Fieldwork Robotics partners with Burro to help with raspberry harvesting

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Fieldwork and Augean have developed a base-agnostic raspberry-harvesting payload, shown here on a Burro. Source: Fieldwork Robotics

Like other industries, raspberry growers face growing labor challenges. Fieldwork Robotics Ltd. today announced that it has signed a collaboration agreement with Augean Robotics Inc., manufacturer of the Burro autonomous and collaborative mobile robot.

Fieldwork Robotics is developing an autonomous raspberry-harvesting robot. The Cambridge, U.K.-based company said it has designed the adaptive and modular system to harvest at the same quality as the average fruit picker and to boost grower productivity.

Fieldwork added that it is combining cutting-edge hardware and software to provide growers with efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable harvesting solutions. It noted that it has strong commercial partnerships with key raspberry industry players in its target markets to support product development.

“Burro is the perfect partner for Fieldwork as we continue to develop our product offering,” stated David Fulton, CEO of Fieldwork Robotics. “The team’s expertise in autonomous agricultural robots has been an invaluable addition as we continue to develop. This collaboration is a significant milestone for us, and we look forward to delivering an enhanced service to our customers.”

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Growers face labor, interoperability challenges

As labor costs grow because of minimum wage increases and the availability of seasonal workers is limited, raspberry growers have been particularly affected, according to Fieldwork Robotics. Farmers are increasingly looking to innovative technologies to address these challenges, it said.

However, even when growers are interested in integrating robotics into their harvesting practices, they face problems with initial cost of equipment and lack of compatibility between different technologies, Fieldwork said. It asserted that systems need to be interoperable to ensure that farmers can integrate robots into their operations in a cost-effective way.

In response, the partners have created and demonstrated a base-agnostic payload that can run on autonomous platforms including Burro. Fieldwork and Burro said Fieldworker 1 is also compatible with brands such as OxDrive, which makes integrated electric drives.

“Interoperability of technology is a huge advantage to growers and will afford Fieldwork’s customers greater flexibility and lower operating costs,” said Fieldwork.

Fieldwork and Burro partnership bears fruit

“Fieldwork has recently released its updated autonomous raspberry-harvesting robot, which has benefitted from Burro’s expertise,” said Fulton. “A collaboration with an excellent partner like Burro serves to significantly strengthen our first-mover advantage.”

The Burro robot incorporates machine learning, high-precision GPS and “Pop-Up Autonomy” to transport produce across fields. Like Fieldwork, the company‘s technology is designed to enhance agricultural work and address labor shortages.

The Fieldworker 1, run on Burro’s base, has successfully completed field trials at Place UK Ltd., a grower of Driscoll’s berries. The robot is currently on track to participate in field trials with leading berry grower Costa Group‘s Australian farms in 2025.

“Seeing Fieldwork’s technology operating in the field has been fascinating,” said Dan Yordanov, head of fresh at Place UK. “We were very pleased to work with David and the team to test the Fieldworker 1 at Place UK, and we are confident that it will be an invaluable harvesting solution to growers in the future.”

Burro recently raised $24 million in Series B funding. Last month, Burro exhibited at RoboBusiness, and Andersen participated in a session on the challenges of building outdoor robots. Fieldwork said the company‘s success in Fieldwork’s target markets make it a suitable partner.

“Fieldwork’s technology is truly world-class. It has been a pleasure to work with David and the team as they developed their technology,” said Charlie Andersen, CEO of Burro. “Our combined expertise in robotics and automation facilitated an interactive and highly effective partnership. We’re excited to see where our partnership with the company takes us next, and our customers are hugely excited about their solution to autonomous harvesting!”