In this episode of The Techne Connect, Sid Shaikh, CTO at Fieldwork Robotics, discusses how his team is tackling one of agriculture’s toughest challenges — automating the delicate process of raspberry picking.
Sid shares how Fieldwork’s robots are designed to handle soft fruit with precision, consistency, and efficiency, addressing labour shortages and reducing waste across farms worldwide. He explains the technical and commercial complexities behind developing robotics for unpredictable environments, including control software, machine learning, mechanical systems, and vision technology.
He also reflects on his career journey through industries such as pharmaceuticals, nuclear, and consumer goods before leading large-scale automation projects at Ocado, where his team grew from one to 140 engineers and built a fully automated warehouse system operating 3,000 robots. Sid offers insight into recruiting and developing multidisciplinary engineering teams, the importance of cross-functional learning, and the realities of introducing robotics into real-world environments. Finally, he highlights how Fieldwork Robotics is combining technical innovation, sustainability, and commercial impact to redefine the future of agricultural automation.