Grain Bin Robot Keeps You Safe

A bin teeming with a season's bounty can become a death trap in a matter of seconds when grain cascades out of control. In as little as five seconds, you can become trapped in a flowing crop and unable to escape. Within 30 seconds, an ag commodity can seem like quicksand as it pulls your body under.

According to researchers at Purdue University, there have been more than 900 cases of grain bin entrapment since 1964; 62% were fatal. When grain bins claimed the lives of 31 people in 2010, the highest number ever recorded, OSHA responded quickly by ramping up enforcement, outreach, compliance assistance, and education. Although fatalities decreased to 11 in 2011 and eight in 2012, these preventable tragedies still occurred.

Responding to tragedy
When Jerome Mack's lifelong friend was killed in a grain bin accident, Mack took his knowledge of robotics and developed a solution to save lives.

"I have been building robots for several years in the swine industry," he explains. "A friend wondered if one of my Boar Bots would work inside a grain bin."

After initial testing, the South Dakota farmer inventor found it didn't perform well in loose grain, so he went back to the drawing board. The result is the patented Bin Bot, which is a remote-controlled, skid steer-type vehicle.

"The machine is small enough to fit into nearly any size bin door; yet, it is large enough to do a number of tasks inside the bin," says Mack. "From outside the bin, you can use the Bin Bot to assist the power sweep auger found in many bins."

For storage units not equipped with power unloading equipment, mobile power sweep attachments are available.

"These should be especially useful in commercial flat-bottom storage, where several workers are sent in to physically shovel out thousands of bushels on a regular basis," Mack says. "The Bin Bot can also be used to knock down walls of grain to reduce the risk of grain avalanche."

Operated by wireless remote control, the machine weighs about 550 pounds, will lift over 400 pounds, and can push a full-size pickup truck around a parking lot.

Much like a skid steer, the Bin Bot can be equipped with several attachments.

"The pusher attachment can be used to bump the bin's standard power sweep," explains Mack. "It is also effective in moving large quantities of grain inside the bin into a sump. The bucket will lift and move either grain or the power sweep if it becomes plugged or lodged."

The forklift attachment is able to move a faulty power sweep and to carry it back to the bin's inspection hole so you can identify possible problems without ever entering the bin.

"A stinger attachment has also been developed that will be used to bore horizontal holes into deteriorating or severely compacted grain," he notes.

Safe in dust-filled environments
The Bin Bot is manufactured using Class ll, Division 1, Group G-rated components.

"This is the criteria needed to be considered safe to operate in a grain-dust environment," notes Mack. "Without these rated components, there would be risk of a dust explosion from operating any electric device in a confined-space, grain-dust environment."

The machine will typically be custom-built for the grain storage system it is used with. The price of the Bin Bot will range between $20,000 and $25,000, depending on options and attachments.

"Robots are moving into agriculture markets at an ever-increasing pace," says Mack. "They will bring new levels of safety and efficiency, better working environments, and they'll fill positions most people cannot, will not, or should not do."