Robotics company awarded funding to spearhead on-farm project

An agri-tech firm which builds cutting-edge autonomous farm robotics has been awarded nearly £1 million to spearhead its new FLEXBOT project.

Fox Robotics Lts along with three farms – MA & MP Stockwell Barnsmuir Farm in Scotland, Lutton Farm in Peterborough, and Secretts Farm in Surrey – have been awarded the grant.

The FLEXBOT project involves Fox Robotics' autonomous all-terrain robot 'Hugo RT', designed with horticulture farms in mind.

The robot has autonomous navigation, which the firm says will provide support to farmers in their day-to-day operations.

Fruit growers are increasingly interested in tech innovations that can address some of the issues they currently face, such as seasonal labour shortages.