Line marking robot for sports fields: how to choose the right one

Marking lines with a manual line marker is precise work that takes a lot of time. First setting out with string and tape measure, then driving carefully, and anyone who marks several pitches a week soon spends a large part of the week on it. A line marking robot takes over that work: it knows the dimensions of the pitch, drives with centimetre precision and marks lines while your team does something else.

How does a line marking robot work?

The principle is the same for most robots. First the pitch is surveyed once: with a handheld survey device such as the V4e or V4e Pro you walk the corners and goals. Then you choose a template in the app, for example an 11-a-side football pitch, and adjust its position. The robot navigates with RTK-GPS and sprays the lines in one route. Next time you reuse the same map, so the lines end up in exactly the same place every time.

What does it deliver?

The gain lies in three things. First, time: setting out disappears and the robot drives itself. Second, paint: a robot sprays a constant line width without overlaps. According to FJD, the PaintMaster Pro uses more than 50% less paint and needs more than 90% less labour. Third, quality: straight lines and correct dimensions, week after week.

Three types of line marking robots

Light and simple for clubs and schools

The FJD PaintMaster Mini weighs 21.85 kg without paint and is light enough to be carried by one person. It marks at 2 km/h, has a line width of 5 to 12 cm and a swappable battery for about 2 hours. It detects balls, cones and equipment on the line and then stops by itself. A logical choice for a club or school with a limited number of pitches.

Several pitches per charge

The FJD PaintMaster Pro is made for complexes and municipalities. It has a 25-litre paint tank, marks more than 15 full-size pitches per charge according to the manufacturer and runs up to 10 hours on the 1 kWh battery. When the paint runs out, it drives to a fixed refill point and then finishes the task. With more than 250 templates it also marks rugby, American football, baseball, custom layouts and logos.

Millimetre precision for stadiums

The FJD PaintMaster Ultra works with a total station and an auto-tracking prism. That gives millimetre precision, even under a roof or in an indoor hall where GPS is unavailable. According to the manufacturer, a standard 11-a-side pitch is marked in about 30 minutes. This robot is designed for the requirements of major competitions.

Or combine it with mowing

If you are already considering a robotic mower, you can also combine line marking and mowing on one machine. The FJD LM03 Line Marker Kit turns the FJD Rough Ranger into a line marking robot that marks up to 20 football pitches per charge. The FJD Titan has an optional line marking kit for up to 10 football pitches per charge.

What should you look out for?

• Number of pitches per week: this decides whether a light robot is enough or whether you need capacity per charge.
• Environment: tall stands, trees or a roof call for extra precision or a total station.
• Paint type and refilling: ask which line marking paint is suitable and how often you need to refill.
• Templates: check that all the sports and youth formats you play are available.
• Training and support: the first survey is best done together with someone who knows the robot.

Want to see how that works on your own pitches? Request a demo or ask your question.