Part 7/11:
The UK-based prototype farm employs a polytunnel system, set at about human height, making harvesting easier for human workers and robots alike. These robots are designed for ruggedness and versatility—they operate efficiently on flat farms and steep, muddy hillsides, thanks to their durable tracks.
Once a target berry is located, the robot picks along the stalk, gripping and cutting the stem with care. The harvested fruit is then inspected and sorted, with human supervisors overseeing the process. While the robots are currently slower than human pickers—about a quarter of human speed—they compensate with endurance, working multiple shifts and maintaining consistent productivity. Future iterations aim to boost their speed to around three-quarters of human performance.