How NEXMOW Transformed School Grounds Maintenance : Del Mar High School

Key Benefits

Labor Savings

Previously, mowing likely consumed an estimated 26 to 30 staff hours per week during peak season. With the M2 handling routine mowing autonomously, that dropped to approximately 6 hours per week for oversight and battery management, freeing staff to focus on higher-value maintenance work.

No Job Displacement

One of the most common concerns raised when schools and institutions consider autonomous equipment is the potential impact on their workforce. At Del Mar, the NEXMOW M2 was deployed as a tool to support the existing grounds team — not replace it.

The transition was designed from the outset to augment staff capacity rather than reduce headcount. Grounds crew members who previously spent the majority of their shifts operating gas-powered mowers have since taken on expanded responsibilities across the campus, including landscape detailing, irrigation upkeep, hardscape maintenance, and seasonal planting, which is all work that directly improves the overall quality and appearance of the school environment.

The NEXMOW M2 takes on the repetitive, time-consuming task of routine mowing, freeing the human team to apply their skills where judgment, experience, and craftsmanship matter most. For a school district managing tight operational budgets while also trying to retain qualified maintenance staff, this balance of automation and human expertise represents a more sustainable and equitable path forward than headcount reduction alone.

“Switching to the Nexmow M2 fleet has been a game-changer for our campus environment. We can now maintain the green spaces right outside classrooms during peak school hours without any noise complaints from faculty. Most importantly, it has freed up our grounds crew to focus on specialized landscaping and safety inspections.”

• Del Mar Faculty Member 

Consistent Cut Quality

The M2’s RTK-guided path planning produces uniform results across every zone on every cycle. Areas that previously received uneven cuts due to rushed manual mowing, now maintain a tidy appearance throughout the week.

Zero Emissions and Low Noise

The M2 operates on battery power with no direct emissions and noise levels well below those of conventional commercial mowers. Early morning and school hour mowing cycles run without disturbing classes or testing sessions, and the elimination of gas-powered equipment supports the district’s sustainability goals.

Campus Safety

The M2’s layered safety system, which includes AI cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and physical collision sensors, stops the mower immediately when a person or object is detected. It also analyzes the obstacle and reroutes. Every encounter is logged with location data, allowing the facilities team to identify recurring hazard areas and clear them before scheduled mowing.

Scheduling Flexibility

App-based scheduling allows the school facility’s team to pause, reroute, or reassign zones in real time.

Cost Reduction

Beyond labor savings, the M2 has eliminated fuel purchasing and reduced equipment maintenance costs for mowed areas. The district now has a cost reduction for the areas now maintained by the M2 fleet.