TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tainan City Government said Friday that it has started testing a remote-controlled mower at Rende flood detention pond to improve maintenance efficiency and reduce risks to workers.
Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) inspected the machine and tried operating it during a demonstration on Friday. He said the equipment could help ease worker shortages while reducing the need for crews to enter steep areas or face snakes, insects, and extreme heat.
The hybrid mower moves on tracks and can operate on slopes, riverbanks, and uneven ground. Workers can control it from up to 100 meters away, allowing them to remain at a safer distance from hazardous areas.
The machine has an adjustable cutting height of 4 to 20 centimeters. Its 90-centimeter cutting width also allows it to cover ground faster than handheld mowing equipment.
The city's Water Resources Bureau said the machine could improve both worker safety and maintenance quality. The bureau will review results from the trial before deciding whether to introduce similar equipment at large parks, riverside green spaces, and other water facilities.
Rende flood detention pond has northern and southern sections covering 23.84 hectares. It can hold 525,300 cubic meters of water and helps reduce flooding near Rende Industrial Park during heavy rain.
Tainan has also developed walking paths and areas planted with flowering trees around the pond. These improvements have turned the flood-control facility into a public space for recreation, environmental education, and nature viewing.
City officials said the trial is part of a wider effort to introduce practical technology into public services. They will assess whether remote-controlled equipment can make maintenance work safer and faster.
