Key Points:
- Grant Awarded for BerryAI Project: Fieldwork Robotics receives a £600k grant from DEFRA and Innovate UK to enhance its AI-powered agricultural robots.
- New CFO Appointment: Christopher Levine joins Fieldwork Robotics as Chief Financial Officer, bringing a wealth of experience from the technology and consulting sectors.
- Innovative Robotic Technology: Fieldwork aims to expand its leading position in the fresh raspberry industry with AI and advanced robotic systems.
- Enhanced AI and Autonomous Capabilities: The BerryAI Project focuses on super-human vision and autonomous decision-making for more efficient harvesting.
- Field Trials on the Horizon: Fieldwork Robotics is gearing up for field trials to showcase the real-world application of its technology.
Fieldwork Robotics Ltd. (“Fieldwork”), innovators in selective, adaptive, and modular harvesting robots, proudly announces the receipt of a £600k government grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Innovate UK. This funding is earmarked for the BerryAI Project, which aims to advance Fieldwork’s technology by integrating AI-powered vision and decision-making capabilities into its robotic systems.
Strategic CFO Appointment
With this funding news, Fieldwork Robotics is excited to welcome Christopher Levine as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Levine’s extensive background includes roles such as Finance Director at Global Counsel of the WPP Group and advisory positions with private equity-backed technology startups. His recent achievements involve guiding a smart tech startup through a global expansion culminating in revenues reaching approximately £10m.
David Fulton, CEO of Fieldwork, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This is an exciting time for Fieldwork. I am delighted to welcome Christopher to the team, who brings exceptional knowledge and experience to support Fieldwork as we further scale our business.”
Technological Advancements and Market Positioning
Fieldwork Robotics stands out as the sole globally capable of autonomously harvesting raspberries, positioning itself strategically within the $2.2 billion fresh raspberry market. The BerryAI Project, bolstered by the recent government grant, aims to cement Fieldwork’s innovative lead further. Fulton adds, “This is the second government grant that we have won in the last six months and is a testament to the hard work of our team and the real-world impact of our technology.”
The BerryAI Project: A Leap Forward in AgriTech Robotics
The BerryAI Project aspires to develop Fieldwork’s next autonomous robot model, focusing on two main objectives: enhancing the robot’s AI-powered vision and improving its decision-making processes. These advancements are anticipated to allow a single operator to manage multiple robots, significantly reducing labor requirements and boosting efficiency.
A collaboration with Fotenix, a leader in crop analytic software, will enable robots to utilize wavelengths beyond the human visual spectrum. This innovation aims to improve crop detection and ripeness assessment, making the robots more autonomous and efficient.
Towards Autonomous Efficiency
Improving the robots’ decision-making autonomy is another critical goal of the BerryAI Project. With enhanced AI, the robots are expected to operate with minimal human oversight for extended periods, streamlining the management of a large fleet of robots with a small workforce.
Martin Stoelen, Founder and Chief Science Officer at Fieldwork Robotics, highlighted the importance of autonomy in scaling the company’s offerings. “Harnessing the robot’s capacity for autonomy is key to scaling up Fieldwork’s offering,” Stoelen remarked, emphasizing the project’s potential to address the agricultural sector’s challenges related to a diminishing and inconsistent seasonal workforce.
Fieldwork Latest News
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
3 Comments