Yuki-taro chrews through snow, chunks out ice cubes

The Japanese are well known for crafting useful robots to do the dirty work for humans who'd rather park it at home, and the Yuki-taro autonomous snowplow is just another example of machines taking care of the business people can't (or won't). In a collaborative effort between five Niigata-based organizations, the snowbot was created to go off by itself and chew through massive sections of snow to make areas passable once more. The nearly 900-pound machine rocks a yellow and black shell, scoots about on tracks, and features a wide mouth to gobble up the fallen snow, compress it into small blocks, and then expel them from the device's rear. Internally, it boasts a GPS module and a pair of video cameras integrated into the eyes, and while we're not certain what type of energy this thing utilizes, its inventors did manage to receive a design award for its snow-crunching abilities. So if you're tired of shoveling for hours on end in a seemingly futile attempt to uncover your driveway, keep an eye out for a commercial version of the Yuki-taro, as plans are to bring it to market for around $8,300 within five years.

[Via Pink Tentacle]

[Mac Harris @ Feb 9th 2007 1:38PM]

Hey guys how about a linkie to my article about the Snow Digesting Picachu bot? http://selectroclash.wordpress.com/2007/02/08/1317/

[jalapeno @ Feb 9th 2007 1:40PM]

chrews?

[Juan @ Feb 9th 2007 2:21PM]

It's all fun and games until it gobbles up someone's toddler while the little guy was making a snowman.

[Dave @ Feb 10th 2007 10:06AM]

If any parent allowed a toddler to be out alone playing in the snow, maybe it just gobble up the parent. If people accepted responsibility for their own actions, comments like yours wouldn't hold any water. Unfortunately in today's world and this country of idiots we live, you're probably right on.

[Arno @ Feb 9th 2007 3:38PM]

Oh look they gave it eye brows and a mouth, how cute. :p

[Christian @ Feb 9th 2007 4:53PM]

Anyone notice how it resembles a robot from Megaman/Rockman? If only it can shoot out its ice cubes...

[Grant @ Feb 11th 2007 11:40PM]

Anyone got a youtube link to see this thing in action?! This sounds amazing!

[albert @ Feb 12th 2007 2:51PM]

Now I wish it was snowing in the Netherlands ... gives me a good reason to get a Yuki-Taro!

Albert

- - -

http://www.personalrobotics.nl

[Jaz @ Feb 12th 2007 6:32PM]

I need one of these... i have a huge lot, and i pay 2000 a year to get it cleared. i could havefun with this baby and save space as i can arrange the cubes in order.

[Treehouse @ Feb 12th 2007 6:32PM]

confirmed