Skip to main content

Startup builds robot to clear your driveway of snow

Meet Kobi
Winter is fast approaching, and in many parts of the country, we’re soon we’re going to hear the sounds of salt trucks and news stations touting their “team coverage” of “BlizzardWatch 2016.” A startup based in New York City has come up with a robot that will clear the snow off of your driveway, and do a lot more. Why they didn’t have one of these back in the day when I had a 150 foot long driveway growing up in Ohio, I’ll never know. Kobi is the name of a 3-in-1 autonomous robot and was rolled out last month by The Kobi Company, according to AccuWeather.

At this point, can we mention that Kobi looks like a cross between something from Pixar and the Transformers? Maybe a cousin of Wall-E? And as with any new gadget worth its salt, there’s an app for that. With Kobi, all you do is drive the little guy around the driveway and tell it where to blow the snow or leaves. No more back breaking raking. Kobi has built-in sensors and GPS. And if that isn’t enough, Kobi can monitor the weather forecast via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile data connectivity, so it knows when it’s gonna snow.

The website reads, “You own a smartphone and yet your shed is still full of dumb garden tools? Well, maybe they were helpful once, but today, it’s time for an upgrade. Say hi to Kobi, the smartest tool in the shed.” And then there’s this gem: “The joy of gardening is overrated.”

These aren’t yet on the market, and all their beta units are deployed, probably to those hardy souls in New York, Maine, and Vermont who are in the cross hairs of Old Man Winter as we speak. AccuWeather adds that the company will have these ready for the 2017-2018 winter, and they’ll cost $4,000.

Can something this cute face down the brutal winters of the East Coast? Time will tell. Good luck, little buddy. And watch out for those salt trucks — they don’t take prisoners.

Editors' Recommendations

Brinke Guthrie
Brinke’s favorite toys include his Samsung Galaxy Tab S, Toshiba Chromebook 2, Motorola Moto G4, and two Kindles. A…
How to reset the Nanoleaf Skylight
The Nanoleaf Skylight lighting up a room various shades of purple.

The Nanoleaf Skylight is a unique piece of hardware. Unlike most Nanoleaf products that are quick to install or easy to move and replace, the Skylight is designed as a permanent fixture in your home. Instead of simply plugging it into an electrical outlet, you'll need to hardwire it onto your ceiling – and once it's in place, you'll want it to stay there for years.

However, like all electronics, it's possible for your Nanoleaf Skylight to start acting up. And since there's no easy way to get the entire unit down from your ceiling, you might be wondering how you can quickly solve the problem. Thankfully, Nanoleaf designed a simple way for you to reset the Nanoleaf Skylight without the need to disassemble the entire setup.

Read more
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Narwal Freo X Ultra: Which is the best premium robot vacuum?
Narwal Freo X Ultra with dock in home

Few robot vacuums and mops are as well-rounded as the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Narwal Freo X Ultra. The two premium robots will vacuum and mop entirely on their own, before returning to their docks to automatically clean their mopheads and empty their dustbins. That sort of functionality doesn't come cheap, with both products carrying hefty price tags that'll put a big dent in your budget.

Because they're so expensive, you'll want to pay close attention to the differences between these two robot vacuums. Both are great additions to any household, but one might be a better fit for your needs than the other.

Read more
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Roborock S8 Max Ultra: Which is the better robot vacuum?
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Max Ultra are two of the newest additions to the Roborock family. Along with having almost identical names, these robot vacuums share much of the same spec sheet -- including the ability to mop and vacuum in a single cycle before automatically emptying their dustbin and cleaning their mops. They're impressive gadgets by all accounts, but since they're wildly expensive, you'll want to carefully compare the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Max Ultra before adding one to your home.

If you need help, here's a comprehensive look at these two premium robot vacuums, including a comparison of their vacuuming and mops skills, a look at their docking station perks, and a final determination of which is likely best for your needs. Keep in mind that you really can't go wrong with either product -- after all, they're two of the most expensive robots in the category -- but one might be a slightly better fit for your household than the other.
Pricing and availability

Read more