Robotics On The Move

Recently I had the opportunity to visit Alscott Sports Club near Telford to attend a workshop demonstrating a range of robotic line markers and mowers from Agrovista Amenity.

The company has recently invested in their range and recruited additional staff to oversee the sales, development and support services of the products they now sell.

As part of this expansion, Agrovista has come to an agreement to succeed XDC’s robotic operation. The move sees experienced robotic specialist Liam Pindred join their team, alongside autonomous solutions and drone technology specialist Brian Turner. Together with Dave Mitchell, who joined the business in 2025, the trio forms a dedicated robotics division focused on demonstrations, installations and aftersales support across the UK.

The morning demonstration began with a warm welcome by Dan Hughes commercial manager for Agrovista the invited guests that included contractors, grounds professionals, sport governing bodies and greenkeepers. On hand to help demonstrate the robotic line markers and mowers were Liam, Brian and Dave Mitchell.

The PaintMaster Pro RLM01 Robotic Line Marker had been set up to mark out a small-sided football pitch. This uses dual industrial-grade GNSS positioning systems and a local base station to ensure accuracy and positioning in challenging environments. The robot is easily controlled using an iPad, or mobile phone. The cost of the robot comes with an inclusive set of pitch marking templates and logo designs.

I found the robot to be quiet when in use, robust, with easy onboard controls to operate the pumps for cleaning the machine and priming it for spraying. It has camera sensors and sensory bars that prevent it from hitting objects.

Weighing 60 kg, it is not something you can pick up on your own and will therefore deter opportunist thefts. It also has trackers and alarms built into the machine.

With a standard 0.5 kWh battery, the PaintMaster Pro can mark up to eight full-size (11v11) football pitches on a single charge, while the optional 1 kWh battery doubles that coverage to 16 pitches. A fast-swap battery system allows for continuous 24/7 operation.

The company also told us its integrated cloud-based software offers real-time monitoring, automatic field switching, and fleet management for multiple units – all accessible through a remote control app. A standard tablet is included for intuitive setup and operation, and there are no ongoing software subscriptions.

It is priced at £19,000 excluding VAT so with VAT you are looking at cost of around £23,000.

Showing an interest in the line-marker were a number of contractors and local authorities – as well as some golf clubs, along with the local Nova United Football club who have a number of pitches they maintain.

Also on demo was the RM21 Grounds Robot. This Combo unit includes a 25” rotary mower, line marker, charging dock, bespoke tablet with all software plans, and a Radio RTK station for precision over marking. It can also be supplied as just a mower or line marker, with optional attachments including a grass/leaf collector/hoover and dispenser, and brushes for different tasks that attach to the main unit.

On display as well was their latest Thor Professional Robotic Mower for commercial mowing operation. This is equipped with 3D LiDAR, dual RTK positioning and smart vision. We heard that this unit navigates challenging terrain with “centimetre-level accuracy.”

Powered by a 2 kWh lithium-ion battery offering up to 8 hours of mowing (and quick 2-hour recharge), the mower is designed for continuous, unattended operation in any conditions.
Built for commercial professionals, it also features adjustable cutting height (10-100 mm), a cutting width of 730 mm and slope capability up to 25°/46%.

So, all in all I thought this to be an informative day for all those who attended. No doubt we will continue to see more robotic devices coming to market in the coming months and years. I am sure the attendees will have gone away with a better understanding of the ability and performance of these fast developing products.