With Australia's wine industry struggling with a drop in exports, changing consumer drinking habits, and inflationary pressures, a partnership between Duxton Vineyards, Smart Machine, and Wine Australia to trial a special tractor could improve efficiency with wine production.
OXIN is the world’s first fully autonomous, multi-tasking robotic vineyard tractor, with the trial at Duxton Vineyards being the first time that the technology has been utilised in Australia following Smart Machine’s success in its home market of New Zealand.
Supported by Wine Australia’s agtech innovation program, the trial will put OXIN to the test under Australian conditions at Duxton’s expansive Euston vineyard, with the technology providing valuable insights into vineyard operations through advanced data analysis.
The partnership between Smart Machine, Duxton Vineyards and Wine Australia combines expertise and resources, helping the local grape and wine sector to be at the forefront of agtech trends and innovation.
Duxton Vineyards’ GM Wayne Ellis said that as one of Australia's largest vineyards holders, Duxton Vineyards had a commitment to implementing technology that positively contributes to the environment.
“By being the first local wine producer to trial the OXIN by Smart Machine, we are continuing our sustainability journey and doing our part to evolve farming and viticulture practices in Australia,” said Ellis.
Designed by Smart Machine engineer Walter Langlois and product designers Andrew Kersley and Nick Gledhill, the trio have successfully produced a fully autonomous robotic vineyard tractor that can undertake all the mechanised tractor tasks in this space.
OXIN can complete multiple tasks such as mowing, mulching and trimming, as well as weed and canopy spraying with the aid of revolutionary robotics and artificial intelligence – all while being managed by a single operator via user-friendly tablet software.
OXIN improves precision, efficiency and safety, as well as minimising environmental impact. The technology also complements the existing workforce, enabling the vineyard team to focus on higher value tasks.
Smart Machine CEO Andrew Kersley said the partnership presented an opportunity to showcase how OXIN could 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,” said Kersley.
