F date in the diary; it is an opportunity to witness the“ lightbulb moment” when a grounds manager realises their workload is about to be significantly streamlined. Recently, at the picturesque Orwell Park School in Ipswich, Simon took centre stage to showcase the latest from TinyMobileRobots, proving that elite-level precision is now accessible at the touch of a button.
PITCH & LINE MARKERS
Precision in practice: Simon Hughes( Origin) demonstrates the lightweight design and tablet-controlled accuracy of the TinyMobileRobots system at Orwell Park School.
Master of the Mark: Simon Hughes Showcases the Future of Autonomous Line Marking
Against the historic backdrop of Ipswich’ s Orwell Park School, Origin’ s Line Marking Sales Manager demonstrates why the future of the industry is autonomous.
or Simon Hughes, a demo day is more than just a
F date in the diary; it is an opportunity to witness the“ lightbulb moment” when a grounds manager realises their workload is about to be significantly streamlined. Recently, at the picturesque Orwell Park School in Ipswich, Simon took centre stage to showcase the latest from TinyMobileRobots, proving that elite-level precision is now accessible at the touch of a button.
As the Line Marking Sales Manager for Origin, Simon’ s enthusiasm is rooted in a genuine desire to solve the practical headaches of his customers.“ It was a pleasure to welcome so many visitors and really get stuck into the capabilities of these machines,” Simon reflects. The day featured a diverse range of demonstrations, from the standard geometry of football pitches to a bespoke 300-metre athletics track complete with a 100-metre straight. Watching the robot navigate these complex, custom curves with surgical accuracy left many seasoned professionals visibly impressed.
One of the most significant talking points of the day was the sheer simplicity of the interface. Simon guided visitors through the tablet-led
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“ There is a real joy in showing people that technology doesn’ t have to be complicated to be brilliant. When you see a robot deliver a perfect athletics track in a fraction of the usual time, you aren’ t just looking at a machine— you’ re looking at a solution that frees up vital labour to carry out other essential duties whilst the marker is at work.”
Simon Hughes, Origin.
system, demonstrating how intuitive the process is from the initial poweron to the first drop of paint.“ Our customers were particularly struck by how user-friendly the system is,” Simon explains.“ But beyond the software, the hardware itself is a game-changer. The weight advantage of our machines compared to others on the market is a massive plus for turf health and ease of transport.”
For Simon, the real reward is the tangible boost to operational efficiency. By mastering the precision of overmarking and automating the initial setup, he is helping clubs save significant capital on paint and labour. This efficiency allows vital man-hours to be redirected toward other essential maintenance tasks while the robot is busy painting, ensuring the“ athletes” have the best possible surface. Seeing the satisfaction on a customer’ s face when they realise they can achieve better results with less manual strain is what keeps Simon’ s passion for the industry alive.
tinymobilerobots. co. uk
42 GroundskeepingJournal. co. uk | November / December 2026