February 14, 2007 10:55 pm

Cut and paste version of story Photos “Herdy-Gerdy,” a radio-controlled snow plow built by Bill Lauver, of Middleburg, makes short work of Wednesday’s snow. Chris Sciacca/The Daily Item Bill Lauver,Middleburg, demonstrates how he usually operates "Herdy-Gerdy", the radio-controlled snowplow that he constructed, from the comfort of his dining room. Chris Sciacca/The Daily Item

Man plows snow by remote control

Inventor stays warm while his converted golf cart clears his walks

By Neil S. Cody
CNHI News Service

MIDDLEBURG, Pa. — Note to passers-by: Don't worrry; Bill Lauver’s Middleburg home has not been taken over by helpful robots. That’s just his remote-controlled snow plow.
Using a converted golf cart with video cameras and a plow attachment, Lauver has been keeping his driveway free of snow for the last three years from the comfort of his living room.
“I always tinkered around with electronics and computers,” he said recently while cleaning up after Tuesday night’s snowstorm. “I just wanted to invent some kind of robot or machine that could shovel snow for me.”
Lauver said the remote-control snowplow is a an 4-horsepower electric golf cart that runs on six golf cart batteries and uses a hydraulic plow attachment.
“I geared it down to go slower than a normal golf cart, of course,” he added.
The plow is also equipped with two video cameras, one facing forward and one facing backward, so that he can see what the plow sees on his big-screen television.
The opportunity for human error when he was that far removed from the plows control, however, was a definite problem.
“It was really hard to judge distance without a 3-D view,” he said, “so I gave up on the camera for right now. Controlling it from the window is a lot easier.”
Lauvers’ wife, Sue, said that’s usually where he is when passers-by witness the invention at work.
“It’s funny, we’ll see people look at it really strange, and my husband will be standing in the window. It’s just a fun thing and certainly a topic of conversation,” she said.
Lauver said the plow can handle about 6 to 8 inches of snow, depending on its wetness.
“This snow is a bit hard on it because there was freezing rain last night. It’s a bit crusty,” he said Wednesday.
There’s no way to gauge how much the project cost, he said, because he put the plow together throughout a year and used many new and used parts. He estimated that he spent around $600 to $700.
Lauver has been tossing some ideas around lately for other projects as well, including a remote control lawn-mower and an automated snowblower.
His wife, however, joked about her mixed feelings on those plans.
“I want him to get some exercise. He’s always controlling everything by remote.”
Neil S. Cody writes for The Daily Itemin Sunbury, Pa.