UK vineyards back Autopickr’s ‘Vinny’ for new robotics project
Autopickr, known for its autonomous robots for agricultural use, is working with Coopers Croft Vineyard and WineGB on a pioneering robotics project which has been awarded a combined £475,000 in government funding.
The project is being supported by Innovate UK and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) through the Farming Innovation programme.
Working alongside Coopers Croft Vineyard in Suffolk and trade association WineGB, the project aims to create a sophisticated robot that can mimic hand-picking as well as assisting with green harvesting and canopy management.
Autopickr has been developing high-tech, low-cost autonomous robots for agricultural use since being founded in 2020. Robots which can perform human functions combat the challenges of labour shortages, increased food demand, and helping the transition from carbon-intensive farming. Autopickr’s team comprises specialists in AI, robotics, engineering, and design, with more than 60 years of combined experience in the industry.
Having recently been the recipient of the Innovation in Agriculture award at the 2024 Robotics and Automation awards, the Orwell House-based business is now developing a new robot named ‘Vinny’, which will be capable of performing multiple key vineyard tasks.
The robot can travel up/down slopes, operate at fruit zone height, and through a unique artificial vision system, distinguish between unripe and ripe grapes, picking whole bunches once they are ready. Most machine harvesters agitate the vines to extract grapes, meaning that whole bunches can only be picked by hand. Many wine producers, particularly those that make premium traditional method sparkling wine, insist on the use of whole bunches.
Vinny will go into use at Coopers Croft, a small, one-hectare vineyard located between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds in the Suffolk village of Wickhambrook. Established in 2012, Coopers Croft now has 1,000 vines consisting of 500 Pinot Noir and 500 Bacchus.
Meanwhile, Wines of Great Britain (WineGB) represents the interests of 500 producer members who represent the vast majority of the UK’s productive hectarage, and help establish the UK as one of the world’s premium quality and most sustainable wine regions.
Phoebe French, communications manager at WineGB, said: “With a 50 per cent growth rate in full-time equivalent positions forecast by 2025 in our industry, this project has the potential to supplement skilled labour required in the vineyard, particularly at busy periods such as harvest.”
Robyn Sands, co-founder and CEO of Autopickr, said: “We’re pleased to be collaborating with British vineyards to bring new robotic solutions into the wine industry. Our focus is on providing a practical tool that can take on some of the labour demands in the vineyard, especially during the busiest times of the year, while helping maintain the quality that matters so much in winemaking.”
Once developed, the robot will be available to both purchase and rent.
