Houston Airports puts safety first with remote-controlled mower at Bush Airport

New equipment allows maintenance crews to mow steep slopes while reducing the risk of rollovers and injuries.

Nov 3, 2026

At George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), some of the most challenging landscaping jobs are on the steep, grassy embankments surrounding airport roadways and infrastructure.

For Houston Airports Maintenance crews, mowing those slopes has traditionally meant navigating uneven terrain with heavy equipment, where a sudden slide or rollover could cause serious injury.

Now, a new machine is changing where employees need to be to get the job done.

Houston Airports has introduced its first Energreen RoboECO, a compact, remote-controlled mower designed to tackle steep terrain while allowing employees to operate it from safer ground.

"Our maintenance teams work in challenging environments every day, and their safety has to come first," said Cliff Price, general manager of Bush Airport for Houston Airports. "This equipment allows us to tackle some of our most difficult mowing jobs without putting an employee directly on a steep slope. That's a meaningful improvement in how we protect our people."

Unlike traditional riding mowers, the RoboECO has no driver's seat. Instead, an employee operates it using a handheld remote control. The mower travels on rubber tracks rather than wheels, helping it maintain traction on uneven ground. Its low profile and specialized track system are designed to provide stability on steep inclines.

According to manufacturer Energreen America, the RoboECO can operate on slopes of up to 61 degrees and features a 40-inch cutting deck. Its remote control has a maximum operating range of approximately 490 feet, although actual working distances depend on conditions and safety requirements.

The mower is not autonomous. A trained employee remains responsible for controlling its movements, monitoring conditions and operating the cutting equipment.

While the RoboECO cuts grass at a pace comparable to conventional equipment, its primary advantage is reducing the need for employees to operate heavy machinery on steep embankments.

Houston Airports currently has one RoboECO at IAH, where Maintenance employees are receiving hands-on training and evaluating its performance. The team will assess its handling, cutting effectiveness and suitability for different slopes before determining whether to invest in additional units.

"We're approaching this as both a safety investment and an opportunity to improve how we maintain the airport," Price said. "Our employees are the ones who understand these conditions best. Their experience operating the mower will help us determine where this technology makes sense and whether we should expand its use."