So what exactly is a robot? Dr Andre Rosendo, a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, believes that there are two critical factors that separate a robot from a machine – the capacity to be autonomous or to act with some degree of decision, and presence of actuators, which allow a machine to alter its

environments. This precludes computers and fridges from being called robots.

He explains:“ We are using our knowledge of soft robotics to create deformable manipulators, or‘ hands’, that can manipulate‘ fragile’ produce, such as broccoli, strawberry and mushrooms. Currently, we are working on Vegebot, a harvesting robot that can handle and cut iceberg lettuces with the same handling care as human harvesters. In the future the robots will have the potential to help elderly people from their beds, to handle glasses as a bartender or to interact with children.”

Dr Rosendo will be speaking at the Agri-Tech East event alongside Professor Tom Duckett, who leads the Lincoln Centre for Autonomous Systems at the University of Lincoln.

Professor Duckett says that agricultural robotics bring benefits of reduced labour costs, economic sustainability, less waste and better use of natural resources. The technology has the potential to be deployed at any time of day and impact positively on the productivity and life quality of agricultural workers.

The Lincoln team, part of the University’ s Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology, has been working on multiple projects in this area including 3D mapping techniques for improving the precision of agricultural sprayers and a new project in 3D imaging for broccoli harvesting, which is producing strong results and attracting interest from end users such as the Brassica Growers Association.

Prof. Duckett continues:“ Already we can envisage

agricultural robots that could perform multiple tasks, for example, inter-changeable tools would allow switching between tasks such as seeding, tillage, spraying and harvesting.

“ You could also have robots for agriculture and food production that would perform other useful tasks at the same time such as surveillance, keeping a watchful eye on crops, livestock and expensive farm machinery, while carrying out their primary duties on the farm or in the factory.”

A number of machinery companies are investing in the technology and a project in 3D imaging for robotic weeding is currently being carried out with a local company, Garford Farm Machinery, world leaders in automated weeding equipment.

Prof. Duckett believes that the underpinning technologies for