Australia-first autonomous vineyard tractor

A vineyard near Mildura has employed Australia’s first autonomous, multifunctional vineyard tractor, in its next step towards sustainable winegrowing.

Duxton Vineyards has teamed up with Wine Australia and Smart Machine for the Australia-first trial of OXIN, the world's first fully autonomous robotic vineyard tractor.

Duxton Vineyards, in the Mildura and Sunraysia regions of NSW, has hosted an Australia-first trial of an autonomous, multifunctional vineyard tractor.

In partnership with Wine Australia and New Zealand-based company Smart Machine, the machine called OXIN is being trialled on Duxton’s 900ha Euston vineyard.

Duxton general manager Wayne Ellis said it was the next step in the company’s vision for sustainable winegrowing.

“We’re the largest Sustainable Winegrowing-accredited vineyard and winery in Australia, so our regenerative vineyard practices were already on that path,” he said.

The OXIN can complete multiple tasks at once, including mulching, trimming, spraying and mowing in a single row pass.

Wayne Ellis, General Manager at Duxton Vineyards, in Mildura and Sunraysia region of NSW. Picture: Supplied

“The repeatability on it is amazing. It’s a four-tonne tank that runs the same path every single time, for hundreds of hours … its precision is spot on,” Mr Ellis said.

“When you’re looking at the environmental impact (of the OXIN), being able to do multiple things at once means less emissions, less compaction and soil erosion, and all those sorts of things.”

With the OXIN needing to adapt to Australian conditions, including differences in temperature, dust levels and a sprawling canopy, Smart Machine chief executive Andrew Kersley said it was exciting to have an Australian partner that was on board to tackle those aspects with them.

“The partnership has enabled us to explore (those changes) with a very dedicated and resourceful partner who can input into the design process and the needs of the machine, that can eventuate in a really good value proposition,” Mr Kersley said.

“It means the machines we’re bringing into the market will make sense for growers.”

Duxton Vineyards has teamed up with Wine Australia and Smart Machine for the Australia-first trial of OXIN, the world's first fully autonomous robotic vineyard tractor. Picture: Supplied

With 19 OXIN machines currently operating across New Zealand, the first venture across the Tasman has Mr Ellis and Mr Kersley dreaming big for the future.

“For us it’s a journey that we’re committed to. There’s a lot of interest from the Australian industry, and people are definitely looking over our shoulder to see that the technology is repeatable and reliable,” Mr Ellis said.

“I am 100 per cent certain that it is going to take off.”

Mr Kersley added: “The potential I see is in not only grapes in Australia, but nuts, citrus, table grapes … I think the opportunities are significant.

“Everybody is experiencing similar pressures and needs as a business, and we’re here to utilise technology to help resolve some of those.”

OXIN in action in New Zealand. Picture: Supplied