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How intelligent robotics is transforming grape harvesting at Saffron Grange Vineyard

Nestled just outside Saffron Walden in Essex, Saffron Grange is a family-run vineyard producing award-winning English quality sparkling wine. Established in 2008, the vineyard benefits from its unique position at the top of the same chalk seam that stretches from northern France through southern England and into East Anglia. This coupled with being in one of the driest and warmest parts of the country makes it an ideal location for growing high-quality grapes. Its dedication to craftsmanship has earned accolades such as the Decanter Award for its Classic Cuvée.


Saffron Grange Vineyard
Saffron Grange Vineyard and Grape harvesting

But like many vineyards across the UK and beyond, Saffron Grange faces mounting pressures: labour shortages, increasingly narrow harvest windows, and the growing unpredictability of climate conditions. Grape picking, in particular, remains one of the most delicate and time-critical tasks in viticulture. Each cluster must be harvested with care to preserve berry and juice integrity and ensure perfect ripeness. Traditionally, this has meant relying on skilled manual pickers.


Today, however, the future of grape harvesting is beginning to look very different. In partnership with the Centre for Advanced Robotics at Queen Mary University of London, and with funding provided by Innovate UK and DEFRA, Extend Robotics has been pioneering a groundbreaking solution to the challenges facing vineyards. Together, they have developed an advanced robotic harvesting system capable of performing with the same precision and delicacy as a skilled human picker.


By using immersive teleoperation through VR, operators can control the robot using natural hand gestures via off-the-shelf VR goggles. With specialised pressure-sensitive grippers the grape clusters are gently handled to preserve quality and maximise market value. 


During a recent live demo, an operator stood in a completely different field from the vine as the robot approached a cluster, extended its arm, and precisely grasped, cut, and removed the grapes.  The demonstration proved a critical point: this level of precision could be replicated from anywhere in the world, opening the door to fully remote vineyard operations.


The initial phase focuses on “single robot to single operator” control, allowing valuable data to be collected as humans guide the robot through harvesting tasks. Over time, this data will help train the AI to automate more processes independently.


This approach lays the foundation for a fleet model where:


  • One operator can oversee multiple robots

  • The system remains cloud-based and globally accessible

  • Human oversight ensures precision, safety, and quality control

  • Labour shortages become a thing of the past

  • Vineyards operate more efficiently and sustainably


Imagine a future where a farmer or skilled worker on the other side of the world can manage an entire robot harvesting team in Essex, all without ever stepping into a field.  This is the transformation Extend Robotics aims to deliver.


For Saffron Grange, the benefits are clear.  Nick Edwards, Director, explains: “We are very lucky to have many dedicated volunteers help come every year to harvest our grapes, but the ability to pick as quickly as possible is really important for us. So, a robot that can bolster this team and pick bunches  24 hours a day during a relatively small period of time would be a massive benefit.”


The vineyard’s rapid harvest window means speed, consistency, and availability matter more than ever when quality is so imperative. With robotic support, vineyards can pick at peak ripeness, day or night, without being constrained by workforce availability.


Viticulture is known as one of the most challenging agricultural environments for robotics. Yet, as this project shows, the potential is enormous.


With the right blend of human expertise, intelligent automation, and immersive technology, vineyards like Saffron Grange can achieve new levels of quality, efficiency, and sustainability, helping secure the future of English wine production.



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