The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Blenheim's Smart Machine creates 'world-first' viticulture robots, wins Pernod Ricard backing

Chris Keall
By Chris Keall
Technology Editor/Senior Business Writer·NZ Herald·
17 May, 2021 05:27 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌

Subscriber benefit

The ability to gift paywall-free articles is a subscriber only benefit. See more offers by clicking the button below.

Already a subscriber?  Sign in here
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Focus: Could robots be the answer to vineyards' labour shortage?
Marlborough startup Smart Machine has created a self-driving grape-picker. Video / Supplied ...
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
0:00
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      Herald NOW: 2degrees business 17 June 2025

      UP NEXT:

      Autoplay in
      4
      Disable Autoplay
      Cancel Video
      Marlborough startup Smart Machine has created a self-driving grape-picker. Video / Supplied
      NOW PLAYING • Focus: Could robots be the answer to vineyards' labour shortage?
      Marlborough startup Smart Machine has created a self-driving grape-picker. Video / Supplied ...

      "Robots don't have bad days, they don't get tired at the end of a 10-hour shift and potentially make mistakes."

      Smart Machine chief executive Andrew Kersley would be a fan of automation. His three-year-old company has developed the Autonomous Vineyard Tractor or AVT, billed as a world-first - that is currently being tested by Stoneleigh and several other vineyards around Marlborough. It can take care of mulching, leaf removal and trimming, and also features an array of data-gathering sensors.

      Read More

      • Peter Beck, Peter Thiel back young New Zealander's startup, HeartLab
      • NZ's Nui Markets takes on an American old boys' network

      But he's not trying to minimise labour so much as maximise the output of the scant number of people who do arrive in the region for seasonal work.

      Kersley and his cofounders Nick Gledhill and Walter Langlois created Smart Machine in response to the viticulture labour shortage.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Two, four or more AVTs can be controlled by a nearby human, toting a tablet.

      Keep up to date with the day's biggest stories

      Sign up to our daily curated newsletter for the day's top stories straight to your inbox.
      Please email me competitions, offers and other updates. You can stop these at any time.
      By signing up for this newsletter, you agree to NZME’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
      Smart Machine chief executive Andrew Kersley (left) and Pernod Ricard Winemakers' transformation director Alex Kahl with "Oxin" Autonomous Vineyard Tractors (AVTs). Photo / Supplied
      Smart Machine chief executive Andrew Kersley (left) and Pernod Ricard Winemakers' transformation director Alex Kahl with "Oxin" Autonomous Vineyard Tractors (AVTs). Photo / Supplied

      Kersley says while others have gone "big and wide" with machines that can tend to three rows of grapes at once, "there's a danger of losing touch at the plant level" with that approach. Plus, there's much less ground compaction than with monolithic gear, and the AVTs are billed as more fuel-efficient than traditional tractors.

      The AVTs were produced with backing from global winemaking giant Pernod Ricard and Crown agency Callaghan Innovation.

      Each features 80 sensors, controlled by artificial intelligence software, that handle everything from navigation to safely avoiding unexpected obstacles to measurements of vine quality.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      The four pre-production AVTs were made by local engineering workshop Machinery Services - owned by Langois - with the AI system, dubbed "Oxin", created in cooperation with Callaghan's research and development wing.

      Kahl and Kersley with a tablet computer used to control multiple AVTs at once. Photo / Supplied
      Kahl and Kersley with a tablet computer used to control multiple AVTs at once. Photo / Supplied

      Smart Machine will shortly open a 600sq m facility and start production on five more AVTs, for a fleet of nine.

      Discover more

      Agribusiness

      Automation comes to Hawke's Bay's apple industry

      26 Mar 08:17 PM

      Kersley is hoping for a commercial launch in summer or spring next year. Smart Machine has yet to settle on a financial model; it could sell or lease the AVTs.

      Forget romantic images of people tending to grapes by hand. The AVTs are designed for large-scale harvests and will be replacing processes that are already mechanised.

      Kersley Kahl and with three of the four ATVs made so far. Another five are in the works. Photo / Supplied
      Kersley Kahl and with three of the four ATVs made so far. Another five are in the works. Photo / Supplied

      The cost of each AVT will be "somewhere more than one tractor but less than two tractors", Kersley says. He's keenly aware that smart machines will have to be cheaper than the more traditional people-driven hardware it replaces. He sees AVTs achieving that aim through the efficiencies of working more hours and being controlled by fewer people, and via their data collection smarts.

      Photo / Supplied
      Photo / Supplied

      Pernod Ricard is a heavy-duty partner. The French multi-national is the world's second-largest spirits and winemaker, and in our part of the world its labels include Stoneleigh, Brancott Estate and Church Road, as well as various vineyard operations.

      Pernod Ricard Winemakers' transformation director Alex Kahl says his company considers the AVT's AI as an example of "The fourth industrial revolution. We're proud to support viticultural in New Zealand taking big ideas from around the world to build our local industry."

      In terms of the future, Pernod Ricard is working with Smart Machine to continue to develop the AVTs and see how they can build on this technology which is already world-leading and the most advanced of its kind, Kahl says.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Photo / Supplied
      Photo / Supplied

      "Pernod Ricard is continuing to invest in the technology so that it can be developed further as Smart Machines looks to expand their fleet."

      Innovation is becoming increasingly important, so the company's focus is on making sure its vineyards are future-fit so that they can remain competitive, efficient, sustainable and safe, he says.

      Subscriber benefit

      The ability to gift paywall-free articles is a subscriber only benefit. See more offers by clicking the button below.

      Already a subscriber?  Sign in here
      Save

        Share this article

        Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

      Latest from Horticulture

      The Country

      'Sassy' success: Climate-resilient apple's exports set to double

      04 Jul 05:00 PM
      The Country

      Foodstuff supermarkets face salad shortages as storm delivers 'logistical hit'

      01 Jul 08:00 PM
      The Country

      Zespri teams up with Dame Lisa Carrington

      01 Jul 03:30 AM

      There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

      sponsored
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Recommended for you
      'Serious-to-critical': Crash shuts SH1 in Northland, delays expected
      New Zealand

      'Serious-to-critical': Crash shuts SH1 in Northland, delays expected

      06 Jul 08:48 AM
      'No bad blood': Inmate apologises for shanking prison officer
      Crime

      'No bad blood': Inmate apologises for shanking prison officer

      06 Jul 08:00 AM
      'A nice marlin': Kiwi skipper makes history with $2m fishing triumph
      Sport

      'A nice marlin': Kiwi skipper makes history with $2m fishing triumph

      06 Jul 07:33 AM
      'Exercise caution': Investigation into Kiwi's death in elephant attack
      Wellington

      'Exercise caution': Investigation into Kiwi's death in elephant attack

      06 Jul 06:58 AM
      Police respond to assault at pool: One hospitalised, charges laid
      New Zealand

      Police respond to assault at pool: One hospitalised, charges laid

      06 Jul 06:31 AM

      Latest from Horticulture

      'Sassy' success: Climate-resilient apple's exports set to double

      'Sassy' success: Climate-resilient apple's exports set to double

      04 Jul 05:00 PM

      Sassy apples are zesty, have a long shelf life, and can tolerate warmer climates.

      Foodstuff supermarkets face salad shortages as storm delivers 'logistical hit'

      Foodstuff supermarkets face salad shortages as storm delivers 'logistical hit'

      01 Jul 08:00 PM
      Zespri teams up with Dame Lisa Carrington

      Zespri teams up with Dame Lisa Carrington

      01 Jul 03:30 AM
      Compliance concern: Growers oppose proposed geothermal water regulations

      Compliance concern: Growers oppose proposed geothermal water regulations

      01 Jul 12:00 AM
      From early mornings to easy living
      sponsored

      From early mornings to easy living

      NZ Herald
      • About NZ Herald
      • Meet the journalists
      • Newsletters
      • Classifieds
      • Help & support
      • Contact us
      • House rules
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of use
      • Competition terms & conditions
      • Our use of AI
      Subscriber Services
      • NZ Herald e-editions
      • Daily puzzles & quizzes
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • The Northern Advocate
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven Car Guide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • NZME Events
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search