Selective Robotic Broccoli Harvesting Reducing the Requirement for Seasonal Manual Labour due to COVID 19
Lead Participant:
EARTH ROVER LIMITED
Abstract
The Earth Rover led consortium will build a prototype selective that will contribute to solving the problem of a shortage of seasonal agricultural labour required to pick crops due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit.
The robots use an AI-powered vision system to select in-spec broccoli and leave crop growing so reducing crop waste.
A gang of three robots can select and cut up to 12 broccoli heads in 5 seconds. The cut heads are passed to a conveyor system mounted on a tractor and packed.
The project will place the UK at the forefront of agricultural robotics and offers the potential to create high-value jobs and valuable export opportunities.
The robots use an AI-powered vision system to select in-spec broccoli and leave crop growing so reducing crop waste.
A gang of three robots can select and cut up to 12 broccoli heads in 5 seconds. The cut heads are passed to a conveyor system mounted on a tractor and packed.
The project will place the UK at the forefront of agricultural robotics and offers the potential to create high-value jobs and valuable export opportunities.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| EARTH ROVER LIMITED | £252,753 | £ 174,400 |
Participant |
||
| INNOVATE UK | ||
| UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN | ||
| MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTRE | £76,529 | £ 76,529 |
| POLLYBELL FARMS LIMITED | £86,851 | £ 69,481 |
| UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN |
People |
ORCID iD |
| James Miller (Project Manager) |