.
How long should passes stay off after the storm?
Hold robots until irrigation is tested, debris is cleared, and cart rules return to normal. Saturated lows may need longer than the pro shop reopen message suggests.
Inspect for buried irrigation damage and silt on collars before releasing geofences.
Log reopen times per nine like you would after a major rain event.
After near misses, still inspect anchors; wind bands can shift units without a direct hit.
What should members hear about robot status?
Members care about when play resumes, but they notice robots in odd places after storms. One line that fairway mowing robots are secured prevents guessing about damage.
If barns flooded, say robots are inspected before use even if turf looks playable.
Match messaging to cart and path rules until the superintendent clears full traffic.
Document salt spray on electronics even when barns stayed dry.
How does an integrator help after hurricane season?
Service Robot Co. is OEM-neutral on autonomous fairway mowers. We finance buy or lease options, map fairways and rough, train your watch lead, and service units under RoboCare with regional engineers in every state we cover.
Schedule a post-storm inspection for water intrusion, blade damage, and GPS antenna alignment before the first release.
Update the hurricane checklist annually with what failed in the last close call, not what worked a decade ago.
Financing and insurance are separate conversations; turf safety still leads restart.
