Going against the grain

Grain bins are dirty, dangerous places to work. A new grain bin management robot, Grain Weevil, has been developed in the US to keep farmers out of grain bins altogether.

Grain Weevil is remote controlled, and uses augers and gravity to level grain, break crusts, conduct inspections, and feed grain into extraction augers. At the size of a small suitcase, it’s easily portable and if accidentally buried can dig itself out of up to five feet of grain.

While productivity gain remains a crucial motivator for adopting technology, is the prioritisation of technology that fosters safer work practices must be a close second?