Researchers have developed a robot that can identify, assess and pick lettuce without damaging it

In another sign that smart technology is transforming the farming industry, engineers at the University of Cambridge have developed a robot that uses machine learning to pick lettuce. The robot, dubbed "Vegebot", has been designed to first identify iceberg lettuce and then decide if it is healthy and ready to be picked, the university said Monday. If this is the case, it will then cut the lettuce without damaging it. The Vegebot was first trained to identify and pick the delicate crop in a laboratory and has now undertaken successful tests in a range of field conditions. The university added that while the prototype device was neither as fast or efficient as a human, it showed how robots could be used in agriculture on a wider scale.