Robotics

Farm thrives with vending machine and robotic helpers

Photo: Adobe Stock

July 28, 2025

Chesterton House Farm in Harbury, Warwickshire, England, run by George and Heather Clarke, has successfully diversified its operations through the introduction of a milk vending machine and the deployment of robotic technology, according to a BBC report. The farm, home to over 100 cows, now offers fresh, non-homogenized pasteurized milk directly to consumers via their "Milk Shed," which also sells coffee and cakes.

This diversification provides an additional revenue stream for the farm, with customers traveling from surrounding areas to purchase their milk. Beyond the vending machine, the Clarkes have implemented two robots, named Martha and Ralph, to improve efficiency in their daily routines.

"This robot comes out every hour, every 45 minutes and just pushes the food back in for them so they can reach it again," George Clark told the news outlet. "It works really well, it saves my back having to push it all in with a fork."

These robots ensure the cows have constant access to their feed, streamlining a traditionally labor-intensive task.