Grain robot stabilizes the unstable

Robot scurries the grain bin so farmers don’t have to

Jager Robinson
Jun 18, 2021
Jun 18, 2021 Updated Sep 17, 2025

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Ben Johnson, left, and Zane Zents stand with their Grain Weevil robot. The two graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May.

Submitted Photo

The Grain Weevil is a 30-pound remote-controlled robot that uses augers and gravity to level grain and redistribute it throughout the bin. It is portable, waterproof and dustproof. If it is accidentally buried, it can dig itself out of up to 5 feet of grain.

Submitted photo by Cecil Smalley Photography

Ben Johnson, left, and Zane Zents recently won a Lemelson-MIT Student Prize for their grain-safety robot, the Grain Weevil.

Submitted photo by Cecil Smalley Photography

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Jager Robinson

As grain prices continue to rise and grain bins continue to be built, two freshly graduated college students out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have built a grain bin robot to limit farmers’ exposure to bin dangers.

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Robot maintains grain to keep farmers out of bins

LINCOLN, Neb. — Two University of Nebraska engineering students have been awarded a Lemelson…

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Grain robot 3.jpeg — The Grain Weevil sits inside of a grain bin of popcorn. The robot is meant to aerate and push grain with a remote control so a farmer doesn’t have to enter the bin.
Submitted Photo

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Reach Reporter Jager Robinson at 605-335-7300, email jager.robinson@lee.net or follow on Twitter @Jager_Robinson.