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Lasered lawns

14 October 2000

A laser lawnmower has been causing a stir at Germany’s garden shows. The
garden equipment maker Wolf-Garten has built a prototype machine fitted with an
array of four lasers that cuts grass to an accuracy of 1 millimetre. Powerful
lasers evaporate water from the grass and chop the dried residue into tiny
particles. A stream of air then blends the cuttings with fertiliser before
depositing the mixture onto the lawn. The mower also includes mobile Internet
access and a CD player to entertain you as you cut the lawn.

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