Yarbo brings robots to the backyard

The Robot Report Podcast · 13 Sept 2024 · 59m

What this episode covers

Ken Coleman, co-founder and VP of Yarbo, explains how the company pivoted from a single-purpose autonomous snowblower to a modular robotic platform capable of mowing, leaf blowing, and towing. Coleman details the engineering challenges of operating in harsh winter conditions, including the use of 36-volt self-heating batteries, RTK GPS navigation, and heated binocular cameras to maintain accuracy in snow and limited signal environments. The discussion covers the strategic decision to design a high-power base that can support lower-power attachments like lawnmowers, and the future vision of a 'super docking' cabinet for autonomous module swapping.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Just Gonna Send It · 46m

    Divya Thakur (Founder, Yardbot)

    Divya Thakur, founder of Yardbot, explains how he pivoted from a failed Bitcoin startup and a career at Cruise (General Motors) to building a hybrid landscaping business in Huntsville, Alabama. He details the five generations of robot iterations, highlighting mechanical failures in drivetrains and decks, and the strategic decision to combine human crews with autonomous mowing robots rather than pursuing full automation. Thakur also discusses using LLMs for training blue-collar workers and computer vision for obstacle detection, while outlining plans to expand the model to other Sun Belt cities.

  • TRADEOFFS · 40m

    T-26-012 : Founders From The Show Floor - CES 2026

    Chris and Nate interview founders from Eureka Park at CES 2026, including Rajeev Ramanath of Blueberry Technology, Cole Ashman of Pila Energy, and Scott Hickle of Throne. They discuss specific products like the autonomous Blueberry Go airport robot, Pila Energy's modular home batteries, and Throne's toilet health tracker. The episode highlights trade-offs in hardware design, such as Pebble's Eric Migicovsky choosing ODMs for speed over control, and Roam's Aaron Pollack accepting thickness for battery life. Other founders like Niclas Bertelsen of Naya and Michael Churchill of Kombu discuss modular ecosystems and material choices for fermentation.

  • Robot Talk · 19m

    Episode 72: Smart mobile robots for industry - Rafael Lopez

    Rafael Lopez, Managing Director of Robotnik Automation, discusses the evolution of his company from a garage startup in 2002 to its 2023 acquisition by United Robotics Group. He highlights the Summit XL, a general-purpose mobile platform capable of carrying 65kg and operating for 8 hours, which serves as the foundation for specialized robots like the Arby Watcher for electrical substation inspections. Lopez explains how Robotnik’s strategy of offering customizable platforms with mountable sensors allows them to address diverse applications ranging from logistics to security, supported by extensive EU-funded R&D projects.

  • Over the Air · 31m

    The Yard Automation Revolution: Inside Outrider With Ira Renfrew

    Ira Renfrew, CPO of Outrider, discusses the company's mission to automate distribution yards using autonomous electric yard trucks. He details the technical challenge of automating the connection of 'glad hand' air lines using a custom robotic arm and AI vision, and explains why Outrider focuses on the constrained environment of private property rather than public roads. Renfrew also covers the company's scaling strategy, customer adoption hurdles, and the broader industry shift toward electric and autonomous logistics.

  • Over the Air · 28m

    Modularity in Robotics: A Vision for the Future

    Afshin Doust, CEO of Advanced Intelligent Systems (AIS), explains how the company uses a proprietary library of hardware and software modules to reduce development time and cost, aiming to empower a broader robotics ecosystem. He details the pivot from an agricultural tech focus to developing a COVID-19 disinfectant robot in just 11 weeks, which validated their modular approach and led to a non-GPS localization system for greenhouse use. Doust also discusses AIS's 'Robotics-as-a-Service' business model, which eliminates large capital expenditures for customers by charging for work performed, and shares insights on building a resilient, win-win corporate culture.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Robot Report Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.