Even More Robots!

It's no secret that I like robots. My next major purchase won't be a car. It will be a robotic lawn mower. Yes, you may have a neighborhood kid who will mow the lawn for you, but what happens in a few years when that kid grows up, or their family moves away?


Not only do robotic lawn mowers do the job, but there are other lawn and garden appliances that also do chores. Invest in a smart sprinkler or watering system, a robotic gutter cleaner, and yes, a drone.

Why a drone? You can use a hobby drone with a camera to inspect your roof for hail damage. Roofers are notoriously unregulated in some states, and a drone will allow you to check for yourself whether your roof needs replacing. A drone can also help spot weak branches, overhanging limbs, and other problems that may need attention. You'll need a little bit of practice to learn to control it, but drones are cheap and if a few dollars saves you from one unscrupulous roofer, it's money well-spent.

If you're a gardener, drones are also useful for inspecting plants when the weather is unpleasant, especially when it's too hot or too cold to do much outside. Are those tomatoes ripe? Is a deer eating all your asparagus? Your drone will tell you.

Another use for a drone is to inspect your foundation. If you have a pier-and-beam foundation with adequate clearance, you can send the drone in to inspect plumbing, piers, and whatever else is down there (better that family of skunks sprays your drone than sprays you). If you have a slab foundation, you can look for cracks, subsidence, and other issues without having to walk your property.

Yet another way to use a drone? How about buzzing a trespasser? (Note: they may try to catch or disable your drone. Make sure your drone's camera continuously uploads video to the cloud.)

And, of course, if you have a pool, you might want to consider a pool robot, too.