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Fieldwork and Augean have developed a base-agnostic raspberry-harvesting payload, shown here on a Burro. Source: Fieldwork Robotics
Raspberry producers, like many agriculture sectors, are grappling with increasing labor-related challenges. In a recent announcement, Fieldwork Robotics Ltd. disclosed a partnership with Augean Robotics Inc., the manufacturer behind the Burro autonomous mobile robot.
Based in Cambridge, U.K., Fieldwork Robotics is advancing an autonomous harvesting robot specifically for raspberries. The company emphasizes its system’s adaptive and modular design, which aims to match the quality of harvests provided by human pickers while enhancing overall productivity for growers.
Fieldwork Robotics is committed to employing state-of-the-art hardware and software, offering a sustainable and cost-efficient solution for raspberry harvesting. The firm notes its strong collaborations with significant stakeholders within the raspberry industry, supporting its developmental objectives.
David Fulton, CEO of Fieldwork Robotics, remarked, “Burro presents an ideal partnership as we expand our offerings. Their expertise in autonomous agricultural robotics has tremendously enriched our development process. This collaboration represents a pivotal achievement for us, and we eagerly anticipate enhancing our customer service.”
Labor and Interoperability Challenges for Growers
According to Fieldwork Robotics, raspberry growers are significantly impacted by rising labor costs driven by increases in minimum wage and the scarcity of seasonal workers. As a result, these farmers are progressively exploring technological solutions to mitigate these issues.
Nonetheless, farmers face obstacles when looking to adopt robotics, including the steep initial investment in equipment and concerns over compatibility among different technological systems. Fieldwork emphasizes the necessity of interoperability to enable farmers to seamlessly incorporate robotic solutions into their agricultural practices without incurring excessive costs.
To address these challenges, the partnership has established a versatile, base-agnostic payload that operates on various autonomous platforms, including Burro. Additionally, the Fieldworker 1 robot is compatible with manufacturers like OxDrive, known for integrated electric drives.
Fieldwork asserts, “The interoperability of technology is a significant asset for growers, providing our customers with enhanced flexibility and reduced operating expenses.”
Successful Outcomes from the Fieldwork and Burro Collaboration
Recently, Fieldwork unveiled its upgraded autonomous raspberry-harvesting robot, which has benefitted from Burro’s technological insights. Fulton stated, “Working with an esteemed partner like Burro greatly reinforces our initial market advantage.”
The Burro robot employs machine learning, sophisticated GPS navigation, and a feature called “Pop-Up Autonomy” to navigate fields and transport harvested produce. Similar to Fieldwork’s offerings, Burro’s technology addresses labor shortages in agriculture.
Fieldworker 1, based on Burro technology, has completed successful field trials at Place UK Ltd., a grower associated with Driscoll’s berries. Furthermore, preparations are underway for field trials with renowned berry producer Costa Group in Australia, scheduled for 2025.
Dan Yordanov, head of fresh at Place UK, expressed, “Observing Fieldwork’s technology in operation has been intriguing. Our collaboration with David and the team in testing the Fieldworker 1 has been rewarding, and we are confident it will provide significant harvesting advantages for growers in the long run.”
Recently, Burro secured $24 million in Series B funding. Last month, Burro showcased its technology at RoboBusiness, while CEO Charlie Andersen discussed the complexities involved in developing outdoor robotics. Fieldwork has highlighted Burro’s success in relevant markets as justification for their partnership.
“Fieldwork’s technology is of exceptional quality. Collaborating with David and his team during their development phase has been a rewarding experience,” stated Andersen. “Our joint expertise in robotics and automation has fostered a dynamic and productive partnership. We are enthusiastic about the future of our collaboration and the excitement surrounding our autonomous harvesting solution!”
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