Hey that's an interesting idea. I was thinking something similar but a little more low tech. Getting a large quantity of clothesline around the perimeter, and just doing a grid pattern based on that. Eitehr that or getting some guidance by walky talky. ----- Original Message ----- From: Lenny McHugh To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 7:51 AM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] tractors
Hi Robert, Thinking about that problem I have one possibility, assuming that there is nothing but field to mow. One day, quite a few years ago I was at the local football field when they were mowing. They had a small tractor towing two gang mowers cutting about a 15 foot path. They first went down the sideline then turned right and across to the other sideline. Now another right turn and down the sideline followed by a fourth right completing the perimeter. Then a smaller and smaller rectangle was cut. I only have some knowledge about Trekker the talking gps unit. I think it would be possible to create pois, points of interest around the field. When you would be lined up at the first corner you could have this unit direct you to the first poi which would be at the far end of the field. When you got there you could turn and have it direct you to the second point. In this free mode the unit will guide you like a compass. Following this type of pattern you should be able to cut the field and at the end have it direct you to the starting point. Lenny ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Riddle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 4:52 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] tractors Doubt it, we're talking a couple of acres. I'll look into it though. ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 10:35 AM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] tractors Robert: I don't know how much ground you're talking about, but I suspect you're going to have problems in terms of missing patches of grass. I'm totally blind, and I have driven a lot of small vehicles, asphalt rollers, front-end loaders, tracked bulldozers and small tractors. I did this mostly in equipment yards I owned, and only once did I put a backhoe through a plate glass window, and hey, that could have happened to anybody who wasn't watching where they were going. The problem for me was the noise. I had a little bobcat with a Koehler engine on it, and I could actually use that pretty well since it was quiet. I also used to towe air compressers and other wheeled equipment with a small tractor, and I was OK at it except when trying to back equipment into tightish spaces. Would it be possible to use one of the new robotic mowers on your place? I don't know how powerful they are or how long they can run, but if all you want is mowing, this might be something to look into. Good luck. Bill Stephan Kansas Citty MO Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: (816)803-2469 ----- Original Message ----- From: Robert Riddle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Thursday, July 24, 2008 7:26 pm Subject: [BlindHandyMan] tractors > Do any of you drive tractors? This place is just too much to mowe > with a standard lawn mower. So we're looking at tractors and I'm > wondering if there's any feasible way a blind person can use it. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Send any questions regarding list management to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To listen to the show archives go to link http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=33&MMN_position=47:29 Or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday Visit The Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various List Members At The Following address: http://www.jaws-users.com/JAWS/handyman/ Visit the archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com/ If you would like to join the JAWS Users List, then visit the following address for more information: http://www.jaws-users.com/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Groups Links __________ NOD32 3300 (20080725) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
