Software 2.0 Release: What you need to know

Here's what you need to know about our upcoming 2.0 software release, for demos and training

If you only have 1 minute, watch this video:

More about what 2.0 really is: just a version number

We version our releases. Most mowers are running version 1.5.24 of our software, which is just a number we increase every time we package up, verify, and test features to update mowers automatically over the air.

This release contains many new features customers (and dealers and distributors) were asking for, so we decided to package them all up together and call it 2.0 so we could release them all at once to get some good press and marketing.

To be honest, many of these features are already live and working on your mowers, so there shouldn't be a big learning curve, and the current recommended demo procedures will still work fine.

Here are the things you need to know if you are doing demos on March 7th or beyond and your mower has updated to 2.0.

Limitations

Some mowers in the field have a variation of the AI/ML Camera that have "Autofocus" instead of a "Fixed Focus" lens. The AI/ML Cone Detection model doesn't work as well (isn't validated) on this variation of the camera that we made for supply chain constraints early on, so we're disabling it and scheduling a camera swap for the < 40 units in the field that have this variation of the camera. The camera looks exactly the same and the swap will be easy for a dealer (or even branch mechanic) to perform. Watch for a Service Bulletin to handle this.

Only orange traffic cones should be used. The AI/ML system has not been trained on Green/Yellow/Blue cones yet.

Previous software updates (i.e. the last one 1.5.24) on average took about 5-30 seconds to download depending on the cellular connection. This 2.0 update includes some larger machine learning model files and the last test we did on a validation mower took on average 43 seconds on a good cellular connection. So, this update may take a few seconds or up to 1 minute longer than normal updates. Just be aware.

Frequently Asked Questions

‍Q: How do I know if my mower is running version 2.0?
A: Easiest is to ask support via text or call: 470-719-1773. You can also view your mowers here: https://app.greenzie.com/ via a web browser on your desktop or phone, using your login (call if you need help getting access), and click on a mower to see the version of software it is running.
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Q: What does the new user interface look like for job reloading?
A: There are two new tabs at the bottom: Recent Jobs and Favorite Jobs. Click on one and it will load jobs in a 5 mile radius for all jobs across all the customer's mowers (not just this mower). Click one of the jobs, or use the A, B, C labels if easier. Both work. Then click Load or the star to favorite. Try it and see if you can get the hang of it.

Note: you can always just press the MAP button like you used to to record and MOW that, and let us show them that later if you're nervous about this feature.

Q: Is it jobs or maps?
A: We previously used the term "map" but we're trying to standardize now on "jobs". You map out the perimeter of a job. You can then view those jobs on a map. You load a job and the mower finishes the job. A job also contains information about how to finish mowing it, and at a future date, the stripe angle, even speed.

Say this now: "You press the Map button to map out the perimeter of a Job. Those jobs are now stored and contain a perimeter and stripe angle."

So jobs it is. Help us use the word "jobs" now, and the phrase: "map a job".

Q: What’s involved with the machine “saving” “loading” or “remapping” ?
A: When you map out a job, we save the globally accurate lat/lng coordinates as a file, and sync it up to the cloud for the customer's account. This should be seamless, no need to record or save, it does it automatically. Every new job you map out and create, becomes a job you can load later.
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Q: Will another mower’s “serial numbers” use the same map or does it just belong to the one mower?
A: Jobs (formerly known as "maps") are saved Customer Account. So for Distributors like Pace, they would see all Pace jobs on the map within a 1/4 (quarter of a) mile range of where the mower is currently located.
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Q: What other key information or limitations need to be communicated in training of reloading jobs?
A: This is a new feature, and we've tested it extensively and we believe the interface is simple and usable, but let us know how to improve.

It does NOT replay or mow the perimeter or boundary lap yet, so you still have to mow that, it just stays inside the perimeter you mapped out previously. So it's best for big open areas where another mower can mow detailed work along the perimeter. We are adding the perimeter (boundary) mowing in a future update.

Q: What is Job Continuation?
A: If you stop, turn off mower, go to lunch and come back, the mower can resume where it left off, if you use the poorly named "Resume Job" button on the controls. We will eventually move this into the Job Reloading interface, just like Netflix movies: "Do you want to resume where you left off?" but for now this just resumes the last job.

Q: Is there a method we can use to see the new Advanced Perception Updates or machine learning functions or is it all happening the background and not apparent unless the machine approaches a cone?
A: It is behind the scenes, and part of the new obstacle detection stack in addition to the existing quite good already obstacle detection algorithms.

Q: What kind of traffic cones does it detect now?
A: Only orange traffic cones should be used. The system has not been trained on Green/Yellow/Blue cones, and while it can see the small slatted ones, it's best with 1 ft and above cones.

Q: Is there a good way to demonstrate the Improved Turns?
A: To be honest, we rolled this out earlier this season already. Your mower is already doing it.

Q: Is the Enhanced Safety: GPS jump detection taking place in the background or does it affect training in any way?
A: This is rare and cannot and should not be demonstrated. It is often very hard to simulate a GPS jump as they happen extremely rarely. If you ever experienced the mower seemingly "missing a stripe" but thinking it just did a perfectly fine stripe, this should prevent this in the future.

Q: Does the mower do y-turns for an obstacle in the middle of the map or just unexpected obstacles on the boundary?
A: Only near the boundary. Obstacles in the middle are handled the same as they have in the past, we'll go around it. Though remember, the fastest way to mow is to not put any obstacles in the map.

Raw downloadable videos of new features are here if you want to use in your own marketing, you have our permission to do whatever you want, even add your logo/etc:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15cJWTQ_z0D3BZyKn_9an3ydr70W2shES?usp=sharing


Got more questions?!? Let us know via support, and we'll update you and this page!


Last updated: 
* 2023-03-03 6:04 PM ET - initial draft of FAQs
* 2023-03-05 9:00 AM ET - updated verbiage on "Job" versus "Map" (it's Job now).
* 2023-03-06 4:00 PM ET - updated on how long it may take to update
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