Grain bins and stores can be dangerous places. Grain can heat, move fast and grain bins and stores are enclosed areas which can be dirty, dusty and have mould.

A robot developed in the US called The Grain Weevil has a mission: no boots in the grain.

Its aim is to keep farmers out of these bins and storage areas to reduce the risks involved with storing grain.

The robot goes into the grain bin or store and breaks a crust if it has formed, levels grain and helps to feed grain into the extraction auger.

The robot can also inspect the grain and shovel grain. This helps to keep farmers and workers out of these storage areas, reduces grain losses due to spoilage and gives confidence on the length of time grain can be stored for.

The Grain Weevil robot working in a grain store.

Grain Weevil is based in Omaha, Nebraska, in the US and the company travels to grain storage facilities providing grain inspection surveys and other services to the industry.

The robot looks a bit like a robotic lawnmower and can level grain and move it with an attachment shaped like a grain auger.