How Safe Are Robotic Snow Blowers? Here's What We Know

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Robotic lawn mowers are increasingly popular. Why follow a mower around if you can sit back and let a machine do the work? Now robotic snow blowers have started to appear, and while there are plenty of simple ways to make driveway snow removal easier, having one of these clear the yard while you watch from the warmth of indoors seems like the perfect solution to a chilly chore.

However, there are some concerns about safety. Will a robotic snow blower be a danger to kids and pets? To answer that question, we took an in-depth look at the Yarbo Robotic Snow Blower. While there are a number of models on the horizon, this is the only residential machine currently available. It is a good example of how current technology works, and it's safe to assume that when competitors do reach the market, they will have similar features.

You could argue that some aspects of a robotic snow blower make it safer than traditional models. Unlike people, who can't see what's coming up behind them, the Yarbo has 360-degree vision thanks to LiDAR (which accurately measures distances using light pulses) and ultrasonics (the same sound waves a bat uses to stop bumping into things at night). So this machine's sensors provide added safety because it can actually see in the dark, plus you can schedule it to operate at any time of day, so your driveway can be clear 24/7. It has front and sidelights if you want to use them. It also has GPS and PPVS (Precise Positioning Vision System), so it always knows where it is.

With traditional snow blowers, there are a number of safety tips you need to keep in mind, but you're always right by the machine should the unexpected happen. One of the major benefits of robotic snow blowers is that you don't need to be there. So how do these devices react if there's something unexpected in their path?

The Yarbo can 'see' objects as small as just under 8 by 8 inches. It can tell the difference between stationary obstacles and living ones. It will reroute if something moves within 5 feet of the front or 16 feet of the sides. The smart front bumper brings it to an immediate halt on contact, and there's a physical grill across the front to prevent most things from getting into the auger. If the robotic snow blower does detect something in its path, it can notify the owner via the phone app provided. There's also a live camera feed, and it can be stopped remotely.

No system is foolproof. A robotic snow blower can still pick up sticks and stones and throw them out with the snow, so there's always a possible threat from flying objects. That aside, it does seem that robotic snow blowers are remarkably safe. Unfortunately, at the moment, they also come with a high price tag. So, despite their efficiency and the effort they save, there are top-rated traditional snow blowers to keep your walkways safe this winter that cost an awful lot less.