Smart Machine senses expansion opportunities

Blenheim-made autonomous tractor Oxin by Smart Machine is starting their international launch into Australian and American markets. William Woodworth spoke with Smart Machine co-founder and head of design Nick Gledhill about the developments made and next steps for the business.

Since 2021, a Blenheim-based agritech company run by lifelong friends has been developing what they believe is the next great leap in viticultural efficiency

Now after thorough trials in varying vineyard situations in Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay and Victoria, Australia, Smart Machine is sending its first Oxin V4 autonomous vineyard tractors to the American market with two machines arriving in time for trials in California’s Napa Valley this July.

Smart Machine’s Oxin technology suite combines viticulture, engineering, artificial intelligence, and robotics into one autonomous package, with accurate, one-pass spraying, mowing, mulching, leaf removal and trimming set by individual operators through its sensor, navigation and safety features.

Co-founder and head of design Nick Gledhill says Smart Machine’s team have taken on key learnings and adaptations from its recent Australian collaborations, which made the Oxin V4 ready for further international rollouts.

“With the variety between Marlborough and Victoria vineyard growing - Mildura being hotter, dustier, softer underfoot and higher canopy levels - we’ve recognised changes Oxin needed for all vineyard situations.

“For example, our original decision for rubber tracks meant we didn’t have issues wheeled tractors have with getting bogged down but we recognised that we needed stronger connectivity between tablet and tractor over long distances, and hydraulics and electrics cooling for hotter climates.

“I’m proud of how reactive our team is to the different needs of customers and environmental conditions, and it’s something we’ll continue to pride ourselves on”.

Smart Machine CEO Andrew Kersley agreed with Nick that the US viticultural market is a key focus for their expansion, in a press release to prospective customers.

“The Oxin provides a good opportunity for technology to help alleviate the impact on growers of increasing costs, and sustainability and labour pressures.

“We appreciate that a big part of enabling this technology is the partnerships we can establish to distribute, service and support this product.

“That is why we are so excited to have Pellenc America committing to help us explore and understand the US market potential of the Oxin”.

While Smart Machine is looking beyond New Zealand’s borders, Nick says Marlborough, its wine industry, and it’s agritech knowhow has been a perfect home to develop the business.

“Blenheim is a perfect base for us, with large vineyards nearby with customers for servicing, research, development and feedback to our workshop.

“Having machines out working on vineyards mean the people working with them daily are also able to have input on how we can improve their product experience, which is important for us.

“We’ve ensured people can learn the tablet control system in a few days to set the parameters for the task at hand - for some it’s a matter of hours – and it’s also intuitive for most viticulturists.”.

The Oxin was originally developed specifically for vineyard services, but Nick says that they, existing customers and other horticultural businesses are already looking to other crops the Oxin could adapt for.

“There’s been interest from across the horticultural industry, with queries about how our tractor and sensor system will be able to help harvest citrus, almonds, table grapes and avocados who have the availability of labour issues we originally set out to solve for viticulture.

“Now that we have Oxin developed to a world-class standard for viticulture, we're excited to explore these other crop opportunities”.

“The same building blocks in the sensor systems and some hardware for vineyards would be transferable to other crops, and we’re always interested to hear questions people have”.

Learn more about Oxin by Smart Machine at https://www.oxin.nz/