Farm robot that refills itself wins Henty Machinery Field Days award
SwarmFarm Robotics' AutoFill won the 2026 Henty Machinery Field Days award for letting farm robots refill and return to work unattended.
SwarmFarm Robotics' AutoFill system won Machine of the Year at the 2026 Henty Machinery Field Days. The system solves a key farm problem: robots spray crops, but someone must still fill the tank manually.
The new system measures, mixes, and refills the spray tank on its own, letting the robot keep working without pause. The team spent more than five years developing it, with support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
Beyond the technology, the award highlights something else. Many SwarmFarm staff grew up on farms.
They left for university but now work in the country doing engineering and tech jobs. That option barely existed a decade ago.
For young visitors at the field days, it showed a rural future in technology was possible.
Why it mattersFarm robots that reduce chemical risk and create rural tech jobs could help stop young people leaving the country for cities.
AustraliaAustralian agricultural innovation; shows engineering and tech careers are now viable in regional areas, potentially keeping skilled workers and young talent in the country.
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