Low-cost robots capable of picking and packaging strawberries in seconds have been trialled in Essex in a bid to help tackle the labour shortage in agriculture.
The University of Essex has teamed up with jam producers Wilkin & Sons to put the innovative prototype through its paces on one of their vertical farms in Tiptree, East England.
Backed by a £1.02 million grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) through its Farming Innovation Programme, the robot is able to pick a strawberry in just 2.5 seconds.
Using a precision-controlled arm, the robot can pick strawberries, weigh them and pack them – all in one swift motion. By speeding up the packaging process, the project aims to not only reduce the repetitive labour involved in crop picking but also extend the shelf life of the produce.
Designed with a modular structure, researchers say the robot can be adapted to other crops, with future trials planned for onions, tomatoes and lettuce.
The research team, led by Dr Vishwanathan Mohan and Professor Klaus McDonald-Maier from the University of Essex’s School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, aims to make cutting-edge agri-robotics more accessible to smaller farms.
Existing crop-picking robots cost around £150,000. If successful, the new prototype will cost a fraction of the price at around £10,000, says Dr Mohan.
“Even if smaller farms and businesses can afford a robot, you need a whole fleet of them to make a difference, so it is vital we find cost-effective alternatives to help the agricultural industry.
“At the same time, robotics is a game changer to tackle some of the critical challenges facing us: food security, labour security, climate and energy.”
Chris Newenham, joint managing director of Wilkin & Sons, says labour shortage is "currently the most significant challenge for our industry", but that despite being "inordinately complex" he is "very much looking forward to seeing the fruits of our collective labours over the coming years.”
Main image: Dr Mohan with strawberry-picking robot/University of Essex
