Gavin Campbell with Smart Yard Automation, Unraid 7.2 Enhancements, and the Rise of Local AI – HGG661

Gavin Campbell joins this week and we covered winter weather, his strong early results with the Segway Navimow robot mower, the improved sound and smart-home functionality of the Echo Dot Max, and his Unraid 7.2 upgrade that boosted responsiveness. We discussed how we are using local AI for automation, troubleshooting, and coding, along with bigger questions around AI’s economics and infrastructure. We closed with notes on CES planning, upcoming guests, and a quick update on Sammy’s library-science studies, plus an invitation to keep the conversation going in our Discord. Thanks for listening!



















Episode Overview



In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I sit down with Gavin Campbell for a deep dive into emerging home-tech innovations and real-world smart-home use cases. We open with some fun sports energy as we celebrate the Toronto Blue Jays’ World Series run, before jumping straight into the latest gadgets transforming modern living.



Robotic Lawn Care & Outdoor Automation



Gavin shares his hands-on experience with the Segway Navimow robotic mower, explaining how it has completely reshaped his lawn-maintenance routine. We explore the rapid evolution of smart lawn equipment, including advances in LiDAR guidance, battery systems, and market pricing. As competition ramps up, Gavin predicts wider accessibility and accelerating adoption for homeowners looking to automate yard care.



Echo Dot Max & Smart-Home Enhancements



We turn to the Echo Dot Max and its meaningful upgrades. Gavin breaks down the device’s improved audio quality, onboard sensors, and enhanced integration within smart-home ecosystems. We also discuss the shift from cloud-heavy processing to more local intelligence, and how this transition benefits speed, reliability, and privacy in home automation setups.



Unraid 7.2 Upgrade & Home Server Efficiency



Gavin then walks through his upgrade to Unraid 7.2 and the performance boosts it delivered, particularly around UI responsiveness and resource efficiency. He highlights Unraid’s flexibility for media management and home-lab workflows, along with the importance of staying current as the platform continues to evolve.



Practical Local AI for the Home



We spend significant time exploring how AI is being deployed locally in real-world home environments. Gavin demonstrates how he uses on-device models for smart notifications, particularly with camera systems and live event detection. We also unpack how AI is accelerating routine coding tasks, amplifying productivity for developers working inside their own networks rather than relying solely on cloud-based tools.



Industry Perspective & Looking Ahead



We close with a broader discussion about volatility and maturity in the AI and consumer-tech market, touching on potential course-corrections and long-term integration trends. Gavin shares his upcoming plans for CES, where he will connect with creators and scout cutting-edge innovations that will shape the next wave of smart-home and AI tech.



This episode blends practical experience, forward-looking commentary, and enthusiastic curiosity across smart-home automation, AI adoption, and the tools shaping tomorrow’s connected household.



What robotic lawn mower did we discuss in this episode?



We focused on the Segway Navimow robotic mower. I highlighted Gavin’s hands-on experience with it and how it transformed his lawn-care workflow, especially with its advanced navigation and automated maintenance capabilities....