Improved version of ‘Robocrop’ only picks ripe raspberries

Exclusive: Developers say the Fieldworker robot will soon be in use in the UK, Australia and Portugal

A new version of the world's first raspberry-picking robot, a four-armed machine powered by artificial intelligence and able to do the job at the speed and effectiveness of a human, is to be employed on farms in the UK, Australia and Portugal over the coming 12 months.

The developers claim that Fieldworker 1, nicknamed Robocrop, can detect more accurately than previous models whether a berry is ripe, and can pick fruit faster because its grippers have greater reach and flexibility.