Autonomous robot clears 6,000-sq-ft driveway in brutal New Jersey snowstorm

A New Jersey homeowner put hands-free winter snow removal to the test during Winter Storm Fern, using an autonomous robotic snow blower from Yarbo to clear his 6,000-square-foot driveway while he stayed inside sipping coffee.

The video of the robot working through the snowstorm quickly went viral on social media, drawing attention to emerging autonomous yard-maintenance technology.

Tom Moloughney, a tech reviewer and host of the State of Charge YouTube channel, deployed the Yarbo snow blower as snow and sleet blanketed his Chester, New Jersey property.

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Instead of handling the physically demanding task himself, he programmed the machine to clear the long driveway, including slopes and curves, as snow accumulated.

Autonomy demands setup effort

Videos shared on X show the autonomous robot methodically navigating the driveway, clearing snow, and returning to its charging dock when its battery fell below a certain level.

After about 75 minutes of charging, the machine would automatically resume work, repeating the cycle until the driveway was clear.

“It was kicking A$$,” Moloughney said in posts during the storm, describing the snow blower’s performance as it worked through the night and into Sunday morning.

Autonomous Snow Blower Update:
The @yarboglobal completed the first pass of the driveway and went back to the charging dock.
After about 1.25hrs, it will be 80% charged and will automatically return and continue to clear the driveway.
I plan to run it during the entirety of the… pic.twitter.com/JiP8JGZ93t

— Tom Moloughney (@tommolog) January 25, 2026

While the end result impressed onlookers, getting the system working took significant effort.

Moloughney noted the setup wasn’t plug-and-play, detailing in broadcasts that he spent considerable time programming and physically walking the robot around the driveway to define perimeters and optimize snow-throw angles before the storm hit.

“It takes a while to set them up,” he said. “This isn’t for people that just want to buy something, take it out of a box and use it.”

GPS-guided autonomous mapping

The robot’s autonomous navigation system is designed to map large outdoor spaces using a combination of sensors and GPS technology, allowing it to clear snow without continuous input from the user.

When battery levels drop, it heads back to a dock to recharge and, once sufficiently charged, returns to resume clearing.

Besides completing its main tasks during Winter Storm Fern, the robot’s performance highlighted some limitations.

Previous tests showed that dense ice under fresh snow or uneven patches could challenge its auger and path planning, and that careful configuration of its map and routes is key to success.

Moloughney’s experience suggests that autonomous yard robots may soon offer a viable option for routine snow removal, especially for users willing to invest time upfront in setup and calibration.

And in scenarios like heavy overnight snowfall, letting a machine handle the work while the homeowner stays warm inside represents a glimpse into how automation could reduce manual chores even in harsh weather.