Key Takeaways:
- Fieldwork Robotics and Burro collaborate to create an adaptable, interoperable harvesting robot to address labor shortages in raspberry farming.
- The Fieldworker 1 robot can operate on multiple autonomous platforms, including Burro’s, providing cost-effective and flexible solutions for growers.
- Field trials at Place UK Ltd. demonstrated successful integration, with further testing planned for Costa Group in Australia in 2025.
- The partnership aims to help farmers overcome labor challenges, with robots that integrate easily across different agricultural systems.
- Both companies focus on supporting agricultural efficiency with robots that reduce operational costs and enhance productivity.
New Partnership Delivers Advanced Harvesting Solutions for Labor-Challenged Raspberry Growers
Fieldwork Robotics Ltd. has announced a collaboration with Burro, an autonomous and collaborative mobile robot platform manufacturer, to introduce an adaptable harvesting robot designed to support raspberry growers facing labor shortages. The Fieldworker 1 robot, developed by Fieldwork, integrates seamlessly with Burro’s autonomous platform, as well as other systems, to offer a flexible, interoperable solution for growers looking to adopt robotic harvesting technology.
“This collaboration with Burro marks a major milestone in our product development,” said David Fulton, CEO of Fieldwork Robotics. “The Burro team’s expertise in autonomous agriculture has been invaluable, and we look forward to enhancing our offerings for growers who are increasingly impacted by labor availability issues.”
Addressing the Labor Crisis in Raspberry Farming
Raspberry growers face significant challenges due to rising labor costs and decreasing availability of seasonal workers. Although many are interested in robotics to alleviate these issues, the high cost of entry and lack of compatibility among different technologies have historically posed barriers. Fieldwork Robotics and Burro aim to address these hurdles by offering an interoperable, base-agnostic robot that can operate on multiple autonomous platforms, allowing growers to integrate robotics into their operations more cost-effectively.
“Burro is the perfect partner for Fieldwork as we continue to develop interoperable solutions,” added Fulton. “Our shared commitment to supporting growers with flexible technology will provide our customers with a scalable, efficient harvesting option.”
Fieldworker 1: Adaptable and Tested in Real-World Conditions
The Fieldworker 1 robot is designed to integrate across various autonomous platforms, including Burro’s and OxDrive, ensuring flexibility for farms of different sizes. This base-agnostic design provides growers with the option to choose compatible robotic systems according to their specific needs. Field trials of the Fieldworker 1, conducted at Place UK Ltd., a Driscoll’s berry grower, demonstrated successful operations in real-world conditions. Further trials are planned with Australia’s Costa Group in 2025.
Dan Yordanov, Head of Fresh at Place UK Ltd., noted, “Testing Fieldwork’s technology in the field has been impressive. The Fieldworker 1 offers a promising solution to the labor challenges faced by growers, and we look forward to seeing it benefit the industry.”
A Strategic Partnership to Advance Autonomous Agriculture
Burro’s advanced robotic platform, which incorporates machine learning and high-precision GPS, complements Fieldwork’s harvesting technology. This partnership aligns both companies’ objectives of supporting agricultural productivity and helping growers manage labor shortages more effectively. Burro, having recently raised $24 million in a Series B funding round, brings a strong platform foundation that supports Fieldwork’s target markets.
“Fieldwork’s technology is truly world-class, and working with David and the team has been a pleasure,” said Charlie Andersen, CEO of Burro. “Our combined expertise has led to a highly effective partnership, and we’re excited about the future of autonomous harvesting for our customers.”
Fieldwork Latest News
Secures £600k Government Grant to Advance AgriTech Robotics (2024/03/28)
Fieldwork Robotics has received a £600k government grant from DEFRA and Innovate UK for the BerryAI Project, aimed at integrating AI-powered vision and decision-making capabilities into its robotic systems. The funding will enable Fieldwork to develop its next autonomous robot model, focusing on enhancing the robot’s AI-powered vision and decision-making processes. The project aims to reduce labor requirements and boost efficiency by allowing a single operator to manage multiple robots. Fieldwork Robotics is also collaborating with Fotenix to improve crop detection and ripeness assessment. The project also aims to improve decision-making autonomy, allowing the robots to operate with minimal human oversight for extended periods. This could address the agricultural sector’s challenges related to a diminishing and inconsistent seasonal workforce.
Fieldwork Robotics Raises £1.5 Million (2023/08/11)
Cambridge-based startup Fieldwork Robotics has secured an impressive £1.5 million in funding for its groundbreaking autonomous harvesting robot. The company aims to address the critical challenge of labor shortages faced by fruit and vegetable producers in the UK due to factors such as COVID-19, Brexit, and geopolitical tensions. The ongoing funding round, conducted through a Seedrs campaign, is part of a larger initiative to raise over £2 million. The successful investment comes from Elbow Beach Capital, with support from Frontier IP and other existing investors.
Image provided by Fieldwork Robotics
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