Versatile RobotX Ltd
"Embracing Innovation in Agri-food Robotics"
Colchester start-up from the University of Essex building biomimetic, modular robots for strawberry picking and hydroponic lettuce harvesting.
Versatile RobotX Ltd is a UK agri-food robotics company founded in July 2024 and based at the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE) on the University of Essex's Wivenhoe Park campus in Colchester. It develops field-ready robots that automate labour-intensive farming tasks. Co-founder and CEO Prof Klaus McDonald-Maier is a research professor at the University of Essex with visiting positions at the University of Kent and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and previously co-founded UltraSoC Technologies, which was acquired by Siemens. Co-founder and CTO Dr Vishwanathan Mohan has been principal investigator on the Innovate UK-funded Versatile, SCARLETT and SMART projects and the EU-funded SoftGrip project. Dr Robert Singh, director of the University of Essex Research and Enterprise Office, is listed as investor director.
The company's design approach rests on three stated principles: adaptive, with modular and multifunctional hardware; biomimetic, with control inspired by the neural control of human movement; and cost-effective. Two products are listed: an Autonomous Harvester for fruit and vegetable picking, and a Hydroponic Harvester for automated harvesting of hydroponically grown lettuce. Featured deployments include strawberry picking with Wilkins & Sons, the Tiptree fruit grower, and automated lettuce transplanting.
Versatile RobotX works with the University of Essex, Innovate UK and Freeport East; in May 2025 a Freeport East programme supported deployment of its autonomous agricultural robots. In March 2026 the agri-robotics programme run by the University of Essex, Versatile RobotX and industry partners won the UKRI AI & Robotics Research Award 2026. The company is funded through two grants.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Autonomous Harvester
Autonomous robot for fruit and vegetable picking, trialled on strawberries.
Hydroponic Harvester
Automated harvesting system for hydroponically grown lettuce.
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Contact Versatile RobotX Ltd
WEBSITE
https://www.versatilerobotx.com/PHONE
+44 1206 874356HEADQUARTERS
United Kingdom
Company Facts
Founded
2024
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
Europe
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
Grant / Non-profit
Funding Total
-
