The University of Lincoln is one of the UK leading developers of agri-robotic technologies. The Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology specialises in robotic systems to support autonomous crop harvesting and electrification of farming. These are technologies which are of crucial and urgent importance post-COVID-19. The sector needs robotic systems to reduce reliance on manual labour. In addition, farming has a high dependency on off-road and typically diesel-powered vehicles. The sector needs to transition to electric powered vehicles; this may involve a move towards smaller fleets of lightweight electric-powered vehicles or larger machines. The presentation by Prof Simon Pearson highlighted opportunities for the UK manufacturing sector to engage in this transformation of the food production system.

1. AGRI-ROBOTICS
Simon Pearson
The University of Lincoln

2. The Known,
Known’s…….
Fruit picking
1980…

4. The Known,
Known’s…….
cauliflowers

5. The Known, Unknown’s….
COVID-19
Brexit
Food security and cost

6. How will labour shortages or changes to the labour supply impact your business over the next 12-18 months?
Key Messages
• Palpable concern from agri-sector
over next 3 to 6 months
• Seeking all solutions including
automation
• Anticipation that automation
mitigates impact in 12 to 18 months

7. To achieve accelerated development of technology, what would you need?:
Key Messages
• Funding. Short term and fast track funding need for
innovation development, scale up and on farm
support.
• Engineers. Innovation sector requires access to
larger pools of skilled Engineers.
• Evaluation Sites. Tech companies require access to
test beds and evaluation sites at growers.
• Collaboration. Multiple participants seeking to
collaborate with others, within and between sectors
(tech and Agri).
• Scaling. Challenges to scaling, including access to
manufacturers and capital. Expertise on testing and
verification requested.

8. Robotic
solutions are
key……

10. The Unknown, Known’s….
• Accelerated Automation program
showed UK has multiple high TRL
robotic projects.
• Urgent need to support industrial
design and scaling
• Focus on robotics not the
“engineering”

11. Thorvald platform example
Off the shelf
500W
brushless DC
motors
2 x 35Ah 48V
Batteries
200kg payload

12. Unknown, unknowns…..
How long will
we keep using
“conventional”
tractors?
We need a
complete
rethink……