4 ms·

> The Grain Weevil powered by JLI Robotics is a mobile robot that scurries across the top of the grain inside of a storage bin performing tasks that no human sh

> The Grain Weevil powered by JLI Robotics is a mobile robot that scurries across the top of the grain inside of a storage bin performing tasks that no human should ever do. This felt like a particularly strong wording. Is it due to risk of drowning in grain? Or just an annoying task?

floren 5y ago
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/hazard-alert_grain_bins.pdf https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/hazard...
- tantalor 5y ago
  > Last year, nationwide there were 38 grain entrapment cases with 23 of those leading to fatalities https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Grain-bin-accidents-caused-23-deaths-last-year-15628235.php https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Grain-bin-accident... Obviously these are low numbers compared to general population, but as a share of people who would actually enter a grain bin in the first place I would guess its high enough to matter.
omnicognate 5y ago
> “After hearing some farmers talk about how they've lost a loved ones or how they themselves have gotten injured, I got really passionate about the project,” Zents says.
knodi123 5y ago
Why did they decide to name it after a horribly destructive pest that plagues owners of grain silos? Would the Roomba have been as successful if it was named the iCockroach?
- RankingMember 5y ago
  The Beatles did alright!
  - thaumasiotes 5y ago
    People like some beetles. Weevils are always bad.
ortusdux 5y ago
In 2019, 67 incidents of grain entrapment took place, of which 39 were fatal. https://dailyyonder.com/grain-bin-accidents-and-deaths-rising-due-to-poor-crop-conditions/2020/06/10/ https://dailyyonder.com/grain-bin-accidents-and-deaths-risin...
bumby 5y ago
This article gives a good overview of the danger: https://www.farmprogress.com/grains/significant-number-grain-bin-entrapment-cases-involves-children https://www.farmprogress.com/grains/significant-number-grain...
jerf 5y ago
Adding to the Hacker News Impromptu Grain Bin Education Hour, a Smarter Every Day video about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywBV6M7VOFU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywBV6M7VOFU
jxramos 5y ago
The wiki image is pretty telling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_entrapment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_entrapment Does not look fun at all https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDQGfA-0yhk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDQGfA-0yhk
dreamcompiler 5y ago
Grain silos are really freaking dangerous just like a lot of activities on farms.

floren 5y ago

https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/hazard-alert_grain_bins.pdf https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/hazard...

tantalor 5y ago
> Last year, nationwide there were 38 grain entrapment cases with 23 of those leading to fatalities https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Grain-bin-accidents-caused-23-deaths-last-year-15628235.php https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Grain-bin-accident... Obviously these are low numbers compared to general population, but as a share of people who would actually enter a grain bin in the first place I would guess its high enough to matter.

omnicognate 5y ago

> “After hearing some farmers talk about how they've lost a loved ones or how they themselves have gotten injured, I got really passionate about the project,” Zents says.

knodi123 5y ago

Why did they decide to name it after a horribly destructive pest that plagues owners of grain silos? Would the Roomba have been as successful if it was named the iCockroach?

RankingMember 5y ago
The Beatles did alright!
- thaumasiotes 5y ago
  People like some beetles. Weevils are always bad.

ortusdux 5y ago

In 2019, 67 incidents of grain entrapment took place, of which 39 were fatal. https://dailyyonder.com/grain-bin-accidents-and-deaths-rising-due-to-poor-crop-conditions/2020/06/10/ https://dailyyonder.com/grain-bin-accidents-and-deaths-risin...

bumby 5y ago

This article gives a good overview of the danger: https://www.farmprogress.com/grains/significant-number-grain-bin-entrapment-cases-involves-children https://www.farmprogress.com/grains/significant-number-grain...

jerf 5y ago

Adding to the Hacker News Impromptu Grain Bin Education Hour, a Smarter Every Day video about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywBV6M7VOFU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywBV6M7VOFU

jxramos 5y ago

The wiki image is pretty telling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_entrapment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_entrapment Does not look fun at all https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDQGfA-0yhk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDQGfA-0yhk

dreamcompiler 5y ago

Grain silos are really freaking dangerous just like a lot of activities on farms.