Of all farming tasks, working in grain bins is among the most dangerous. The robotics company Grain Weevil in Omaha, Neb., wants to keep farmers out of them with its remote-controlled robot, which maneuvers across the surface using an auger-based propulsion system to break through surface crust and level grain.
“It not only keeps people safe but makes a huge impact on grain quality and grain handling efficiency,” said Chad Johnson, who co-founded Grain Weevil with his son, Ben, in 2020. Controlled via joystick, “it uses a camera system to operate from outside the bins.”
A mudflap-like shovel mechanism affixed to the back further levels the grain. For larger facilities, two robots can be connected by a frame. While the current version has autonomous features, it’s not yet self-aware and requires human control…