Robot Snowblower Takes on Winter Storm in New Jersey
A homeowner in New Jersey found a unique way to stay cozy during Winter Storm Fern. Instead of braving the cold, Tom Moloney decided to let his autonomous snow blower tackle the task.
Moloney, who lives in northern New Jersey and runs a YouTube channel dedicated to electric vehicles and charging tech, shared a video on X showing his Yervo snowblower clearing a sprawling 6,000-square-foot driveway amidst the storm.
“So far, we’re doing pretty well!” he commented on Sunday morning, mentioning that the snow blower recharges to around 80% in about 1.25 hours and then resumes its work automatically.
The post attracted a large audience, showcasing the robot making its initial pass, returning to recharge, and getting ready to start again on its own.
“This is a great opportunity to see if this robot can handle the whole driveway during such a significant winter storm,” he observed, also adding, “I’ve been enjoying my coffee inside and it’s going well so far!”
New Jersey was hit hard by Winter Storm Fern early Sunday, which brought a tricky mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, making cleanup a bit of a challenge across the state.
In northern New Jersey, snow measurements ranged from about 4 to 5 inches. Bergen County saw approximately 5 inches, while Essex and Union counties reported over 4 inches. In more central areas, totals varied from about 3 to 6 inches, with some southern regions experiencing increased precipitation.
As the storm escalated, forecasters predicted a wide range of snow accumulation across the state, with the heaviest amounts—ranging from 12 to 18 inches—expected in the northwest areas and isolated spots potentially seeing over 20 inches. Central and northeastern parts of New Jersey might receive between 8 to 12 inches, while the southern regions would likely get around 4 to 10 inches due to sleet and freezing rain.
Moloney kept his Yarbo snow blower running during the storm rather than waiting for it to finish, allowing him to clear the snow in sections. After about 1.5 hours of operation, it would return to the dock to charge, and once recharged to 80%, it would resume clearing.
This approach helped manage the extensive driveway even as fresh snow continued to fall. He would remotely restart the robot as needed—once even from about 32 miles away while he was at a doctor’s appointment.
Not everything went smoothly, though. At one point, the robot got stuck after encountering a pile of ice left by earlier snow removal efforts. Additionally, it continued working with one side of the auger malfunctioning, an issue he only discovered after returning home.
Reflecting on the experience the following day, he graded the machine with a “C to C plus,” considering the challenging conditions and his initial setup decisions. “This was tough snow,” he remarked, noting that several hours of hail had left a layer of snow on top of ice.
Despite the hiccups, it seems like a fascinating test for this technology, with the hope that future storms might bring even better results as robots like these become more prevalent in our everyday lives.
