Soft Selective Raspberry Harvester (SoSeRaH)

"Fieldwork Robotics, a spin-out from the University of Plymouth, aims to develop a prototype robot able to pick raspberries quicker,cheaper and to more consistent and higher standards than human labour.

The Soft Selective Raspberry Harvester, or SoSeRaH, project will help growers overcome the problems in finding labour, with shortfalls of up to 20 per cent experienced this year, cut picking costs and reduce wastage. It means they will be more competitive, ensuring sustainable UK production and reducing the need for imports.

Fieldwork's patent-pending technology covers a variable-stiffness robot arm able to replicate the movements of a human arm, and controls to move the arm and its grippers rapidly to a delicate object and handle it sensitively.

The company has so far demonstrated proof-of-concept robot arms able to autonomously and robustly pick soft fruit and vegetables, including raspberries and tomatoes, indoors. A cauliflower project is underway.

The company is now seeking funding to develop a mobile system incorporating several arms able to operate in the ever-changing light, climatic and other conditions found in polytunnels, greenhouses and open fields. The initial focus is on raspberries because they are more delicate than other soft fruit and vegetables, and easily damaged by rough handling. Raspberries are an important part of the UK's overall soft fruit market, and this country is the seventh largest producer globally.

The plan is to create a system easily reconfigurable to other fruit, vegetables and delicate objects by simply changing the grippers.

Variable stiffness is important. The arms relax to soften impacts with plants, poles and people, yet stiffen to ensure swift and accurate picking. It is safe to work alongside humans. Advanced sensor technology will help to ensure the raspberries picked will meet the standards of buyers, such as supermarkets.

Fieldwork is collaborating with a leading UK raspberry producer, Hunter Hall Partnership, to develop the system. Its consortium includes the National Physical Laboratory, internationally recognised for its expertise on sensors able to accurately specify maturity and other crop properties. The University of Plymouth (UoP) provides expertise in industrial-grade actuation, robotics and control, and on-site testing facilities for raspberries. Our goal is to become the first providers of a currently non-existent robust and autonomous robotic service for next-generation soft fruit farming that can measurably improve productivity, crop quality, and operational flexibility."