Automatic handheld shovel with auger

1. A digging system, comprising:

a handheld shovel including a handle and a shovel portion attached to the handle, wherein the shovel portion includes a blade and an auger bit;

wherein the blade is positioned proximal to the auger bit to retain debris from the auger bit;

wherein the auger bit has a flute that is at least partially covered by the blade;

wherein the blade defines a discharge opening configured to discharge at least some of the debris;

wherein the auger bit extends along a longitudinal axis; and

wherein the blade is offset to one side of the longitudinal axis with an opposite side of the auger bit exposed.

2. The digging system of claim 1 , wherein the handheld shovel includes a motor configured to rotate the auger bit.

3. The digging system of claim 2 , wherein the shovel includes a gearbox coupled to the motor.

4. The digging system of claim 3 , wherein the gearbox and the motor are housed inside the handle.

5. The digging system of claim 4 , wherein the handle has a motor-gearbox diameter that is at most 40 millimeters (mm).

6. The digging system of claim 2 , wherein the handheld shovel includes an input/output (I/O) device and a controller to control rotation of the auger bit.

7. The digging system of claim 2 , wherein the handheld shovel includes an Energy Storage System (ESS) configured to power the motor.

8. The digging system of claim 7 , wherein the ESS is integrated into the handle.

9. The digging system of claim 7 , wherein the ESS includes a battery.

10. The digging system of claim 7 , wherein the ESS is detachably coupled to the handle.

11. The digging system of claim 1 , wherein the blade has a semi-cylindrical shape that partially surrounds the auger bit.

12. The digging system of claim 1 , wherein the discharge opening extends along the longitudinal axis to expose a lateral side of the auger bit.

13. The digging system of claim 12 , wherein the discharge opening is open from a cutting edge of the blade to the handle.

14. The digging system of claim 1 , wherein the auger bit has a helical web that contacts the blade.

15. The digging system of claim 1 , wherein the auger bit has a helical web that is spaced from the blade to form a clearance gap of at most 1 centimeter (cm).

16. The digging system of claim 1 , wherein the blade has a cutting edge configured to cut into the ground.

17. The digging system of claim 16 , wherein the auger bit has a tip that extends past the cutting edge of the blade.

18. The digging system of claim 1 , wherein the auger bit is configured to rotate relative to the blade.

19. The digging system of claim 18 , wherein the blade is fixed to the handle to prevent relative movement.

20. A digging system, comprising:

a handheld shovel including a handle and a shovel portion attached to the handle, wherein the shovel portion includes a blade and an auger bit;

wherein the blade is positioned proximal to the auger bit to retain debris from the auger bit;

wherein the auger bit has a flute that is at least partially covered by the blade;

wherein the blade defines a discharge opening configured to discharge at least some of the debris;

wherein the discharge opening extends along a longitudinal axis to expose a lateral side of the auger bit; and

wherein the discharge opening is open from a cutting edge of the blade to the handle.

21. The digging system of claim 20 , wherein the blade has a semi-cylindrical shape that partially surrounds the auger bit.

22. The digging system of claim 20 , wherein the blade is offset to one side of the longitudinal axis with an opposite side of the auger bit exposed.

23. The digging system of claim 20 , wherein the auger bit has a helical web that contacts the blade.

24. The digging system of claim 20 , wherein the auger bit has a helical web that is spaced from the blade to form a clearance gap of at most 1 centimeter (cm).

25. The digging system of claim 20 , wherein the auger bit rotates relative to the blade.

26. The digging system of claim 25 , wherein the blade is fixed to the handle to prevent relative movement.

27. A digging system, comprising:

a handheld shovel including a handle and a shovel portion attached to the handle, wherein the shovel portion includes a blade and an auger bit;

wherein the blade is positioned proximal to the auger bit to retain debris from the auger bit;

wherein blade is fixed to the handle to prevent relative movement; and

wherein the auger bit is configured to rotate relative to the blade.

28. The digging system of claim 27 , wherein the blade is offset to one side of a longitudinal axis with an opposite side of the auger bit exposed.

29. The digging system of claim 27 , wherein the blade has a semi-cylindrical shape that partially surrounds the auger bit.

30. A digging system, comprising:

a handheld shovel including a handle and a shovel portion attached to the handle, wherein the shovel portion includes a blade and an auger bit;

wherein the handheld shovel includes a motor configured to rotate the auger bit;

wherein the shovel includes a gearbox coupled to the motor;

wherein the gearbox and the motor are housed inside the handle;

wherein the auger hit is configured to rotate relative to the blades; and

wherein the blade is fixed to the handle to prevent relative movement.

31. The digging system of claim 30 , wherein the handle has a motor-gearbox diameter that is at most 40 millimeters (mm).

32. The digging system of claim 30 , wherein the handheld shovel includes an input/output (I/O) device and a controller to control rotation of the auger bit.

33. The digging system of claim 32 , wherein:

the I/O device includes a multiway switch mounted to the handle; and

the multiway switch via the controller is configured to cause the auger to rotate in a clockwise direction, rotate in a counterclockwise direction, and remain stationary relative to the blade.

34. The digging system of claim 33 , wherein the blade is positioned proximal to the auger bit to retain debris from the auger bit.

35. The digging system of claim 30 , wherein the handheld shovel includes an Energy Storage System (ESS) configured to power the motor.

36. The digging system of claim 35 , wherein the ESS is integrated into the handle.

37. The digging system of claim 35 , wherein the ESS is detachably coupled to the handle.