New 'Robocrop' robot raspberry picker ripe for action in field

A new version of the world's first raspberry-picking robot, a fourarmed machine powered by artificial intelligence and able to do the job with the speed and effectiveness of a human, is to be employed on farms in the UK, Australia and Portugal over the coming 12 months.

- Julia Kollewe

The developers say Fieldworker 1, nicknamed Robocrop, can detect more accurately than previous models whether a berry is ripe, and can pick fruit faster because its grippers have greater reach and flexibility.

Developed in less than a year by Fieldwork Robotics, a spinout from the University of Plymouth, the machine is already being tested at berry farms in England and Portugal.

The latest version will also soon be going to Australia for further field testing at one of the country's biggest fruit and vegetable growers. The final version is expected to be sold or leased to growers late next year, with plans to manufacture up to 24.