Science fiction used to promise we'd have all sorts of robotic help by the 21st century. So far the "future" proved to be rather disappointing-- even if ASIMO maker Honda now offers the Miimo gardening robot.

The Miimo looks like the familiar Roomba robot vacuum cleaners and acts very similar to one, too. But instead of sucking down dirt, the Miimo mows 2-3mm of grass from its owners' lawns.

Think of it as a robot lawn mower for your more lazy customers, then.

Handling robot controls are timers, 3 independent "bump" sensors and a boundary wire acting as a garden perimeter. Honda also says the sensors shut down the grass-cutting blades should the Miimo lift off the ground.

A "high performance" lithium-ion battery powers the robot, which returns to the docking station once it needs a recharge.

Honda offers two Miimo models for the European market-- the 300 and 500, offering a maximum mowing perimiter of either 300m or 500m. Both will be available by early 2013... until then, we'll just have to stick to mowing the lawn by hand.

Go Honda Enters European Robotic Lawn Mower Market with Miimo