Fox Robotics Ltd, in collaboration with the University of Surrey and the Agri-Epi Centre, along with three prominent farms – MA & MP Stockwell Barnsmuir Farm in Scotland, Lutton Farm in Peterborough, and Secretts Farm in Surrey – have been awarded a grant of £998,639 for their ground-breaking FLEXBOT project, from DEFRA and Innovate UK
Revolutionising Agriculture with FLEXBOT
The FLEXBOT project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs through the Farming Futures Automation and Robotics Competition. The Farming Innovation Programme work in partnership with Innovate UK, who are delivering the programme, and aims to benefit from the significant experience of Agri-EPI Centre in coordinating and enhancing agricultural technology practices and helping farmers, integrating the significant robot vision & AI capabilities of the University of Surrey, to enhance Fox Robotics Ltd.’s cutting-edge technology, with a particular focus on refining the navigation capabilities of their autonomous all-terrain robot, Hugo RT TM.
Hugo RT™ was designed with horticulture farms in mind, with all-terrain capabilities and autonomous navigation, providing invaluable support to farmers in their day-to-day operations, but has applications in husbandry, fruit, flowers and other agricultural contexts. Hugo RT TM‘s versatility spans various tasks, from off-season work like mowing grass, transporting soil, and handling delicate seedlings to the demanding in-season tasks of transporting harvested produce. The unique feature of Hugo RT TM lies in its ability to perform these tasks without the need for human intervention, thus optimising efficiency and productivity in agriculture.
Navigational Robustness and Autonomy
The core objective of the FLEXBOT project is to enhance the robustness of the Hugo RT TM navigation system, ensuring that the robot can operate autonomously in bustling, and energetic farm environments. This improvement will make Hugo RT TM the solution for a wide range of applications, transcending the boundaries of traditional farm settings.
For more information: 
Alejandra Acevedo
Fox Robotics Ltd
Email: Alejandra.Acevedo@fox-robotics.com