Innovator of the Month: Flux Robotics

Fast facts

• Innovator: Jordy Kitschke (Founder)
• Company: Flux Robotics
• Location: South Australia
• Key Innovation: Autonomous, AI-powered solar rovers and precision spraying systems that target individual weeds down to millimetre accuracy - reducing chemical inputs by up to 90%.
• Core Philosophy: Designed by farmers, for farmers through rapid, on-field feedback loops.

"I used to be a farmer. It was becoming clear that the cost of farming was becoming unsustainable, so I started exploring what would be a step change in the farming system to produce more, higher-quality food with fewer inputs." - Jordy Kitschke, Founder

The Backstory

Growing up on a broadacre cropping and sheep farm in Jamestown in South Australia’s Mid North, Jordy Kitschke was no stranger to the realities of agriculture. After studying Agricultural Science at the University of Adelaide, Jordy first made waves in the ag-tech space by co-founding MEQ, a startup using lasers and AI to measure meat quality. However, his heart remained in broadacre cropping.

Observing the compounding pressures facing modern growers (rising input costs, widespread herbicide resistance and acute labour shortages), Jordy realised that traditional farming needed more than just incremental cost-saving measures. It needed a total paradigm shift.

In 2021, he founded Flux Robotics to pioneer that shift.

The Tech: Precision AI Meets 24/7 Autonomy

Traditional spray booms apply chemicals across entire paddocks - coating crop, weed, and bare soil alike. Flux Robotics is turning this model on its head by combining cutting-edge computer vision, machine learning, and lightweight autonomous hardware:

• Onyx High-Precision Sprayer: Utilising advanced "green-on-green" AI computer vision trained on millions of plant images, Onyx distinguishes weeds from valuable crops in real time. By targeting only unwanted plants, it slashes chemical application by up to 90%, saving money, reducing environmental impact, and preserving soil health.
• The Autonomous Solar Rover: A lightweight (<1,000kg) solar-electric rover designed to patrol paddocks continuously day and night. Its compact profile minimises soil compaction and crop damage, while onboard path-planning and automated systems handle weed suppression with minimal human intervention.
• Chemical-Free Alternatives: Beyond precision spraying, Flux is actively deploying and refining mechanical weeding tools, such as robotic arms that physically extract weeds, offering a crucial lifeline for fields struggling with herbicide-resistant weeds or organic production requirements.

Built With Farmers, For Farmers

What truly sets Flux Robotics apart is its grass-roots innovation culture. Rather than developing technology strictly in a lab, Jordy and his team work directly alongside growers across regional Australia. Over 50 local farmers have participated in testing, lending their fields, tractors, and practical feedback to guide development. This "farmer-in-the-loop" approach ensures every iteration directly addresses real-world paddock conditions, from extreme heat and dust to complex crop structures.

"Farmers took a risk on us, they invested their hard-earned cash into helping us get started... We're putting time back in farmers' weeks for the important things, putting money back in the pockets of regional communities, and putting skills in the hands of the next generation."

What’s Next for Flux Robotics?

With early support from state initiatives like the PIRSA AgTech Growth Fund and leading accelerator programs, Flux Robotics is transitioning from field trials to broader commercial rollout across Australian farms.

By creating smart, autonomous machinery that pays for itself through chemical savings alone, Jordy and his team are building a sustainable future where technology empowers farmers to be the best possible stewards of their land.