Autonomous Snow Blower Efficiently Clears Driveway Amid Storm
A severe winter storm, dubbed Winter Storm Fern, recently impacted over 250 million people across the United States. The storm brought freezing temperatures and significant snowfall, particularly affecting New Jersey, where Tom Moloughney tested an autonomous snow blower from Yarbo.
Tom Moloughney’s Test of the Autonomous Snow Blower
As the storm dumped around six inches of snow in his area, Moloughney stayed indoors watching the nearly 230-pound machine clear his long driveway. He documented this experience and shared it on his social account, X.
Moloughney, a well-known tech enthusiast and senior editor at InsideEVs, highlighted the unique capabilities of the $4,999 autonomous snow blower. He aimed to assess whether the device could effectively manage his extensive 6,000 square-foot driveway during the severe weather.
Performance Under Adverse Conditions
During the storm, the Yarbo snow blower demonstrated impressive performance, managing to clear not just the driveway, but also a walkway and the area in front of a two-car garage. The machine is equipped with features that allow it to tackle up to 12 feet of snow and throw it as far as 40 feet.
- Operates in temperatures as low as -13°F
- Automatically returns to its charging pad when the battery is low
- Can perform multiple passes until the driveway is completely clear
In one of his updates, Moloughney noted that the robot would charge for about an hour and a half before resuming its snow clearing tasks.
Challenges Faced by the Robotic Snow Blower
Despite its advantages, the autonomous snow blower faced some challenges. Moloughney mentioned the need for extensive digital setup prior to the storm. Additionally, the robot struggled to maintain GPS connectivity in certain areas of his driveway.
Previous experiences highlighted further limitations. In one instance, hail fell before snow accumulation, creating a layer of ice that the machine was unable to remove.
Overall Assessment
Despite these setbacks, Moloughney positively reviewed the snow blower’s capabilities. He remarked that it continued its snow-clearing duties throughout the night as the storm subsided, even describing its performance as “kicking ass.”
For those interested in the latest advancements in snow removal technology, the experience shared by Moloughney serves as a compelling case study on the future of autonomous snow blowers amidst winter storms.
