Robotic Dairy Barn

University of Nebraska - East Campus, Lincoln, Nebraska

Fall Studio Collaborate ‘23

The Robotic Dairy Barn is located on University of Nebraska’s East Campus. The facility will be owned by the university and can be used to study how technology can help dairy cows and aid farmers, in addition to educating the general public about robotics in dairy farming. The facility contains a barn that can house up to 80 cows, milk and food processing, education spaces, a cafe, loading bays, and a greenhouse.

The form is derrived from a vernacular barn structure tucked inside a modern envelope which wraps the various building functions behind a translucent skin. This is a reinvention of the traditional vernacular midwestern barn. A robotic milking machine milks the cows whenever the cow wants. A robotic feeder automatically loads and disperses feed. A robotic scraper removes dung. These robots never rest, allowing the farmer to focus on other important farm jobs.