Autonomous roving vehicle management using laser barriers

Methods, systems and computer program products for defining a functional area of operation of an autonomous roving vehicle with laser barriers are provided. Aspects include one or more laser barriers. Aspects also include a controller configured to selectively activate and/or deactivate a selection of the one or more laser barriers to define a functional area. Aspects also include an autonomous roving vehicle including one or more sensors capable of detecting a laser barrier. The autonomous roving vehicle being configured to autonomously rove within the functional area and change direction to remain within the functional area upon detecting a laser barrier.