Robo-Blowers

[jeffg]

No not those.

We were looking for info on snowblowers and stumbled on a few robotic and remote controlled units. As far as I know all of them are prototypes and none have made it to a production line, but here's the best one I've seen so far.

Imagine never having to shovel snow off your driveways again.

 

[wayupnorth]

Wouldnt I love one of those. I have a 150 ft. long driveway and to be able to sit in the nice warm house while this does the dirty work would be a dream come true.

 

[jeffg]

What I like is that the snowblower part of this machine is modular.. According to the designer it converts to a remote controlled lawnmower in less than two minutes. So, unlike dedicated snowblowers, the thing would be useful throughout the year.

 

[cuffs054]

Oh, a snow blower. I thought you were creating a new cottage industry...

 

[jeffg]

Not in this forum.

 

[tolivac]

NICE!!!AS a child in SDak-one of my duties was plowing the snow off the driveway and walks by hand-sure would have been nice and fun to use that robo blower-Looks like a miniature version of the Alamo robotic flail mower for roadsdes.Is the blower shown really "robotic"-like a Roomba vac-able to do the job on its own-or is it remote controlled by a person holding a remote control box?

 

[jeffg]

This one is remote controlled. From what we've read, robots and anything with spinning blades (snowblowers, lawnmowers etc) are a problematic combination. If it gets lost or off track without knowing it, it would be a major liability issue, i.e. kids and pets may start disappearing with no trace except for patches of pink snow.

 

[tolivac]

The Alamo remote flail mower is designed to stop if its remote control box is dropped.The machine stops movement and the blades stop spinning. On the Alamo machine there are E-stop buttons on the remote and the unit itself.Good that the snowblower is manually remote controlled-since it could be used as a mower,too.You can look up the Alamo Industrial unit on their website-there is another machine---funny strange name-called "RoboFlail" that is like the Alamo unit.Another clever thing the remote large mowers have-a remote reversable engine fan that can be reversed buy pusing a button on the remote to clear cut grass off the radiator on the motor.Guesss the snowblower won't need that.But as a mower-it might.

 

[jeffg]

I keep thinking of the robotic floor cleaner in the kitchen scene of Glass Bottom Boat lol

Note to Robert/Fred/mods: links to secure targets ("https://") are overridden by your software with "http://". This won't work far more often than it will [this post was last edited: 12/15/2013-11:43]

 

[danemodsandy]

There Has Long....

Been a system that is safer and even more effective than any robo-blower could be.

It's called a driveway snow-melting system, consisting of radiant heating cables installed before a driveway's concrete pour. No chemicals, no work, no snarfed children or pets.

Not cheap, but neither is snow-removal equipment or a snow-removal service. Plus snow-melters prevent ice formation, something no blower of any kind can do.

www.warmlyyours.com

If you're going to dream, dream big.[this post was last edited: 12/15/2013-20:31]

 

[whirlykenmore78]

It's cool but,

I love running the snowblower.  Toro machines are my weapon of choice.  They move snow like nobody's business and last for decades. 

WK78

 

[danemodsandy]

Nick:

"It's cool but, I love running the snowblower."

Whatever blows your snow back.

My dream is to stumble sleepily to the floor-to-ceiling bow window in my master suite wearing my best vicuña robe, look out at the snow buildup from the night, extend one perfectly manicured hand to the control of my snow-melters, press the button while saying "What a bore," and go back to bed.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Sandy

While there are very few things about a Minnesota winter are fun,  The satisfaction of clearing my, my parents, and my neighbors driveway

 

he fell asleep

Katie Sunflower

 

[wayupnorth]

I spent almost 3 hours snowblowing the foot and half today in zero windchill. Not fun, but wished I had a remote control thing to just get rid of it.

 

[petek]

Had my little Toro Powerlite out yesterday for the first blow of the season.. Fired right up on the 2nd pull too. I just love that little machine. Too bad they quit making them, they're the cats ass.

 

[kb0nes]

This year the St Paul Winter Carnival will host the 3rd annual autonomous snowplow competition. Its somewhat like the autonomous vehicle competition run by DARPA, just colder.

Not quite as cool as a snow thrower, but once the green button is pressed, these have no human intervention!