TIDMFIPP
Frontier IP Group plc
28 May 2019
28 May 2019
Frontier IP Group Plc
("Frontier IP" or the "Group")
Portfolio news - Fieldwork Robotics completes initial field
trials of raspberry harvesting robot system
Frontier IP, a specialist in commercialising university
intellectual property, today announces that portfolio company
Fieldwork Robotics (the "Company" or "Fieldwork) has completed
initial field trials of its robot raspberry harvesting system.
Frontier IP holds 27.5 per cent of the Company.
Data from the trials will be used to refine and improve the
prototype system before further field trials are held later this
year. If the trials are successful, then manufacturing of a
commercial system is expected to begin in 2020.
The trials were held in West Sussex at a farm owned by
Fieldwork's industry partner, leading UK soft-fruit grower Hall
Hunter Partnership ("Hall Hunter"). Hall Hunter supplies Marks
& Spencer, Tesco and Waitrose.
The move follows University of Plymouth spin out Fieldwork being
awarded a GBP547,250 Innovate UK grant earlier this year towards a
GBP671,484 project to develop a multi-armed robot prototype. Other
partners include the University of Plymouth and the National
Physical Laboratory.
Frontier IP provides Fieldwork with support for engineering and
software development, fundraising and industry partnerships. The
Company was incorporated to develop and commercialise the work of
Dr Martin Stoelen, Lecturer in Robotics at the University's School
of Computing, Electronics and Mathematics.
Fieldwork is focused initially on raspberries because they are
hard to pick. They are more delicate, more easily damaged than
other soft fruits, and grow on bushes with complex foliage and
berry distribution. Once the system is proved to work with
raspberries, then it can be adapted readily for other soft fruits
and vegetables.
Farmers around the world are increasingly interested in robot
technology to address the long-term structural decline in labour.
Fieldwork is developing proof-of-concept robots for other crops
following interest from leading agribusinesses.
The Innovate UK ISCF grant is one of several to be awarded to Dr
Stoelen's work. A project to develop robot systems to harvest
cauliflowers is supported by Agri-Tech Cornwall, an initiative part
funded by the European Regional Development Fund with match-funding
from Cornwall Council. Dr Stoelen is also working on a
tomato-picking project run in partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong
University.
To support further development of its flexible and adaptable
robotics technology, Fieldwork Robotics is expected to seek further
funding from institutional and private investors during 2019.
Frontier IP, Chief Executive Officer, Neil Crabb said: "We are
delighted with the progress Fieldwork is making in developing a
raspberry-harvesting robot system. Completing these field trials is
an important milestone in commercialising the technology, and we
are looking forward to the next round of tests in the autumn."
Hall Hunter Partnership, Chief Operating Officer, David Green
said: "As has always been the case, for agricultural and
horticultural businesses such as ours to stay competitive in
developed economies, we must embrace and invest in the latest
technological innovations as they evolve.
"At HHP we foresee that the direct application of robotics
platforms for harvest and husbandry activities, combined with the
spin-off benefits of additional data collection and microanalysis
they make possible will play a significant role in increasing
product quality, productivity and yields in the near to medium
term."
ENQUIRIES
Frontier IP Group Plc
Neil Crabb, Chief Executive Officer T: 0131 240 1251
Andrew Johnson, Communications & Investor M: 07464 546 025
Relations
Company website: www.frontierip.co.uk
Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser T: 0203 328 5656
and Broker)
Nick Athanas / Nicholas Chambers (Corporate
Finance)
Amrit Nahal (Equity Sales)
ABout frontier IP
Frontier IP unites science and commerce by identifying strong
intellectual property and accelerating its development through a
range of commercialisation services. A critical part of the Group's
work is involving relevant industry partners at an early stage of
development to ensure technology meets real world demands and
needs.
The Group looks to build and grow a portfolio of equity stakes
and licence income by taking an active involvement in spin-out
companies, including support for fund raising and collaboration
with relevant industry partners at an early stage of
development.
Frontier IP is the commercialisation partner for the University
of Plymouth.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH
The University of Plymouth is renowned for high quality,
internationally-leading education, research and innovation.
With a mission to Advance Knowledge and Transform Lives,
Plymouth is a *top 50 research university with clusters of world
class research across a wide range of disciplines including marine
science and engineering, medicine, robotics and psychology. A twice
winner of the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher Education, the
University of Plymouth continues to grow in stature and
reputation.
It has a strong track record for teaching and learning
excellence and has one of the highest numbers of National Teaching
Fellows of any UK university. With 21,000 students, and a further
17,000 studying for a Plymouth degree at partner institutions in
the UK and around the world, and over 100,000 alumni pursuing their
chosen careers globally, it has a growing global presence.
http://www.plymouth.ac.uk
*Research Fortnight Research Power League Table 2014.
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END
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