SwarmFarm automated refilling unlocks high-volume spray applications
It’s been over a decade since Gindie farmers Andrew and Jocie Bate began building small, lightweight bots to work in swarms (hence the name SwarmBots) to push back on the ‘get big or get out’ answer to increasing machinery productivity. Along the way, they have been removing barriers to the widespread adoption of autonomous farming operations.
Andrew Bate, cofounder of SwarmFarm Robotics, says their latest innovation, AutoFill, fundamentally transforms how we perceive farming machinery and its capabilities.
“Our vision has always been to design a farming system where productivity isn’t inherently linked to the size of the equipment. With the release of AutoFill, we have finally delivered on this promise – we have effectively untethered machinery size from productivity,” he says.
“In the 36 hours we were away from our farm in Gindie to be at the AutoFill launch, our SwarmBot applied 38,000 litres of liquid fertiliser to around 240 hectares of our summer fallow country without anyone touching it. We are very proud of what the SwarmBots can do and how they are revolutionising how farmers farm.”
AutoFill ushers in high-volume payload capacity
While sprayer manufacturers have increased their tank size and boom width in pursuit of higher productivity, SwarmFarm has delivered 24/7 productivity with simple, lightweight, autonomous units capable of performing multiple functions. The addition of the Autofill system opens the way for SwarmBots to take on high-volume blanket spraying of fungicides, insecticides and liquid fertiliser products.
SwarmFarm’s AutoFill system has three components: a fixed fill tower, a mobile mixing pod, and SwarmConnect integration. When a robot senses that the product level is low, it autonomously returns to a refill station. Multiple robots can use the same fill tower, and a farm can have multiple towers to minimise downtime. The towers are currently permanent fixtures, while the mixing pod (1.2 m x 1 m x 1.1 m) can be moved easily between towers.
The AutoFill mixing pod accurately measures seven separate products, plus water, using industry-leading flow meters that are not affected by chemical density or viscosity. This ensures accurate measurement for every batch.
Each pod has a fuel tank, a Honda GX 470 engine, a 2-inch self-priming poly pump flowing up to 350 L/min, and back-flow prevention. The Autofill pods require no manual mixing of chemicals, significantly reducing the risk of staff being exposed to chemicals.
SwarmConnect integration connects the SwarmBot sprayer to the Autofill system to coordinate autonomous batching and refilling. It also monitors in-field weather stations to respond automatically to any changes in spray conditions.
The SwarmFarm technology is now seeing real traction in the field, with 145 SwarmBots operating across nearly three million hectares in Australia. SwarmBots have saved farmers more than 300,000 paddock hours and have autonomously travelled the distance ‘to the moon and back three times’ (or over 1.2 million km), while mowing, slashing or spraying more than seven million hectares of commercial broadacre crops, vineyards and orchards.
Starting with the idea that smaller, lightweight, and autonomous machines would make less impact on productive soil resources in Queensland’s Central Highlands, SwarmFarm is providing solutions to real-world problems, removing one barrier at a time to maximise the opportunities that robotic technologies offer to farmers.
Along the way, they have added functionality to suit different industries, such as mowers for turf farms and orchards, optical sprayers for fallow weed management, and seeding equipment for precision planting. All these jobs require frequent and often round-the-clock attention at peak times, often taking workers away from more worthwhile pursuits such as family time, business planning and specialised operational tasks.
Optical spot spraying technology reduces herbicide use and improves weed management through optimal timing for maximum control. In 2024, SwarmFarm reached a milestone: more WEED-IT optical spot-spraying units were being deployed on SwarmFarm robots than were sold to farmers using the three leading tractor and sprayer brands combined.
Right to repair and manufacturing at Wellcamp
As farmers themselves, Andrew and Jocie Bate were keen to offer SwarmBot owners the right to repair, either in their own workshops or via an independent service provider. This approach goes against the current trend set by many global machinery manufacturers, who deny farmers the right to repair machinery they have purchased.
SwarmFarm Robotics officially opened its new manufacturing facility at Wellcamp, near Toowoomba, on February 25, 2025. SwarmBots and AutoFill systems are already being built at the new facility, which was supported by the Queensland Venture Capital Development Fund – a Queensland Government initiative managed by QIC, one of SwarmFarm’s investors.
QIC Ventures’ Hayden Wall said SwarmFarm continues to exceed expectations, scaling rapidly while streamlining its production processes.
“What started as a back-porch idea on a grain farm in regional Queensland has become a category-defining Agtech success, employing more than 55 people and shipping its first SwarmBot to North America,” says Hayden.
“The momentum behind autonomous agriculture has never been stronger, and SwarmFarm is leading the charge. With significant commercial traction and growing industry tailwinds, now is the time for scalable, precision-driven farming solutions.
“This latest investment through the Business Investment Fund marks QIC’s third investment in SwarmFarm, and each time, we’ve seen accelerating demand, continued platform expansion, and a deepening impact on the sector globally,” he says.
“With scaling and optimising manufacturing now a key priority, the move to the new Darling Downs hub will not only enhance production efficiency but also support the company’s continued growth as it meets rising demand.”
The $150 million Business Investment Fund, managed by QIC, supports good quality Queensland businesses that need capital to create jobs for Queenslanders.
The AutoFill system costs $80,000 (plus GST) and includes one fill tower. A yearly subscription of $2000 (plus GST) covers spray record keeping, software upgrades, and phone support costs, and additional towers cost $4200 (plus GST). A fully mobile truck-mounted version will be available soon, and the current AutoFill pod has been designed to be upgraded to truck-mounted.
SwarmFarm Robotics founders Andrew and Jocie Bate (centre) join QIC Ventures’ Nicholas Guest (left) and Hayden Wall (right) at the new manufacturing facility on the Darling Downs.
The AutoFill mixing pod accurately measures seven separate products, plus water.
In 2024, more WEED-IT optical spot-spraying units were being deployed on SwarmFarm robots than were sold to farmers using the three leading tractor and sprayer brands combined.
SwarmFarm’s new facility at the Wellcamp Business Park on the Darling Downs is manufacturing SwarmBots and AutoFill systems. SwarmFarm employs over 55 people and has entered the North American market with its robotic platform.
The World Cotton Market Thryvon trait to manage thrips
