Appearing tentative, the world’s first raspberry-picking robot is harvesting a fruit. After assessing its age, the robot plucks the fruit with its “holding arm” and cautiously deposits it into a waiting basket. The entire process takes about one minute for a single berry. It has been joyfully nicknamed “Robocrop” by British journalists, an homage to Alex Murphy aka RoboCop 🤖.

Simple but highly complex at the same time

The machine was developed by Fieldwork Robotics, originally part of the University of Plymouth in the UK. One may think such are simple tasks, yet identifying and picking fragile fruits actually requires complex skills. Robocrop utilizes machine learning and computer-vision software to identify the berries on the plants. Its mechanical grippers use advanced pressure sensors to generate the precise force to pick each one without damaging it. The machine can theoretically collect 25,000 raspberries a day (compared to 15,000 in eight hours of human labor).

“The world’s first raspberry-picking robot can pick 25,000 a day” by Guardian News, YouTube.

The final version, which is expected to go into production in 2020, will have four grippers (which can pick simultaneously).

Aiming to address seasonal workers shortages

British agricultural operations require about 70,000 seasonal workers per year. The berry industry alone employs 29,000 individuals, yet the harvesters’ union, British Trade Fruits (BSF), estimates that it will need an additional 2,000 pickers by 2020, as the consumption of berries increases.

The National Farmers’ Union has registered more than 6,000 vacant positions on farms in 2018. For its part, Nicholas Marston, president of the BSF, estimated the lack of manpower for the summer of 2018 between 15 % and 30%. It must be said that the job is particularly difficult, and working conditions have continued to deteriorate with stricter production requirements.

So what does the future hold for Robocrop? This is too early to say but if successful… the robotization of the sector could heavily affect low-skilled jobs. On the other hand, a new cohort of highly skilled workers will be needed to maintain and repair Robocrop and its future competitors.