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Troy council approves purchase of Tiny Mobile field‑striping robot
Summary
Troy approved buying a GPS‑guided Tiny Mobile field‑painting robot to reduce labor time for athletic field striping; staff said delivery is expected in four to six weeks and the unit carries a one‑year warranty with optional five‑year extension.
Deputy Public Works Director Dennis Tranthem presented a request Sept. 29 to purchase a GPS‑guided 'Tiny Mobile' field‑painting robot that can lay out athletic fields in roughly 20 minutes versus roughly two hours for two people, depending on field size. Tranthem said the device operates from a rechargeable battery, includes an RTK‑based GPS receiver and tablet, and has an initial one‑year warranty with an option to extend five additional years.
Council members asked whether the purchase was a buy or lease; Tranthem confirmed the city is purchasing the unit outright and that a modest ongoing subscription is required for RTK corrections. He estimated the device’s useful life at about 15 years and said the vendor’s footprint is about the size of a podium and the unit weighs about 70 pounds. Delivery was estimated at four to six weeks.
Council moved and unanimously approved the standard purchasing resolution and bid waiver to buy the Tiny Mobile robot. Supporters noted similar technology used by neighboring jurisdictions and the University of Michigan; questions centered on warranty, recurring subscription costs, and training. Staff said the robot will free crew time for other maintenance tasks and that the city will continue to evaluate remote solutions for other turf tasks.
