We Found the Guy Who Beta Tests Every Robot Mower | S5E12

Just to get this straight, you have a lawn care business and then you go home and to relax you mow more lawns.

No, I watch the robot mow the lawn.

mow the lawn, right. Stealing people's

ideas. I like it. That's how you make Stealing open source.

Taking open source and making it private source. That's the That's the [laughter]

source. That's the That's the [laughter] key to success.

Before we jump into today's episode, a big thank you to our sponsor Zeus. If

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smarthouse.com and check out everything that Zeus has to offer. Using the link below helps support the podcast and let Zeus know that you heard about them from us. Now, on to today's episode. Today

us. Now, on to today's episode. Today

we're joined by Scott Grams, one of the most active robotic mower testers in the industry, and someone that's had hands-on time with a wide range of autonomous mowers, including Yarbo and several of its other competitors. Today

we're talking about where robotic mowing is, what companies are getting it right, where there's still room for improvement, and what it's really like testing these machines before any consumers ever get their hands on them.

If you've been thinking about ditching your traditional mower or if you're curious where outdoor automation is going, this is an episode you definitely don't want to miss. Let's get into it.

All right, we're here. We're back. We're

live in person. I'm Pete.

I'm Brandon.

And I'm Vince.

And we have a special guest with us today. Scott Grams is here. He is an

today. Scott Grams is here. He is an Yay! Oh, we're applauding.

Yay! Oh, we're applauding.

I don't It was a fake applaud.

Wait, you got two two applauses there.

Uh Scott Grams, you're an independent robotic tester. Is that correct?

robotic tester. Is that correct?

Yes, I am a tester.

I like how he had to read your shirt, otherwise he would have forgot to say that directly.

Uh you should have heard me out. Before

he got on I was said your name how many times? 10 times in a row just to make

times? 10 times in a row just to make sure I I I it.

It's a real complicated one.

Scott Grams. I know. See, I remembered it. I remembered it again. So, well,

it. I remembered it again. So, well,

welcome.

Thank you for What would you say you do?

I take new products and try to find the flaws before they make it to the public.

Try to figure out what they can do better, what can be improved.

Within reason, obviously, you're not going to take a robot that's in beta testing and redesign the whole thing. So, how can we tweak it to get the performance that we're looking for or an improved performance or more reliable

performance?

And do you get paid for this?

I do not. I do it cuz I love it. Um it's

I enjoy the mechanical part Yeah, I enjoy the mechanical part of fixing it, finding the flaws, how can we make this better?

We're experiencing this part, can we is there a way we can improve on that without actually tweaking the hardware?

To me, it's yeah, everyone's an adventure. It's like raising a little

adventure. It's like raising a little child. Most of my robots are named.

child. Most of my robots are named.

Do we Do we mention Is it mostly just like robotic mowers or do you other other types of testing as well?

I'm 99% robotic mowers. I have dabbled in a couple of other things upon request but it's a yard equipment, so anything outside yard that's I don't like indoors.

He lives outside, I guess.

I live outside.

Yeah, he even said before the show you don't do uh screens. You're screen free.

Yep. I'm not screen free, but I mean, if I've if I've got a choice, I'm outside on the patio in the chair instead of you know, watching the robots instead of inside of the college watching TV.

And how long have you been doing this for?

Uh no, I started probably 4 and 1/2 years ago when the Ecoflow Blade came out was my first my first test robot that got me hooked.

Was that one of those wired did it have the wired border wire thing or did it [clears throat] actually No, the Ecoflow Blade was RTK.

Yeah.

It wasn't out for very long. It It

worked really well in open yards. It was

a cool futuristic-looking design, but it struggled with any sort of tree cover.

So, you're saying that like do you test you know, the the product before it goes to to the market? What is your success rate?

[laughter] What have What have you missed?

Well, maybe I mean there's there's there's plenty to miss. I mean it's I mean we were just having a discussion with some of the other guys. I mean for one guy to catch every issue with every robot, it's it's next to impossible.

That's why the manufacturers can't. I

mean I test in one specific scenario.

Mike, George, or Joel, they've got a completely different environment, temperature, hill slope, grass height.

So it's it's literally impossible for one guy to get every flaw with a robot cuz it's you can't offer every environment in one location.

So, your goal is to find flaws. So, you

push it to the to the limit, right?

So, it's I'm a little different than most. My

desire is to set up everything as a manufacturer recommends. Cuz I can

manufacturer recommends. Cuz I can create issues by setting it up not as they recommend.

And then find what flaws I can I you know, what can be improved or or or where the fall back is as they recommended it installed. You

know, it's yeah.

So, you're using the instructions.

I don't read them, but I try to follow.

Okay, [laughter] fair enough.

So, when we met, we met Scott at actually at CES. Uh I think I talked to you maybe before that, but you were at the Yarbo booth for at CES. So, and how long have you been testing for Yarbo then?

So, I mean it's I can give you a brief history on how I got started. So, I

started as I say my first test robot I have a bunch of EcoFlow products. I got

an email from EcoFlow saying, "Hey, would you like to test a product? We

can't tell you what it is, but we'd like pictures of your yard."

A semi-brilliant guy could determine that you're going to be testing if they want your grass, they want your yard, they want to know what you have for obstacles. You're testing a robotic

obstacles. You're testing a robotic lawnmower. I got it and I enjoyed it. I

lawnmower. I got it and I enjoyed it. I

mean it did a good job, but me personally I actually own a lawn service company in addition. I

enjoy cutting grass. I mean it's so I've got my full-time job, I got my lawn cutting job that I enjoy doing, and then, you know, I do this on the side.

Well, I enjoy cutting grass, but I hate dealing with snow.

So, couple of days of playing with Ego blower in the yard, I'm like, well, I wonder if they make a snow blower.

And that started my my my first big adventure into Yarbo. So, I

went and I looked, and sure enough, I found robotic lawn mower with a snow blower was on Kickstarter. I'm like,

well, okay, let's let's give her a whirl. Let's see what this thing's got.

whirl. Let's see what this thing's got.

So, I went and back that um you know, just like everything else on Kickstarter, you are not guaranteed a product. I don't care what it says on

product. I don't care what it says on the page, you're not guaranteed a product.

I got a message from Yarbo one day saying, well, how would you like to see one in person? I'm thinking,

okay, it's not smoke and mirrors at this point. I mean, if I get to see one, at

point. I mean, if I get to see one, at least I know they exist.

Went a couple of weeks, never heard anything. I zipped a message back. I you

anything. I zipped a message back. I you

know, thought they were maybe on a tour or something, and I I I get a hold of her, and she sends me a message. She says, well, how would you like to try one?

And now I'm thinking to myself, as you know, I paid for my Yarbo, it's I'll at least have a souvenir for my investment. So, I'm like, yeah, she

investment. So, I'm like, yeah, she said, well, you got to come pick it up.

I'm like, I ain't going to China to pick this thing up. Well, it turned out they were testing them at a property in Chanhassen. So, they rented a VRBO for

Chanhassen. So, they rented a VRBO for the winter. She's like, no, no, we're

the winter. She's like, no, no, we're down just in Chanhassen. So, I'm like, okay well I I cruised down there, picked one up, and we had a snowstorm the next day. I

mean, this was the 2022 version, so this was before any of them even got publicly released.

I had it, and it worked for a couple of days.

That's all you need.

[laughter] It's a disposable disposable mower.

Now, in my defense, now I was testing it. We had a snowfall that day, and

it. We had a snowfall that day, and I I blew the 12 in of snow out, and then I proceeded to make my neighbors think I was crazy. I took my diesel rear blowing

was crazy. I took my diesel rear blowing tractor out, and I took the snow from my yard, put it back of the driveway. I was

having [laughter] fun. This was cool.

So, as I say, I did it a couple of times, and there was a track failure problem. And then

problem. And then there was an issue, as I say, these were pre pre productions. I mean, they weren't production models. There was a problem with the wheel bearing and I'm like, "Well, that was fun while it lasted." I was there like, "Well, we'll

lasted." I was there like, "Well, we'll come on look at it." Well, they must have known there was issues cuz when they came out to look at it, they had another one in the back of the Suburban.

So, they switched it out and as I say, I used that one for probably a majority of the winter.

And then as I say, from there it just evolved. You know, it's when they saw I

evolved. You know, it's when they saw I was semi-crazy about testing, you know, I put the snow back in the driveway, you know, they decided to kind of keep me around.

And how many of you are there? You

mentioned there's a group.

So, I've got several groups. So, me and one of the other product pioneers from Yarbo, we started the independent robotic testers. Um

robotic testers. Um John's kind of joined in with us on it.

Um yeah, it was just a thought, you know, it's there's so much different technology out there and they're different. I mean,

each robot's different. People ask me, "What's the perfect robot?" Well, once again, just like testing, there isn't a perfect robot for everybody's environment.

Um so, as I say, I got to talking to one of the guys, we got to know him pretty good and then, you know, we went to CES and talked some more and yeah, so it's we just kind of started this little company

and it's yeah, but you know, I'm because I'm a tester for a lot of them, I'm in a lot of their tester groups. You know, Yarbo's got their

groups. You know, Yarbo's got their product pioneers.

So, you know, we've got a bunch of little groups that we sit and talk and collaborate on what really needs to be fixed first.

So, you know, there's the more of us complaining about an issue, it the better that that issue's going to get addressed quicker.

So, just to just to get this straight, you have a lawn care business and then you go home and to relax, you mow more lawns.

No, I watch the robot mow more lawns.

[laughter] It's like your future replacement.

I I I it it's that has come to it. And

as I say, that's my lawn care business is my secondary business. That's not my main income. I enjoy the you know, and

main income. I enjoy the you know, and and part of the enjoying the grass is, you know, it's always been my dream job.

You cut the grass, even before the paycheck, you look back and there's an immediate payback. I mean, that grass

immediate payback. I mean, that grass looks nice. It's you know, there's that

looks nice. It's you know, there's that immediate and then, you know, you follow it up. So, it's

it up. So, it's I I can't say that I hate mowing my grass at home. Um but I do definitely enjoy the robots doing it. You know,

and I live in a great neighborhood. Now,

it's, you know, I was talking to Isaac from Michigan Robots the other day. He

goes "Hey you ever notice that none of your other neighbors have robots?" I'm like, "That's dude, that's cuz I mow them all." I mean, my

all." I mean, my [laughter] robots don't just do my yard. I mean,

I've got multiple test units, you know, it's and I've got an acreage properties, but how many times can you run one robot on one property? And the other five or six

one property? And the other five or six properties give me totally different conditions. I've got golf course grass,

conditions. I've got golf course grass, you go, you know, go across the street, Grandma Joel, and she's got, you know, if it's green, it's good. It's, you know, the weeds are

good. It's, you know, the weeds are great, you know, so it's I mow multiple properties, you know, I've got a half-covered property. She's at a fully

half-covered property. She's at a fully treated property, you know, so it's if I want to stress the GPS, I'm sending it across the street. So,

yeah, it's I I test most and, you know, as I say, it's snow blower was really what I was interested in. Well, I've

only got two driveways. When I'm done with my two driveways, it was easier to say to put the snow in the yard to we'll do the neighbors. Well, I'll do the next neighbors.

as many driveways as we have.

[laughter] But yeah, so that's that's how I kind of got started in it and started my testing.

So, could you run a business with robot lawn mowers? Is that a thing? Is someone

lawn mowers? Is that a thing? Is someone

It It's getting there. I mean, it was more difficult, but, you know, it's all of them have just come up with that RTK.

I mean, traditionally enough, I I mean, you could set a unit up at everybody's house and maintain it. So, that is I mean, there are people that are actually exploring that, but to take a robot to multiple properties and drop it off

every time you move the data center, your RTK base station, you would have to redo your maps.

So, now with the net RTK, you're using a global system. It It is potentially

global system. It It is potentially getting there, yeah.

Just drive it up and down the road to Yeah, throw it on the trailer, drop it off, have it mow, go drop another one off, and then just pick up and recycle.

in St. Michael. There was one that was mowing a park. Like the guy was waiting for it to be done to move it. But then

like the guy was just sitting there waiting. I was like, why wouldn't the

waiting. I was like, why wouldn't the guy just do the mowing?

But someone's going to take it. So, do

you think do you think Yarbo's going to be net RTK is going to be available for Yarbo in the future? Like maybe older models?

Yep. Yeah, so they're actually they released at CES. They are coming out with a net RTK. I mean, I'm I'm currently running Yarbo's on that net RTK. The new M series that's coming out,

RTK. The new M series that's coming out, that is their preferred. You have you want a home base station that's actually an upgrade.

So, as I say, Yarbo is doing switching to the for that same reason. It it

eliminates part of your customer issues.

I mean, if if you have net RTK, you don't have to worry about them trying to install their RTK antenna, you know, under the trees.

I mean, that's you're using a base system not So, we wouldn't have to use the POE anymore?

Um you're still going to use POE for communication.

Um for the robot, for the maps, cuz you still communicate with the cloud.

Could uh for our for our listeners that may not be that in-depth with the mowers, could you explain the difference between RTK and lidar and what other navigation systems there are?

And I haven't played with lidar a lot.

As I say, I'm more of the mechanical guy. Um the technical stuff I'm learning

guy. Um the technical stuff I'm learning as I go. If you would ask me four four years ago what RTK is, I would have had to sit down and ask Google. I mean, I've I've come my

Google. I mean, I've I've come my technology, you know, it's I knowing the difference between between an L1 and an L2 satellite and what you know, and drop is, and I mean that the clarity of the signal, not just the

number of the signals. I mean, my knowledge on that part is growing. That

was all you know, they'd be talking about it and be like, "Uh can I get this in English, please?" You know,

please?" You know, [laughter] but I've come around on that. I haven't

played a lot with lidar. I know lidar uses laser for for mapping. RTK is satellites. By

for mapping. RTK is satellites. By

referencing more than one connection, you can eliminate the error and get down to ideally centimeter level accuracy.

Mhm.

So, you got lidar and then you got V sign. V sign is using the cameras in

sign. V sign is using the cameras in conjunction to verify what it's seeing.

So, I mean, I'm learning. I don't know about lidar. My first few lidar robots are

lidar. My first few lidar robots are showing up this season. So,

Okay.

next year I'll know more.

Yeah. Like a robot vacuum. Lidar, right?

Yeah. Yeah.

And how many robot mowers have you tested so far?

Uh this year I think I've got eight different manufacturers.

Okay.

So, Okay. About the same around the table

Okay. About the same around the table then.

Yeah.

Difference being you're more on the technical side and giving feedback and we're more on reviewing the product for for the masses.

The the final product, yeah.

Final products. Well, in most cases final.

Yeah, and as I say, I've got I think I've only got two that are currently on a production based firmware. So,

firmware. So, I mean, my issues are going to are most of my robots are going to have problems. I mean, that's that's my whole purpose is okay, this firmware, find the problem with this firmware, fix it

before they push it to the general public.

And you were you were saying you were like testing out a lot of the mechanical aspects of the robots as well.

Yeah. I mean, it's the stuff I look for is A, stuff that we can change in the way it handles the lawn. I mean, if we're we're experiencing wear damage you know on the outside, how can we fix that?

You know, obviously you're not going to take the tracks off your Yarbo and put wheels on it that turn to make it do it.

So, which process can we do to help eliminate the turf wear? And I mean, that's the turf wear with tracks is across all brands. I mean, if you've got tracks,

brands. I mean, if you've got tracks, it's it's harder to turn than on turf than it is wheels.

And we even had a conversation probably a couple weeks ago cuz I was like, "Hey, my Yarbo takes the same path around the lawn every single time." And you're like, "Well, actually there's a new

setting in there where you can offset right and left of that track so that it doesn't go over the same area every single time, which I didn't know about until I talked to you about it. So,

Right. Yeah, there's there's path offsets, and I mean, as I say, late last year, due to the the damage primarily on the outer edges of your boundaries, Yarbo came up with a new scenario. I mean, before it used to

new scenario. I mean, before it used to you could pick your number of perimeter laps, 1 2 3 or 4, but didn't matter what you picked, it would always go all the way out to the outside edge to turn around. Well, last

year they implemented, so now you can do four perimeter laps and have it turn around in the fourth row, cuz 1 2 3 is already mowed, and, you know, move the actual track movement away. And then, yeah, they've

movement away. And then, yeah, they've they've implemented a lot of other stuff. You've got traffic

stuff. You've got traffic offsets now for your pathways. I mean,

when you create a pathway, you can say, "This pathway can deviate from you know, I want it to deviate 6 in at a time, and it can move, you know, a foot plus or minus of the

original path. So, you're not always

original path. So, you're not always running the tracks on the identical you know, turf that you did the previous passes.

Is there a dummy mode? So, like, it can do all that stuff, but it just figures out what it like I just I don't care, just make it look the best, and press that and you're happy.

I I think it'll get there. Do any of them have it as of today? No. I mean,

they've got some of the stuff they will alter automatically. I mean, right now I

alter automatically. I mean, right now I don't even think Yarbo will alter the It'd be nice to see the next step I would like to see is them have it You can have it change its pattern every

mow. Why can't I have it change where it

mow. Why can't I have it change where it turns around in the perimeter laps every mow automatically?

Yeah.

And that's I mean, that's another advancement coming in the software. I

imagine that it'd probably be out this year or so, but it's you know, it's it's you pick your poison. Do you want it to do that, or

poison. Do you want it to do that, or you want to fix this other problem? I

mean there's Robotic mowers are so new at this point, there's so many different things. And

Yarbo's got an extra challenge. I mean,

if they were just a lawnmower, their job would be 100% easier. You

don't have to deal with snow handling, or or what we do with the leaf blower, and the leaf blower sees this is an obstacle and and the mower don't. I mean

if they were strictly just the lawnmower, I mean, I believe they would have had 10 times more perfected as of today, but they're they're they're modular. I mean,

so now we want obstacle avoidance, but the lawnmower's got to not see the snow as an obstacle. And on top of that, it's got to decide, okay, well, this car is here, that is an obstacle and I'm I'm

going by it. I can't throw my snow that direction where the car is, even though that's where I'm told I'm supposed to put it. So, I mean, there are so many

put it. So, I mean, there are so many hurdles that they're dealing with on that side that you don't have with a strictly only, you know, lawnmower that it's it makes it way more difficult and as

way more fun and challenging for the rest of us.

It depends I feel like it's kind of where it's like at the stages where they're just taking all of this inflow data and then just trying to make as many corrections as possible like with the software and then also with the hardware cuz they got hardware issues,

too, you know, that they're working through. I just installed my new uh

through. I just installed my new uh trimmer on my Yarbo and come to find out that I can't install the hitch on the actual trimmer bracket. So, you know, it's just like kind of working through that

you have to take the trimmer bracket off in order to go back to hitch mode?

No, you can't have the hitch on it while the while the trimmer's on it. No hitch

at all.

Right. Yep.

But if you remove the trimmer, then Then you can put the hitch on. Yep, on

the new bracket.

Yeah, that makes sense. When would you be trimming and towing at the same time?

True, but sometimes you don't want to remove it, either.

He just wanted to ride around and watch is what he wanted to wanted to watch it trim.

Although the adjust it changed though, the like you have to be at least 16 ft away from it with the trimmer now. So,

they adjusted the distance that you can be close to your mower, so you have to actually be further away.

That one is a raw like Yeah, throwing throwing some gravel around.

And at a pretty good rip from the video I was seeing.

How do you guys think the trimmer's actually performing? Because I tested

actually performing? Because I tested the the Goat and few others and it just not quite there but I haven't done the Yarbo.

The Yarbo when I was actually impressed I wish there was um wish I could go lower but like cuz mine's it says 2 in but I feel like it's not getting down to like the 2 2 and 1/2 in that it says.

The the trimmer level?

Yeah, the trimmer level.

Well, part of that could be the ball on the back keeping it up off the ground. I

don't know what that magical setting on that is.

On the anti-scalp ball um Yeah, I was going to say that's I think Yarbo if I'm not mistaken and maybe you guys can correct me I've yet to test another trimmer that will actually work autonomously

without you watching it. Is there

another one?

Uh the Goat.

Okay, the Goat man.

keep going and then um the Works has just like cut the edge so I've tested that yeah.

Which is close but still not quite there [clears throat] so.

I think that's all I I mean that's that all comes down to firmware and just like honing in right? I mean at the end of the day that can all be improved over time with software releases.

Correct.

Currently with the Segway you have to hold the button and be within a certain distance.

Oh, really?

So it'd be just as fast to trim it yourself as it is to Yeah, pretty much trim it yourself and you'd get a better job so it's like well, pay $500 or whatever it is for this module.

Jeez.

And then and you can't it can't stay on either you have to remove the module.

[laughter] Oh my gosh, nope nope nope I'm out.

Very limited function.

I appreciate that they have acknowledged that this is an issue and they're trying to address it. I just feel like from what I my testing so far with fences and like garden beds like it just can't get close enough.

And see that's I mean that's long straight stretches or or gentle curves. I mean that's where Yarbo excels. I mean if you've got a

Yarbo excels. I mean if you've got a chain link fence I mean that is a cat's meow. I mean the arm goes in it's it's

meow. I mean the arm goes in it's it's got a spring on it so it's tension. I

mean chain link fence will actually you can push the chain link a little bit out trim it under it Then when it goes to the other side it's pushed in. I mean,

you can you can literally get a excellent job with using way less line than you would with a manual trimmer. I

mean, the roller wheel keeps your line at the precise distance away from the Oh, instead of whacking the chain and cutting it. Yeah.

cutting it. Yeah.

Yeah, and there's a disc at the top and it only stays within inside that disc.

So, when that disc hits the fence or an object, the the trimmer line doesn't go out any further than that. So, the only time you really lose trimmer is if you, I don't know, hit a rock or something where Yeah.

you know, breaks off or anything like Even with my this like my regular one, it it eats through trim really fast because we have this digging defense all the way around to keep rabbits out and it hits that and

it just keeps cutting it.

One thing I said I So, I have the Ecovacs the Goat and the Yarbo that I've installed are with the trimmer module and it the Goat just doesn't go out far enough. Like it's just not far enough

enough. Like it's just not far enough outside, whereas the Yarbo it's a complete separate arm and so you're getting like probably almost up to a foot probably of coverage outside of the actual robot more, so.

Interesting. So, it could extend beyond where it's driving, where it's kind of riding line. I think with the Goat it does a good job of like if you have landscape edging, but when it comes to fence or garden

beds, it just it just can't do it.

Nice thing about the Goat that I liked though, too, when I did my testing the video that I made was that it can like it'll you can choose between manual mode for mapping and auto right in the middle of

the same mapping sequence. So, if you can have it do the auto part for all the edge areas and then when it gets to the area where you need to take over cuz it's neighbor's yard, you can stop it and make manual mode. So, you can

actually do both settings and then makes mapping a little easier.

make your line.

So, you see when it goes after it's like Yeah, it's yeah.

You think it would compensate for that like auto straighten things, but And that's and I mean, that has become and more and more common with the new robots. I mean, I've got I I two

of my current versions. I know for sure the Works you can take over, do the same thing where it does its own autonomous mapping and then take over, do a section manually, and then you can actually switch back and let it finish up on its

own.

Um and I did I was just reading some of the reviews of or some of the info of one of them I've got. I think one of them I've got now

got. I think one of them I've got now they've actually got straight line. So,

when you drive it drunk, it'll actually straighten the line, so. [clears throat]

Well, it's a lot easier like even like the Yarbo, it was a lot easier to map with the with the the Xbox controller versus like trying to do it on your phone. Like that's

phone. Like that's Yeah.

Like trying to make it straighten there is huge pain in the ass.

off and then it's all Yeah. And then

when you have to back up, it's like Yes.

weird like should just auto fix that.

Well, I mean I mean that's another improvement. I think it's in it's in

improvement. I think it's in it's in Yarbo now and it's it's in a lot of the other ones. Now they've got a reverse

other ones. Now they've got a reverse function. Yeah. So, when you back up, it

function. Yeah. So, when you back up, it actually erases the line to start over.

Yeah, the my motion does that's nice.

That was a nice feature.

so I mean as I say that the technology is changing so fast you're like, "Well, that's new."

that's new." Yeah.

So.

So.

Go ahead.

The other the other thing that we had briefly talked about but then I saw like a press release from Yarbo that I wanted to discuss real quick is the like the third-party developer. Like

what is that system called or that they were that they're releasing?

We just talked about it yesterday.

Uh You can cut this part.

Yeah, you can cut this part. I got to think of what it's called.

Is it not bridge?

Yeah, no it is.

It's bridge. Okay.

The Yarbo bridge.

The Yarbo bridge where describe what that is.

So, basically that is going to be a goal between between the users third-party interfaces and Yarbo. So, they don't have to give direct access to their

equipment, but yet a user that knows what he's doing can go out and design his own programs. I mean, you'll be able to hook up a module, turn on a trimmer, or turn on product flow on a

you know, a sprayer or a fertilizer spreader or I mean, there's all kinds of home automation. You'll be able to

home automation. You'll be able to control your garage door opener. I mean,

it's it just basically gives the user or will give the user access to be able to modify functions and add stuff that they would like to do independent of what Yarbo does. I mean, one guy was talking

Yarbo does. I mean, one guy was talking yesterday we had a Yarbo runs a program on on Thursdays to help your average user with little problems and they actually got on this and he says, you know, I'm I'm a home

designer. It would be nice to be able to

designer. It would be nice to be able to tell my Yarbo to go out and mark off this property where I want to build this house and I could come up with a little sprayer that would dot, you know, either put stakes in or or or paint dots and

mark it off with them via GPS without him manually doing it. So, I just so we're talking about like potentially where third-party companies could create Yarbo modules. Yep. So, basically like

Yarbo modules. Yep. So, basically like like if someone wants to develop cuz they didn't come out with the sprayer for Yarbo, they could do it themselves and then have access to all the information to be able to create that.

That's correct. And I mean, it's it's I'm not that familiar with the system at this point yet cuz it's something we haven't played with, but it's actually can be done at the user level. I mean,

the platform they chose from my understanding is actually a your your average technical user. I mean, if you can send an email and you want to spend the time, you'll actually be able to develop

the firmware to do it yourself at home.

Using cloud.

Yeah. So, and I mean, that [clears throat] when you think about it, it's really genius. I mean, if you reverse engineer

genius. I mean, if you reverse engineer this, okay, so so now I'm Yarbo. I've

got all these home users that are writing my code that goes to my bridge that I can use to make my development to my product easier without putting that on my developers. I mean, you figure out how to do a sprayer, there's no reason

you get sprayer dialed in, there's no reason they can't take that and apply it to one of their products and you know, now we've got this this module produced without, you know, near as much effort

on our sides.

Stealing people's ideas. I like it.

That's Using the stealing [clears throat] open source.

Yeah, to make it better for everybody.

Taking open source and making it private source. That's the that's [laughter] the

source. That's the that's [laughter] the key to success In in in life. Um I did have a question for you. You've tested a lot of mowers,

for you. You've tested a lot of mowers, obviously. What is a problem that none

obviously. What is a problem that none of them have solved yet? Like why can't they figure this thing out? We talked

about trimming is probably the biggest issue that I see, but is there anything else that There are so many. Um

[laughter] I mean, all of them have the same problems. I mean, it's the because everything changes so quick. I

mean, the number one biggest thing is, you know, durability.

I mean, I have tested multiple products and there's not one that runs Monday through Friday. I mean, and

Friday. I mean, and I do a lot for Yarbo and it people don't you know, it's my Yarbo has been my most solid product. If I need to get a job

solid product. If I need to get a job done, it's Yarbo. And Yarbo's had its issues. I've had minor issues with my

issues. I've had minor issues with my Yarbo's. I mean, they all do.

Yarbo's. I mean, they all do.

Um but it's just the overall reliability of, you know, day-to-day getting the job done. I mean, I don't

done. I mean, I don't I thought your reliability is in the mechanically break down or they're getting stuck and Both. I mean, it's if

Both. I mean, it's if you know, I'm probably one of the few people I can say my robots mow my yard all the time.

That's cuz I got more than one.

So, I mean, it's if you buy a robotic lawnmower today, don't throw away your old one. The day

it goes away, you're going to need it.

But, you know, I've always said they're like a toddler. I mean, I can sit there and watch a robot work for 4 days.

This thing's dialed in. I'm going on vacation. That next day, it's going to

vacation. That next day, it's going to do something it shouldn't.

You know, it'll be stuck in the middle of the yard, going in circles, doing something. I mean, it's just it's and

something. I mean, it's just it's and there's no telling what it is. I mean,

it's it's literally like, you know, as I said, they're raising kids. They're

toddlers. As soon as you turn your back, you give them an opportunity, they're goofing off.

That was uh one of the big things I was testing for this summer with the ones that I had. Uh so, there was five of them and basically they would each go out a day and then at the end of the week I would assess like, "Okay, well,

where did they get stuck?" And so, with no human intervention, like can this go out reliably every week? And the

answer for most of them is actually no.

Yeah.

So, they've all going to have you know, and I for me that that test is a little more difficult cuz I am using test firmware on most of them. So,

they all have problems. I mean, that's why we're testing it. I mean, they know there's problems where to find the problems so they can fix them. Um so, it it you know, and that's not just Yarbo.

I mean, across the board, everything I'm testing is test firmware.

So, it's it it makes a little bit more difficult to be reliable, but that's that's the biggest, you know.

But, for a lot of these manufacturers, even the production units.

And I just have a random backyard, you know, it's nothing nothing too crazy, nothing special. And it's like

nothing special. And it's like You're on the hills.

Well, except for the side of your house.

Side of the house, yes. That was one of the other tests. Like, can it can it go up? And some of them it's like, yes, it

up? And some of them it's like, yes, it can if it goes straight. Others, it's

like they go a little bit sideways and then all hell breaks loose, you know, cuz they're they're spinning. It's like

almost like a balance between they need wheels that are grippy enough that it can go up these terrains, but not so grippy that they're ripping up the yard when they're turning around.

And that would be I mean, it's I mean, that's probably a good case scenario of the one thing that they've got to try to figure out is yeah, there is no no perfect I mean, tracks got their advantages, but they got their disadvantages. Wheels, you know, wheels

disadvantages. Wheels, you know, wheels got advantages and disadvantages. I

mean, and that's once again back to there is not one product that is great for every yard. Like,

I don't know how anybody can sit down and say this for everybody's yard, this is the robot you need cuz every yard is different.

I feel like the first year that I've had multiple robot mowers where I could test more than just the Yarbo, and I could definitely see like there is like some advantages to having smaller, you know,

yard units. And it makes sense that

yard units. And it makes sense that Yarbo's like coming out with the M series um to be able to kind of like be more competitive I feel like in that marketplace. But, like I can tell like

marketplace. But, like I can tell like it's a lot easier for the smaller mowers to be able to get into like to different areas that I don't have problems with them that I did with my Yarbo, so.

And like for me, I mean you've seen my yard. The Yarbo is way overkill.

yard. The Yarbo is way overkill.

It doesn't even have enough room to turn around in some of the space. And it

doesn't even have enough room to turn around in some of the space. And it

doesn't even have enough room to turn around in some of the space. And it

doesn't even [laughter] have enough room to turn around in some of the space.

I'm keeping it just for that, you know.

Just you know, just just for the snow blower on it.

Yeah, and I mean the the M series should actually benefit a lot of things. I

mean, he was asking about the trimmer.

The number one problem with the Yarbo trimmer is Yarbo itself size is so big to try to trim around a tree makes it way more difficult. Shrinking down the M series

difficult. Shrinking down the M series in size is going to make it way more maneuverable for the other products to do the trimmer and such to do a better job.

Plus it has lidar.

Yep.

Uh, net RTK potentially depending on the model.

Depending on the model.

Yep. If you get the I series, you get lidar.

Okay.

Yeah, I feel like you got to get lidar.

Lidar is the best. Yeah.

Most houses have trees.

Or they have another house next to it.

And as soon as you get in between and then GPS starts bouncing, it's like, well, you need something to rely on. The

vision is okay, but like lidar really seems to be the move.

Nope, I I agree. I went back to the theory when I ordered mine. It's I'd I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. It's you can't go back.

I feel like that as we move forward with the technology, I think you're going to find that brands seem to be choosing all three.

Like in order to use like using V slam to be able to identify and using AI and then also using lidar and then just Yeah, lidar RTK.

there are RTK there's a definite use case for. Like so I work at a golf

case for. Like so I work at a golf course.

Um, you need RTK there cuz it's so big.

The lidar, you know, if you have long big long stretches that are similar, lidar doesn't know what to do with that, right? So you need the RTK for

right? So you need the RTK for Cuz there's no like definable point.

Right. It's just like like lidar yeah, lidar works off seeing different objects that it it remembers. And if it's, you know, if it's a big stretch it I think LiDAR's capability on robotic

mowers is somewhere right around 320 ft.

So, if you're at 320 ft more more you know, then it's More than enough for my yard.

[laughter] Of course. Of course.

Of course. Of course.

Of course definitely not. So, yeah,

we've got a we've got a robot mower at the garden.

It's a Toro. It's uh it's it's It would not fit in your yard. It's like it's like this big. It's got I think it's got five or seven It's either five or seven discs.

Oh, that's cool.

Oh, that's cool. It still uses the the razor blades though that uh yeah, they're a little bit bigger than the ones in our our ones but uh yeah, it's I've seen the Thor from Swardman. I

think it's pretty big but they use this like weird wand thing to map the place out.

Mhm.

It's It's really interesting. Uh

yeah.

That's cool.

Yeah, send some pictures over. I'll uh

yeah, I don't know if I I don't know if it's available yet or if we're testing it for Toro. So, Toro is a local Minnesota company for the people listening that may not may not know that but uh yeah, it's kind of

kind of cool. Kind of kind of exciting.

So, I have a question for you though.

Okay.

What's the dumbest thing a robot has done that you have seen? Cuz they they are stupid at times. They're getting a lot better but they do some very stupid stupid things.

Dumbest thing.

I don't I don't know if I can I mean there's so many things. I mean

that it's yeah, backing over stuff. I

mean there's you know.

And then incidents. I mean it was with Yarbo. I mean it's I had some probably

Yarbo. I mean it's I had some probably 3-ft trees.

Starts running over a tree. I go up there and save it, you know, and say [laughter] I'm going to I'm going to prop up the tree. I turn around and it's 20 ft further down running over my next 3-ft tree. [laughter] I mean so, it's

3-ft tree. [laughter] I mean so, it's I'll give Yarbo the win for that. I mean

it's yeah, it's like Christ.

I've had mine where it'll back it'll back up the back side of a tree and it'll be like almost all the way up and then it'll say it is off the ground.

It seems like a lot of pausing.

have an issue with uh going backwards.

And the other one would be like they Austin Powers themselves in between spaces, which is kind of fun.

Yep.

I like to take pictures of like the robots of shame. Like this is where it failed.

What was the scenario that led to this moment? It's kind of funny. Or running

moment? It's kind of funny. Or running

them all at the same time, which like most people don't have more than one, but when you do, boy howdy is it fun.

Robot wars, yeah.

Watching them smack each other. One

flipped the other one over. Like I went out and I was like the works is just upside down. I was like

upside down. I was like [laughter] Check the security camera footage. Like

woah cool.

Yes.

But my biggest problem is with with the Yarbo does not like the trampoline.

Like you know, going underneath it.

of struggles with the trampoline, Yep. And it'll like just it'll like

Yep. And it'll like just it'll like circle itself under the trampoline for like a good like hour and all of a sudden come out and I'll just see there's a big giant dirt spot underneath the trampoline because it just couldn't get out.

Well, probably figured out not to mow anymore. There we go.

anymore. There we go.

[laughter] Well, yeah. Yarbo's got some

Well, yeah. Yarbo's got some difficulties in their in their vision at this point. I mean I can tell you from

this point. I mean I can tell you from testing both that that's one place where the Pro mower actually I think that's your biggest advantage of the Pro mower.

I'm I'm not big into I mean if you're using a robotic mower as it's designed and that's that's what I do. I mean I I maintain my turf. I don't cut hay fields. The biggest advantage to the M

fields. The biggest advantage to the M series is it's the ultrasonics are improved on that and I mean you'll get much better performance and probably less of them issues.

Got it.

With the Pro series over the the standard mower.

Got it. So for those who don't know the Pro series is has the actual lawnmower blades. They're smaller obviously.

blades. They're smaller obviously.

Yeah.

Um are similar to the The Limo.

The Limo.

Um versus like like the older or the standard module has the razor blades that just run on a plastic cutting disc.

So.

Right.

But you're saying that the vision on that module is better.

sensors are repositioned on that one, so they actually work better than than the standard mower.

Nice.

Interesting.

Earlier you talked about durability.

What do you think the shelf life is of your typical robotic mower that you could buy on like Amazon right now for a consumer?

I would say your average durability is 5 years.

Okay.

But I mean and the sad part of all of this is I was just having this discussion with one of the the other guys the other day and does I mean granted we're paying a lot of money for these things. We would

like the durability better, but just in the short time I've been in it watching technology change, 5 years from now the tech I mean we might not even talk about grass damage cuz these things might be hovering over the grass. I mean they

might not be rolling on the grass anymore. I mean technology changes so

anymore. I mean technology changes so much.

And sadly in in the day of the world, I mean the durability of anything isn't where it used to be. I mean I've got a 20-year-old garage fridge running in my garage, but I can't get one to last 3

years in the house, you know, it's wash machines are 2 years and you're buying a new one. I mean so it's the durability of everything is a problem across the market. Um you know, across all markets actually, but it's 3 to 5

years is you're getting less than that, there's an issue. I mean there I mean they

an issue. I mean there I mean they spending the price tag that we are spending for them, we should expect that from them.

Yeah, for sure. What do you So what's going to break down in like what would you say is limiting their time frame? Is

it the computers is like you know, our our MacBook or whatever you whatever computer you get they just eventually stop supporting it.

Um but or is it more the issues with the mower the motor and things?

I would say it gets to the point where the mechanical parts aren't worth replacing.

I mean a lot of it and that's a lot of them yours you can't touch anything inside of them.

I mean that's the other place I give Yarbo some credit is Yarbo's Y series specifically, that's the one I've touched, is semi user replaceable. I

mean, if you lose a track assembly, I mean, I I've got a customer of mine or a friend of mine that bought one, and he literally put his own track assemblies on in about 30 minutes. I mean, they

sent him a track assembly, it's a few bolts, you had strapped the new ones on there, you're good to go. I mean, Yarbo's done a really good I mean, if you lose a camera or all that stuff, most of their stuff is semi plug-and-play. You'll get an

assembly, they can ship it out to you, you replace it. But, I mean, you talk a lot of the other ones and across all brands, I mean, you can't service the parts.

You know, your your average guy can't.

You Well, your [clears throat] your average mechanical guy can't. I

mean, you need the circuit boards are soldered, and it's you know, it's difficult. I mean,

Even just the battery itself when it's fully enclosed. I mean, naturally

fully enclosed. I mean, naturally batteries degrade over time, and when you get to 80% capacity, usability is a lot less. If the robot's having to go back and charge, but I

think that 3 to 5 years is is a pretty fair number, and also comparable to like your robot vacuums. Like, if you have dogs, these things aren't going to last forever. They're just going to get

forever. They're just going to get clogged up with the hair. It's going to get inside like in the wheels. It's over

time, it's just like not as good. And

so, it's like, okay, well, just plan on replacing it more often. But, then we have to look at like, does the math make sense? Okay, if it's going to last 4

sense? Okay, if it's going to last 4 years on average, take the cost divided by four.

Should I hire a guy like you or your company to just come out and do the lawn maintenance? Or is it something that's

maintenance? Or is it something that's still worthwhile? So,

still worthwhile? So, Well, there's there's other and once again I'm that that that is a business I do.

There's other advantage to having the robot do it. I mean, you you talk about your robot vacuum cleaner, I mean, that'll go out anytime of the day. I

mean, you can't have a maid in there anytime of day. I mean, you get to keep a lot of your privacy when the lawnmower's here, you don't have to worry about, you know, what, I'm having a barbecue with friends, and that's when the the lawn crew shows up to cut my

grass. So, I mean, it's

grass. So, I mean, it's The nice thing about a robot is it's there 24/7. It'll do it when you want

there 24/7. It'll do it when you want to. I mean, if your normal mow day is

to. I mean, if your normal mow day is Wednesday and you're having a party, I mean, you can have it show up and take care of your for the party shows up. So,

I mean, there's advantages that justify the additional cost.

Mhm.

I mean, and it's Yeah, and like personally, I can like count on my hand how many times I've had to actually mow or uh plow my driveway since like starting testing. But, it's

easy for us to say when we're receiving the units you know, to test. But, like

would I shell out 2,500? Like, what is the price point at which it's worth it to me Mhm.

uh if I wasn't given it for free.

But, what's your time worth?

Yeah.

I mean, it's you're not doing it. I

mean, you're doing other stuff you want to do. I mean,

to do. I mean, like watching the mower.

I mean, Yeah, [snorts] for sure.

Like watching the Especially the snow blower, though. Like

Right.

I mean, the washing machine's probably not worth the value when you can dunk your shirt in the the tub and wash it, but it's we all do it cuz Wait, you said you don't Yeah.

Yeah, all right.

Our our time's worth, you know, that. I

mean, you can't get time back. I mean, I can go go to work make more money tomorrow, but you know, I've got X number of days.

I can't get any of them days back.

Damn, that's real dark.

Yeah. I'm sorry. [laughter]

I'm just being honest.

I think there's a a certain point like you're at a stage in life where it makes sense that you don't enjoy it, you want your time back, want that reliability, but you also don't want to pay someone

to do it because like for some people if they're perfectionists, it's still makes sense to just pay someone. Uh but we're we're getting there. I think we're going to see them I just feel weird having people do stuff

for me, too. Like legit, that's a that's a me problem.

That is definitely a you problem.

like [laughter] we're both Maybe there I don't think they've necessarily bottomed out on price yet, either. I think it's still new enough where I think we could still potentially see some price Some prices come down Pretty crazy sales right now. We're

recording there in prime time.

Yeah, yeah. As competition continues to increase, I think like a couple years ago compared even like last year's CES, the number of robot mower brands that were out there has exploded.

Yeah.

New ones.

So I think as the competition increases, I think that will also help not only with making improvements on the technology, but I think with also with pricing, just like anything else. I

remember my brother paid back when um Husqvarna had, you know, the the not copyrights, but had the patents on robotic mowers and then it expired and

that's when all this kind of blew up.

But, you know, he paid like $4,000 for a a wired system where he had to actually install it in his yard. Like it's crazy expensive compared to what they are now.

Right. Did he make the switch, by the way?

Uh he did not make the switch. I asked

him if you want to buy it from me. He

said, "If I can have it?" And I said, "No."

"No." [laughter] Yeah. His wife really likes the um the

Yeah. His wife really likes the um the straight lines versus the Husqvarna just bouncing around out there like an old Roomba.

If the wife likes it, that's usually going to end up with it. He might as well.

Well, see, I left it I left it at his house. I've not picked it up yet. So I'm

house. I've not picked it up yet. So I'm

just hoping like that when I go to pick it up, he'll be like, "Well, you can have it." Yeah, I'll just Venmo [laughter] you it.

for it instead.

Yeah, I mean, prices will drop. I mean,

it's you start producing more, technology gets better. They They can do it cheaper. I think the prices will come

it cheaper. I think the prices will come down, I think, at some point.

But would you say that you you get what you pay for?

So if you are looking on Amazon right now and there's a $1,000 one, $2,500, there's a $4,000 like There's I I mean, just like everything else. I mean, to some extent you do. I

else. I mean, to some extent you do. I

mean, it's if you go from a Suburban to an Escalade, you get what you pay for?

No, but it's you know, it's somewhere in the middle.

You're getting more, but you're not getting what you pay for.

So I would argue that like much like robotic vacuums, you do to a certain extent. That like you want to pay for

extent. That like you want to pay for having the good navigation. You want to have dual discs that go wide.

Um you want that obstacle avoidance and stuff that fits your lawn type. Like if

you have hills, you want all-wheel drive and it's worth paying for that.

Otherwise, you're going to go out there and like, "Ugh, it's stuck again." And

there's a lot of frustrations. Uh

similar with vacuums, like people don't get the self-emptying. It's like, "Well, now you got to That tiny little thing is going to fill up really fast and so you're not going to run it as often. Or

if you don't have navigation, it's just bouncing around, it gets stuck, and then you forget about it. So it's like, "Just spend a little bit more. It's going to be worth it uh in the long run." But

like I think the opposite is true that you don't need the Cadillac of of mowers.

Like if you have a small yard like mine, do I need a giant Yarbo?

Right.

No, but is it awesome for the winter?

Yes, [laughter] sure is.

So.

So what other yard problems do we need to solve with robots that is not being solved cuz the Yarbo has a bunch of things. It's got the snow blower, it's

things. It's got the snow blower, it's got the mower, it's got leaf blower.

When is it going to pick up my dog Yeah, that is That's exactly where we're going. That is the number one requested

going. That is the number one requested module. Doesn't matter which company you

module. Doesn't matter which company you look at. Can it clean up after my pets?

look at. Can it clean up after my pets?

Is and are we getting that? Is someone

working on that? Can you say Well, you know, there's blink blink three times if someone has it coming out.

Um I potentially think the collector for the M series might.

Okay.

I mean, it's depending on what the bristles are and as I say, I've got zero hands-on experience with one.

I mean, I've got Is it going to clean up after your Great Dane the bombs?

Probably not, but you know.

Boy, howdy would I like to see that though.

[laughter] Maybe you have to test.

If you got your own little Fido, I think it very well could go around picking up Tootsie Rolls.

It's going to be interesting. With the

Tootsie Rolls being so small, it just smash them down, you know.

I don't know about you guys, they definitely gets caught in the wheels.

It's I would say yeah. The worst part of the the the dog is the is in the tracks or in the wheels. It drives me up a wall.

That's just my Don't worry about it.

Yeah.

[laughter] Just different color modes.

away eventually.

Yeah.

Please.

run its course.

Yeah, let it run itself enough.

I've just gotten used to it. Just like,

all right, fine. I don't

Yeah.

care enough.

Our last dog was a poop eater, so we've gotten really good about picking up the poop right away, but like it'd still be nice to have a robot do that.

Yeah, no, that's by far the number one asked for.

Yeah.

I'd actually send it down the road. I

got a neighbor that their dog just shits all over in the front [laughter] yard.

So then when we're on a like on a walk, I'm like, "Have you I think I would buy like a separate unit for like, you know, not even like a lawn mower attachment. Like just a dedicated like

attachment. Like just a dedicated like pooper scooper.

Yeah.

What about a dog walker?

Could we could we get it to just walk the dog around?

I feel like YArbo could pick up the dog and attach [laughter] I like having it just pull me around the neighborhood for fun.

Just get the weird looks. I just wish it would go a little faster. It gets a little weird sometimes.

[laughter] Like, "Yep, no, I'm still going. Trust

me." It's It's driving in front of a garage where they're sitting there there, but no chairs watching it go.

You have a cocktail with you as like uh Always.

Is that legal? Like would you you'd be able to That's That's Well, it's a ton of Not in Minnesota.

I mean, I'm assuming that like I've heard of people still getting DUIs even though their car bicycles.

controlled them home.

Well, I yeah, that's for sure.

question though cuz you're not driving it.

Yeah, you're not driving.

It's not a car.

I'm riding while intoxicated. I am not driving officer.

[laughter] So like the Tesla, you're still in control cuz you have to be in the driver's seat, but with the robot, maybe not.

I'm just sitting in the back of the wagon.

Creating a memory path of my beer.

[laughter] Awesome. Yeah, go ahead.

Awesome. Yeah, go ahead.

No, I was just going to say, so what what do you see on the horizon like kind of coming up maybe with YArbo or other brands that like kind of just isn't out there? What do you kind of see coming?

there? What do you kind of see coming?

I don't know if I I could actually see anything coming in the future. I mean,

it's you know, I I I some stuff I'd like to see in the future. I would like to see the the day

future. I would like to see the the day when your Arbo will actually switch its modules on its own. I mean there's there's times I cut in grass and I'd like to go blow the leaves off the driveway, but just the grass off the driveway, but just to go

out there and switch them. And I mean it's Yarbo when it was first introduced they talked about super docking. And I

mean I'm hoping that technology comes sooner than later where it's you know, you'll go cut the grass and then go switch modules and put the trimmer on and then go trim the grass and go back and grab the blower and I think it's possible. You got lots of

like CNC machines that have different, you know, will interchange parts. So I think that's that's in the wheelhouse.

So I'm hoping. I mean that's on the top of my list.

Have you had any changes that you've recommended that they they've done that you're like super proud of? Like I said to do that and they did it and I'm the best.

Well, I would say none that I did solely. I

mean it's as I say in the from the 22 there was a lot of advancements. I mean

it's you know, that's the the diverter shoot that you most people remove on the snow blower. I mean it's it if you don't do

blower. I mean it's it if you don't do that it throws a double stream.

I I'd have to believe that came from when they came to visit me and I had a uh windshield washer dog wrapped around mine in a bungee cord so it didn't do that. It had to stay in the shoot. So

that. It had to stay in the shoot. So

it's Yeah, I mean [clears throat] it's it's definitely have provided feedback that, you know, they've taken.

How often do they come in to visit?

I used to see them well when they were in as I say when they were in Chan Hassen all the time. Um

last couple of years I've gotten a visit or two, um but I don't this this year I don't think they've got anything on the books. You know, Ryan from Chicago's joked he might come out a couple of times, but I've got nothing on the

books. I mean depending on when the M

books. I mean depending on when the M series is released, if they want to do some testing they might [clears throat] might get some of the people out. You

may or may not have one at your house.

I do not have an M series.

When does the M series get released or a tentative date?

August I believe.

August?

August for the backers. I was just looking at the website. So if you were an early backer I believe their goal delivery date Does anything ever arrive on time?

No.

But their goal delivery date is August.

And then I think if you were They didn't specify year though, so Yeah, I know it didn't say 2026.

[laughter] That's the test of weight by the way.

[clears throat] Um and and I think if you were a late backer, I think they're talking September, October. So if you were a late backer,

October. So if you were a late backer, but it's you know I buy a lot on Kickstarter. I mean I'm a gadget junkie.

I probably have bought 40 things on Kickstarter. I cannot name one that's arrived on time.

So and I mean it's What's the weirdest thing you've backed?

The Coolest Cooler was pretty weird, but I never got that.

What was it?

The Coolest Cooler.

The Coolest Cooler?

Yeah, it had the blender on the top so you could make your margaritas battery powered.

I I I had a heated ice cream scooper. That was

pretty weird. I thought it was kind of cool.

[laughter] Battery powered double A?

Uh no, it was Well, I don't know. I never

got that either. That was rechargeable.

[laughter] Shoot. We just start Kickstarters. They

Shoot. We just start Kickstarters. They

just send people So you just send money and never get anything? That's great.

That's great some great artwork and [laughter] But as I was saying, that was a big part of the reason I wanted to see Yarbo when I was testing it. I knew it was real.

Um But you know, I've gotten a lot of my stuff too. It's just it's Yeah, the

stuff too. It's just it's Yeah, the timelines I mean and that's this is across all of them. I mean

I can't count I I I can't remember any manufacturer that even shipped me my test unit when I thought it was going to come. You know,

it's just it's It's like CES for us. There's

full of promises. Yeah. You hit them up later like, "Where's Where's it at?"

Yeah.

I was supposed to have like 12 robots for this year. I ended up with five.

Yeah.

Which real first world problem. I'll

admit that.

Right.

Woe is me. I got sent five Only five.

Yeah. And there are limitations too.

Like it would like you know, when their neighbor is helping out uh like I only have the one backyard, so I I poured a new concrete pad to park my Yarbos on and and now they're all lined up in front of my garage again. So I'm I told them yeah.

I running out of real estate to put up new robots.

How many Yarbo's do you have currently?

I've got two. I've got one that I as I say I it's early in testing I bought you know I bought my one via Kickstarter.

But I need one reliable and test firmware is not reliable.

So, at one point [clears throat] I broke down and bought another one. I'm like

okay so we you said test firmware I don't want send this to you.

Yeah. Yeah.

I got I would recommend putting the the actual like charging pad like I put my like screwed mine into my asphalt. I put it in the asphalt because you know like I feel like it just starts

to grow grass around it if it's in the yard my and you can't really go up there with a trimmer even manually trim it there's like power cord I just you know it's a lot easier to just put it on like a

concrete or a or an asphalt pad.

with the Yarbo and not all your tracked ones right? Yarbo and Limo it's I think

ones right? Yarbo and Limo it's I think it's important to it also have a landing pad in front of it. Yarbo's maneuvering

just outside the the pad.

You know that's that's saved most of my wear. I just every

wear. I just every Tank turn right away and just yeah.

Yeah. So, I've got a My front yard might be ripped up because of this.

[laughter] 3 foot landing pad in front of it and then you alter your course for it to go in every month or so so it's not always approaching at the same way.

Yeah. Should do that.

Yeah. You test Limo though you said?

Yeah.

Did [laughter] your shoot get clogged like everybody else?

trying really hard to test Limo.

Okay. I I I just want to know maybe you can't say. I recommended that they do a

can't say. I recommended that they do a double like you can buy two Limo's and then you connect them together and then it can plow it has enough power to plow your driveway right? So, during the summer you have two Limo's doing its thing and then in the winter boom they

connect and then they can plow.

Mega Limo. And you live in Missouri cuz in Minnesota we have too much snow to plow.

It would two Limo's it got to more it's got to have as much power you do with the snow? I mean that's the number one that's the number one fall back I see with the new M-series.

But the same thing is the same difference than the super curious about that.

You're not throwing the snow or or just pushing it like what's our limitation?

You love the pusher thing. You said

It's not the It works but you got to run the other one first.

Oh, okay.

Yeah, your northern states are I don't see the plow working. I mean you're you're talking a unit now that's half the weight as as a Y series and you can push it off your driveway which might

work for your first snowfall but I mean I got 40 inches the first year I was testing Yarbrough. I mean

You ain't pushing I mean it stacks up on the edges. What do you do with that at

the edges. What do you do with that at that point?

Out in the end of the driveway.

Yeah.

I feel like the only like the only time I use a plow is if it's like late in the season where it's really sticky and wet.

You're not going to use a plow anyways.

Nice down to the And that's and that's I mean I bought the plow for the M-series and that's my plan. I mean it's my my M-series I'm

plan. I mean it's my my M-series I'm going to use for the first snowfall or two in the spring in the fall. When it's

the wet heavy stuff you push it off and it'll melt and then yeah, in the spring once you get the wet heavy stuff cuz you know, it's number one complaint about snow blowers that it doesn't work.

No, every snow blower is like that. When

it's wet no snow blower is not a single one whether it's manual or not it's going to work with wet snow.

And that's exactly where I was going.

closer to the driveway too which is nice.

there's Ariens recommending that you do something else with the snow blower too.

Make it like like paint ceramic on it.

What's that process? What is it?

Ceramic coating. I use Adam's ceramic coating and it's basically and I use it on to be honest I use it on most stuff.

I used to use it on my lawn mowers. Now

I've switched to a dryer a little bit.

a spray can?

Uh well I don't know anything about it so So ceramic coating is the same stuff you use on cars. So you can use the spray can. The fallback is

can. The fallback is So you're different prices and it comes back to do you get what you pay for. So your spray on ceramic coating at

for. So your spray on ceramic coating at the guy from uh Adams he's got a whole video on this and he explains it across his products.

Yeah, I've got my spray product but it's going to leave a 1/32 layer of ceramic coating. Okay, now

if you go to are rub on product it's going to leave a 430 seconds. And I I don't know what the actual you know Right.

the actual level is, but yeah, the spray on stuff will work, but you're going to end up coating it every snowfall.

Got it.

So, I went to the wipe on stuff. I mean,

that's part of my either spring or fall, whenever I've got more time before I put it on for the season. I will clean up the whole inside and put ceramic coating on there. I use it's a couple hundred

on there. I use it's a couple hundred bucks a bottle.

You know, it'll last you 3-4 years, but yeah, you coat everything on the inside.

I was going to say, what do you actually put the ceramic on?

Everything on the inside you can get at.

If you can get at it with your hands, then it's just a hydro hydrophobic coating. It stops the stuff from

coating. It stops the stuff from sticking.

How about the pan? You spray it and [laughter] prevent rust.

Huh?

Does it help with the rust at all?

If you keep water off of it, it will, yeah.

Interesting. So, we'll maybe we'll do a video later this later this year doing a ceramic video of how to do it.

Yep.

So. Yeah, just strip it down and yeah, we can certainly do that, but it's Yeah, it definitely helps with your wet weather. I mean, but you know, as I say,

weather. I mean, but you know, as I say, that's what I was getting at is it's you can't have unreasonable expectations for any of this. You're not going to take a Yoder-Bilt and and mow a or any of them and mow a

you know, hay field and you're not you can't expect the Yoder-Bilt snowblower to do anything more than your walk-behind snowblower would do. I mean,

there's Don't tell me what I can and can't expect.

Well, you can [laughter] I can just tell you it's going to lead to disappointment.

But these tools aren't replacing commercial jobs anytime soon. It's what

you Well, even the commercial, I mean, as I say, the one guy was complaining it wouldn't do his snow. Well, I had my Kabota out. I got a 26 horsepower Kabota

Kabota out. I got a 26 horsepower Kabota with a rear blower, and that wouldn't do the snow. I mean, it's I don't know how

the snow. I mean, it's I don't know how you expect it's Yeah, you you can't wait for 14 inches of wet snow, yeah.

You can't wait for 14 inches of wet snow and expect it's going to you know, it You got to keep your expectations reasonable.

That's why I've always said, if you're going to run it as soon as the snow starts, just start it. Even if there's only like less than half an inch or whatever, just run it for the duration of the storm. Get started early.

Well, that's what I do with my shovel.

Cuz don't have to wait. That's I just go out there every every hour and just shovel what I get.

[clears throat] 4 in is easier than a foot. And it's

cool. I mean, you get to watch it. It's

cool.

Yeah, it is fun.

All right, we are going quite a ways here. So,

here. So, is there anything else we need to to to touch on here? Should we uh I think you should wrap it up.

Wrap it up. Anything exciting to finish with?

All right. So, uh

I guess I'll just wrap it up. So, Scott,

thank you so much for uh for joining us.

This was a good conversation.

Thanks for having me.

Learned a lot. And uh yeah, you have any website or anything people No. No, he

doesn't do screens. So, uh

No, I don't do screens. I mean

Don't look for him. Don't check him out on any websites. He's off the grid.

It's it's a challenge. Try to find my content. I mean, it's part of my

content. I mean, it's part of my agreement. [laughter] I do I do provide

agreement. [laughter] I do I do provide images.

So, I mean, a lot of your Arlo's images, a lot you know, company's images are images of my units out working, but that's I provide raw raw footage is all I do.

Excellent.

Yeah. You you sit and edit it. I want to be outside.

All right. Well, thank you so much for coming. Uh

coming. Uh good to see you guys in person.

Yeah, it's been a long time.

Well, this is the last episode of the season right?

It is.

All right. Well, thank you everybody for watching this season. And uh tell tell people that has sponsor money to to to sponsor us.

And uh thank you uh What?

This is really weird.

This is not really weird. This is not weird at all.

Almost feels like you know, like one of those drives like the NPR.

[laughter] Yeah, send me money.

And our fund drives. We really

appreciate the support of our sponsor this year Zeus that it allowed us to put this together. If you want to see us be

this together. If you want to see us be renewed for another season, we actually need a second sponsor so that we can be in person and have a great technical director behind the scenes.

Makes it so much better. So, if that's you, reach out to Vince and we'll make it happen.

Yes, thank you so much uh Zeus. You're

awesome. And uh please everybody support my new Kickstarter for my uh dog poop picker-upper robot. I'm going to get

picker-upper robot. I'm going to get some awesome pictures.

get behind this.

Yeah, I'm not going to make it. I just

want them to support it and then I'll bail on it. Um but it's going to be great.

that fraud, but No. No. No. No.

No. No. No. No.

in Minnesota, so Things didn't work out.

[laughter] No one will include Wow.

This is getting This is getting great.

So, all right. Thank you, everybody.

Thanks for watching.

Uh you need to film an intro.