Funded PhD Studentship: Annual DVC Award
Robotic Systems for UK Horticulture: Developing Safe, Validated Interaction Frameworks for Autonomous Crop Harvesting
Project Title
Robotic Systems for UK Horticulture: Developing Safe, Validated Interaction Frameworks for Autonomous Crop Harvesting
Supervisors
Primary supervisor: Dr Sven Peets
Co‑supervisors: Professor Fernando Auat Chein, Dr Simon Woods
Location & Start Date
Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Shropshire, UK. Expected start date October 2026.
Funding
The studentship covers home tuition fees plus a yearly stipend of £21,805 per year for 2026/7, with potential increases each academic year. International applicants must fund the difference in overseas fees, a portion paid in full before visa documentation.
Project Background
The UK horticulture sector faces labour shortages, rising costs and environmental pressures. Autonomous robotics promise to address these challenges, but require a new generation of interactions that respect crop fragility and variable terrain. This PhD will establish a validated framework for robot‑crop interaction, advancing the Hands Free Farm initiative and contributing to national priorities.
Responsibilities
* Decompose fruit‑harvesting tasks into stages, map interaction stages and quantify measured indicators of safety and performance.
* Develop a spatially accurate digital twin of orchard conditions to simulate crop variability and predict interaction forces.
* Conduct controlled orchard trials to assess harvesting success, crop damage, operational reliability and efficiency.
* Analyse data statistically to evaluate performance robustness under real environmental variability.
* Synthesise findings into a validated robot‑crop interaction framework, including guidelines for growers, developers and regulators.
Qualifications
* Requires a first class or strongly upper second‑class undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Robotics, Mechatronics, Agricultural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Control Engineering or a related discipline.
* Possesses a 2:1 honours or a 2.2 with a relevant Master’s degree with Merit, or equivalent qualifications (judged by the university).
* Proficiency in Python or C++ programming.
* Experience with robotic systems (ROS, sensors, manipulators or mobile robots).
* Familiarity with computer vision or perception systems.
* Interest in autonomous systems and agricultural technology.
* Experience in experimental design and data analysis.
Significance
The role provides the opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge autonomous horticulture and produce high‑impact scientific outputs, shaping the UK’s pathway toward fully autonomous production systems.
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