# Yarbo brings robots to the backyard

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2024-09-13
- Length: 59m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-09-13-yarbo-brings-robots-to-the-backyard
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/yarbo-brings-robots-to-the-backyard

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-09-13-yarbo-brings-robots-to-the-backyard#t=10) Introduction and Industry News
- [20:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-09-13-yarbo-brings-robots-to-the-backyard#t=1230) Yarbo's Pivot from Snowbot to Modular Platform
- [34:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-09-13-yarbo-brings-robots-to-the-backyard#t=2065) Engineering for Winter: Treads, Batteries, and Sensors
- [44:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-09-13-yarbo-brings-robots-to-the-backyard#t=2645) Navigating Challenges: GPS, Obstacles, and Safety
- [45:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-09-13-yarbo-brings-robots-to-the-backyard#t=2704) Market Differences: US vs. Europe and Lawn Care
- [53:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-09-13-yarbo-brings-robots-to-the-backyard#t=3226) Future Roadmap: Super Docking and Ecosystem

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Yarbo (company)
- Snowbot (product)
- Ego (company)
- Husqvarna (company)
- RTK GPS (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Divya Thakur (Founder, Yardbot)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-05-06-divya-thakur-founder-yardbot) (Just Gonna Send It)
- [T-26-012 : Founders From The Show Floor - CES 2026](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2026-02-04-t-26-012-founders-from-the-show-floor-ces-2026) (TRADEOFFS)
- [Episode 72: Smart mobile robots for industry - Rafael Lopez](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-02-09-episode-72-smart-mobile-robots-for-industry-rafael-lopez) (Robot Talk)
- [The Yard Automation Revolution: Inside Outrider With Ira Renfrew](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-11-07-the-yard-automation-revolution-inside-outrider-with-ira-renfrew) (Over the Air)
- [Modularity in Robotics: A Vision for the Future](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-08-03-modularity-in-robotics-a-vision-for-the-future) (Over the Air)

## Citing this page

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