Robotic vineyard tractor trialled in Australia

Duxton Vineyards has teamed up with Wine Australia and Smart Machine for the trial of OXIN, an autonomous, multifunctional vineyard tractor.

OXIN is a multitasking robotic vineyard tractor that has found success in its home market of New Zealand. This trial will be the first time the technology has been used in Australia. Supported by Wine Australia’s agtech innovation program, the trial will put OXIN to the test under Australian conditions at Duxton’s Euston vineyard, with the technology providing insights into vineyard operations through advanced data analysis.

Wayne Ellis, Duxton Vineyards’ General Manager, said the company is committed to implementing technology that contributes positively to the environment.

Smart Machine Engineer Walter Langlois and Product Designers Andrew Kersley and Nick Gledhill designed the tractor, which can complete tasks such as mowing, mulching and trimming, as well as weed and canopy spraying with the aid of robotics and artificial intelligence — all while being managed by a single operator via user-friendly tablet software. OXIN is designed to improve precision, efficiency and safety, as well as minimise environmental impact. The technology also complements the existing workforce, enabling the vineyard team to focus on higher-value tasks.

Andrew Kersley, Smart Machine CEO, said, “We are committed to delivering innovative solutions for the agriculture industry and are excited to take this important step towards achieving that goal with Duxton Vineyards and Wine Australia. This partnership presents an opportunity to showcase OXIN’s capabilities and how it can revolutionise the way that we approach viticulture. The OXIN machine being trialled by Duxton Vineyards has been designed to do different tasks to the original machines developed for the NZ market, accommodating for the differences in landscape and climate, which is also really exciting.”

Dave Gerner, Program Manager – Regional Innovation at Wine Australia, said, “With a key focus on investing in research and innovation for the local wine sector, Wine Australia is delighted to be a part of the OXIN trial in partnership with Duxton Vineyards. By contributing to the exploration of new technologies, we are further advancing our mission to keep Australia’s wine business both profitable and sustainable. We look forward to reviewing the results of the trial and how Smart Machine’s technology will be of benefit to further producers across Australia’s wine regions.”

In addition to benefits that include reduced costs and data analysis to inform operational decisions, OXIN promotes sustainable solutions, with the machine requiring fewer row passes, making less soil compaction and demonstrating an overall reduction in emissions.

The Australia-first OXIN trial is currently underway at the 900 ha Euston vineyard located near Balranald and Robinvale.

Top image credit: iStock.com/BenGoode