The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology today sought comment on a waiver request filed by  iRobot Corp. to obtain equipment certification for the marketing of its Robotic Lawn Mowers (RLMs). “iRobot states its RLMs are battery operated, self-propelling lawn mowers that rely on portable beacons placed in multiple locations on a lawn. The beacons transmit information to the RLM that enables the RLM to map out and stay within a designated mowing area.

The RLMs are designed to operate in the frequency range of 6240-6740 MHz,” OET noted. “Section 15.250 of the Commission’s rules sets out the technical requirements for unlicensed operation of wideband systems within the 5925-7250 MHz band. Section 15.250(c) states that ‘[e]xcept for operation onboard a ship or a terrestrial transportation vehicle, the use of a fixed outdoor infrastructure is prohibited’ for such systems, and that ‘[a] fixed infrastructure includes antennas mounted on outdoor structures, e.g., antennas mounted on the outside of a building or on a telephone pole.’” Comments are due March 9 and replies March 25 in ET docket 15-30.\

Courtesy TRDaily