iShovel: Early Stage Automated Robotic Snow Shovel
Ever wonder what life would be like if you didn’t have to shovel your driveway? What If you didn’t have to pay someone to shovel your driveway? In the not so distant future, the iShovel may be coming to a store near you. This battery powered shoveling device will begin shoveling at the first detection of snow accumulation. It’s built with two independent motors and an automatic snow sensor. Seriously, how awesome would this robotic shovel be?
This iShovel is the “World’s Smartest Snow Shovel”! Based on, what appears to be a similar platform at the iRobot’s Roomba, the iShovel records the artificial boundaries programmed into the robot. In the harsh New England weather, it would have be great at the first sign of snow to have the iShovel. As robotics become less expensive, it will hopefully become a household item.
Even though the iShovel is in first generation prototype, it has recently been featured on Bob Vila’s home show as well as Good Morning America. The early stage prototype has gotten rave reviews and is hopeful to compete with the gas powered snow blowers within the next year. According to the iShovel’s website, the product is significantly more efficient with regard to clearing the driveway. Because it shovels in short spurts, it manages to shovel every few inches. As a result, it uses less energy in relatively short cycles using battery power.
One of the real tests for this new product is how does it handle fast falling wet snow? But theoretically, if it works as it says it does, snow should never pile about 3 inches. This will be a future product to continue to watch to ease the maintence of living in an area with snowfall.
Although this product is in early stage development, it does suggest a great new concept that will continue to promote robotics in (or outside) the home.
By Jessica Chin, Product Engineering Manager at Flashpoint Development
