RELEASED 2019REASSESSED 2026.08.06

Franklin Robotics

Tertill Garden Weeding Robot

Name: Tertill Garden Weeding Robot
Brand: Franklin Robotics

A passive weeder designed for hands-off operation in established garden beds. The product has been formally discontinued by the manufacturer with no support available. Owner reports from active units confirm reliable weed-cutting for unmowed areas when operational.

Autonomy Ladder

Why Level II.

One five-rung scale, every category, from acting only on command to working unsupervised anywhere.

VGeneralized AutonomyAny task, any setting. No consumer robot has reached it.
IVEnvironmental AutonomyCopes with everyday clutter and frees itself, shown by independent testing.
IIIConditional AutonomyFinishes whole jobs in familiar spaces; struggles at the edges.
To reach Level IIIMost sessions finish without intervention. Rescue is occasional, not routine.
IIAssisted AutonomyThis robot

Tertill Garden Weeding Robot runs preset routines on its own, and the owner is its recovery system.

Navigation and control

Conductivity sensors (side sensor detects bed walls and borders for containment, underside sensor detects plant contact and triggers the trimmer), pseudo-random path within the bounded bed
Why this level
- Operates within a bounded outdoor space without GPS, perimeter wire, or mapped waypoints.
- A conductivity sensor around the body detects the bed wall or border and turns the robot away, which is what keeps it contained.
- A second sensor on the underside detects contact with a plant and switches on the string trimmer, so anything under about an inch is cut and taller plants are left standing.
- Paths are pseudo-random.
- Classified as Level II, Assisted Autonomybecause it executes its task (weed-cutting) autonomously but requires explicit spatial containment (the garden bed) and does not navigate goal-specific routes.
Autonomy dimension 45 / 100 · 4 sources reviewed
IManual AutomationOne action on command; no independent operation.

How we assign a level →

Behind the classification

Sources we reviewed.

Provisional4 sources reviewed

Enough has been reviewed to classify, but gaps remain across source types.

Sources reviewed

Longitudinal signal2 sourcesReviewed

Robovations dated log for this robot: 3 tracked entries spanning ~77 months.

Monitoring record4 sourcesReviewed

Sources behind the tracker entries following this robot.

Also monitored, nothing listed yet

Manufacturer documentationReviewed

Product specifications, user manual, and operational guidelines published by Franklin Robotics.

Owner reportsOngoing

Retail reviews and garden forum discussions documenting multi-season use, weed suppression patterns, and failure modes.

How we evaluate evidence →

Human Readiness

Discontinued.

One question: what does buying this robot today walk you into? The state is computed from the record, and recomputed daily.

DiscontinuedThis robot

Tertill Garden Weeding Robot is discontinued. Remaining listings are old stock at uncertain prices, which no buying-today tier describes.

Listings under Availability are shown for reference, not as a purchase path.

On the record

Released January 2019; since discontinued
No current new-stock listing confirmed
4 sources reviewed

The scale, for reference

Ready NowAssessed, with a clean record on file. A successor may be shipping; the page says so when it is.
New to MarketOn sale under 90 days; the ownership record is still forming.
WaitA successor is announced and has not shipped; re-read the decision when it arrives.
Known IssuesDocumented problems stand on the record; read the case before buying.

How we assess readiness →

Robovations Score

How this number was reached

54of 100

LimitedAt or above 13% of the 432 robots we scoreand 52% of the 23 scored specialty robots

DeficientLimitedCapableStrongExemplary

Measured on 8 of the 9 inputs10% not counted

Our assessment did not establish an independent source for edge-case recovery on this machine, so that input is left out of the score rather than guessed at, and the rest re-weighted to fill the space. A gap in what we have been able to verify is not evidence against the robot. Where a whole pillar has nothing measured, we publish no number at all.

What moved itpoints gained or lost against a typical robot

Carried by

Routine maintenance91+2.9

Held back by

Software stability33−4.5
Support longevity18−4.4
Coverage and navigation40−3.0

Capability40% of the score55What it does without you.

Task completion16% of the score64

Evidence

Modern Castle's hands-on test found it "does a good job at removing weeds, provided they are small" because "any plant over 2 inches tall it views as a plant you want to keep", and concluded "it's more about weed prevention. If you have weeds already established you'll likely need to remove those first and then set Tertil to patrol". It self-charges from the sun, so the human step is the weeding it will not do rather than servicing between runs.

Coverage and navigation10% of the score40

Evidence

Bob Vila's tester Mark Wolfe describes it finding its way "around the garden in a random pattern", traveling "in a straight line until it encounters an obstacle that forces it to change direction", with no perimeter wire, GPS or map; over weeks of daily runs in one prepared bed the outcome was that the bed "has fewer weeds than other beds I have consistently been working in".

Edge-case recoverynot countedno source verified25

Evidence

Fails without reporting, found stalled, which is the anchor written for this machine. There is no app, no connectivity, no display and no alert of any kind, so a tipped or stranded Tertill sits in the bed until somebody notices, and the product's whole proposition is not looking at it. Tipping on ground over the published 7 degree slope limit is the documented failure mode for a 2.4 lb machine and no self-righting is documented. The conductivity border sensor is a genuine containment behavior and is why this is at the anchor rather than below it.

Operating envelope4% of the score53

Evidence

Bob Vila reports the garden "must be surrounded by a 4-inch-high barrier with no gaps", which the robot uses instead of a perimeter wire, that "plant spacing is also critical" at 12 inches between plants and 12 inches between barrier and plants, and that wire collars must be placed around each seedling. That is a prepared bed, and many existing beds would need rework to qualify.

Dependability40% of the score42Whether it keeps doing it.

Field failure rate16% of the score64

Evidence

Several seasons of field record from a 2019 launch to discontinuation, with no recall and no systemic defect documented, and the trimmer string identified as the wear part rather than a failure. Owner reports and garden forum discussion covering multi-season use are cited but unlinked. Held here because that is thin: a low-volume product now discontinued generates little public reporting, so the absence of a documented job-stopping pattern is closer to absence of evidence than to a clean record.

Software stability14% of the score33

Evidence

Scored 25 for lack of independent evidence of update behavior, and the reason is architectural: there is no connectivity, no app, no firmware and no update channel of any kind, so there is nothing to inspect and nothing can ever be shipped to change how it behaves. Saying that rather than reading it as stability is the point. What the control system does do is two conductivity sensors and a pseudo-random walk, and the height rule it runs on cuts ornamentals and seedlings by design.

Support longevity10% of the score18

Evidence

Formally discontinued by the manufacturer with no support available. What remains is a single catalog item, a Whacker String Replacement Kit at $9.99, which the record describes as one of the few things still available after discontinuation, and that residual channel for the one wear part is the only reason this is not at the floor. There is no repair channel, no warranty, no parts catalog beyond the string, no update commitment and no replacement path for the solar cell or the battery pack.

Ownership burden20% of the score79What it asks of you.

Routine maintenance12% of the score91

Evidence

Genuinely a light schedule, and not by absence: weekly removal of grass clumps and debris from the trimmer head and wheels, monthly battery terminal inspection for corrosion, seasonal indoor storage with the battery charged rather than flat plus a seal check before redeployment, and trimmer string replacement when it wears through. There is no charging, no dock, no boundary wire to test and no app. Deducted for the one hands-on cost the design imposes rather than removes: the owner physically shields seedlings and low ornamentals, because the machine cuts anything under an inch.

Consumables8% of the score61

Evidence

One consumable, the trimmer string at $9.99 a kit, on a slow cadence, which is a real and cheap recurring part rather than an absence. The counterweight is supply rather than price: the product is discontinued, so that kit is a finite stock from a company that has stopped supporting the line, and the solar cell and lithium pack have no replacement channel at all. A consumable with no assured source is not a cheap consumable for long.

middle half of the databaseits medianthis robot

Reported, not scoredneither measures how well the robot works

Five-year cost$450

Cheap to run while it runs. Roughly $349 at the last published price plus about $20 a year in trimmer string, with no charging cost because it is solar, no boundary wire, no subscription and no app. Two caveats belong with that figure: the product is discontinued, so the purchase price is historical and units are secondhand, and the string kit is the only part still available, so a solar cell or battery failure has no costed repair path at any price.

Data postureLocal

Core function needs no account and no network.

What leaves the homeNot documented

Read the full methodology →

FIT CHECK

Will the Tertill Garden Weeding Robot fit your application?

Describe your use case using the controls. Each choice reads the spec sheet for you, flagging where the Tertill Garden Weeding Robot is built for your space and where it isn’t.

Garden bed size

Weed pressure

What you plant

Upkeep style

A classification of fit for the conditions you set, not a recommendation. Verdicts describe engineering design intent, not test results.

SPECIFICATION

The full spec sheet.

Priced below the category median, with every figure charted against the category below.

Dimensional drawing

Key specificationsManufacturer-published

Footprint: 10 × 10 in · 5 in tall
Weight: 2.4 lbs

Where it lands · ranked across 43 specialty robotsThis robotMedianTypical range

Runtime420min

30 min960 min

Near median

Price$349

$29$100,000

Bottom of range

Weight2.4lbs

0.09 lbs136.2+ lbs

Bottom of range

Position shows where the figure sits across the tracked category, not a quality judgment.

OWNERSHIP

Living with it.

Steady performer in contained beds; battery and motor durability improve over seasons.

Owner reports from multi-year deployments confirm reliable cutting mechanics and battery longevity. The primary failure point is moisture ingress during heavy rain; drying and cover storage extend lifespan. Manufacturer has iterated battery design across generations to improve winter performance.

Owner effort~30 minhands-on per month

ConsumablesNonereplaceable parts / yr

Reliability trend Stableowner-reported arc

What goes wrong · 3 documented · 0 self-recover

Occasional

Moisture damage in wet climatesCorrosion of battery terminals, motor bearing stiffness

Owner fixDry-storage winter maintenance, cover during heavy rain

Occasional

Debris binding in diskReduced cutting effectiveness, increased motor load

Owner fixWeekly manual inspection and removal of grass clumps

Rare

Perimeter edge escapeRobot exits bed boundary, lost or damaged

Owner fixRaise bed edges or use supplemental physical barriers

Upkeep routine

Weekly52×/yr

Remove grass clumps and debris from the trimmer head and wheels.

Monthly12×/yr

Inspect battery terminals for corrosion, clean if needed.

Seasonal4×/yr

Store indoors over winter or through heavy rain, with the battery charged rather than left flat; check rubber seals before redeployment.

As neededno fixed schedule

Replace the trimmer string. It is the wear part, and a robot that has stopped cutting has usually worn it through. Franklin lists a Whacker String Replacement Kit at $9.99, one of the few items still available after discontinuation.

Cost over time · past the sticker

$349 to buy, with no regularly replaced parts. The purchase price is effectively the full cost of ownership.

Safety notes

CautionRotating disk beneath cover: Contact with spinning blade during maintenance or clearing. Always remove battery before servicing.

NoteUnsupervised operation in yards with children or pets: The robot operates autonomously; keep supervising adults or barriers present to prevent inadvertent contact.

RECORD

How the assessment has moved.

Every announcement, release and reassessment behind the current classification.

Coming soon

Just launched

Active updates

Settled

Discontinued

Aug 2026 · AssessmentRobovations Score rescored under v4.2: 46 → 54
Aug 2026 · AssessmentRobovations Score rescored under v4.0: 69 → 46
Jul 2026 · AssessmentAutonomy 62 → 45, Value 58 → 72, 3 other dimensions · overall held at 69
Jul 2026 · AssessmentRobovations Score recorded at 69 of 100
Aug 2024 · NewsTertill retail availability narrows to direct-only as third-party stock thins
Jun 2023 · NewsTertill maker Franklin Robotics merges with Harvest Automation, pivots toward commercial agriculture
Apr 2018 · NewsHusqvarna Group acquires 25 percent stake in Tertill maker Franklin Robotics

Editorial comparisons

How Tertill Garden Weeding Robot compares.

All comparisons →

Goal-based

Dreame Cyber X vs Tertill: what does each one do?

Dreame Cyber X vs Tertill Garden Weeding Robot

Read comparison

Common questions

What people actually ask.

5 answered

OperationDoes Tertill cut grass, or just weeds?

Tertill cuts any plant under about an inch tall and leaves taller plants standing. Height is the only thing it goes on; it does not identify species. It will cut grass and short vegetation the same way, so it is not suitable for lawns, and newly emerged seedlings are at risk until they grow past an inch or are shielded physically.

OperationHow long does the solar battery last on cloudy days?

The robot uses a rechargeable 7-hour runtime on a full charge. Manufacturer specs do not detail charge time under cloud cover; owner reports from temperate climates suggest 2-3 days of operation possible with partial sun before a full-sun recharge cycle is needed.

OperationCan I use Tertill on sloped terrain?

The published requirement is a relatively flat garden with a slope of less than 7 degrees, which is roughly a 12 percent grade. Steeper ground is outside the stated limit for a 2.4 lb machine, and tipping is the failure mode. Terraced or level beds are the intended installation, not a preference.

OperationWhat happens to clipped plant material?

Tertill cuts with a spinning string trimmer, the same principle as a handheld weed whacker, working at and just above the soil surface rather than below it. Clippings stay in the bed and break down there. There is no collection or mulching function, so heavy cutting periods leave visible debris until it decomposes.

OperationDoes Tertill need boundaries or perimeter wire?

No perimeter wire is required. A conductivity sensor around the robot’s side detects the bed wall or border and turns it away, so containment comes from the physical edge of the bed itself. Contained beds, raised boxes or distinct borders, are the intended installation.

Availability

Where it's sold

We may earn commission from qualifying purchases. This does not influence classification.

We are no longer finding a current new-stock listing for this robot. Remaining offers may be used, refurbished, or third-party — confirm the condition and price on the retailer’s page before buying.

Amazon See current listings

Cite / Embed

Reference the Tertill Garden Weeding Robot classification.

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Citation

Robovations. "Tertill Garden Weeding Robot: Autonomy Level II (Assisted Autonomy)." Autonomy Ladder™, assessed August 2026. https://robovations.com/robots/tertill-garden-weeding-robot/

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Where to next

Three ways to keep going.

For evaluators

Compare with a peer.

See the Tertill Garden Weeding Robot and Hugging Face Microduck side by side: autonomy level, Robovations Score, readiness, and price. Classification, not a verdict.

See the full comparison

Or compare with Miko 3, EMO, Loona Petbot.

For browsers

See every Level II.

Every robot we’ve classified at assisted autonomy. Sorted by readiness, score, and price. Filter by category, manufacturer, or release date.

Browse the database

Updated weekly with new entries and reclassifications.

Tertill Garden Weeding Robot

Will the Tertill Garden Weeding Robot fit your application?

The full spec sheet.

Living with it.

How the assessment has moved.

How Tertill Garden Weeding Robot compares.

Dreame Cyber X vs Tertill: what does each one do?

What people actually ask.

Other specialty robots we have classified.

Miko 3

Hugging Face Microduck

LOVOT 3.0

Dreame Cyber X

Where it's sold

Reference the Tertill Garden Weeding Robot classification.

Three ways to keep going.

Get the next reassessment.

Compare with a peer.

See every Level II.