Agri-OpenCore: an open core for agri-robotics
Agri-OpenCore (AOC) was a 42-month research and development project, funded by Innovate UK from April 2023 to September 2026. It set out to cut the time and cost of developing robotic harvesting systems, and to leave an open platform that speeds up the development of agri-robotic systems for any crop.
The project was completed in September 2026.
What the project delivered
- Reusable ROS 2 components and containers. Open-source software packages, Docker images and development templates that give agri-robotics developers a tested starting point.
- Standards, human-robot safety and navigation at scale. Human detection and runtime safety monitoring, work on standards for the safe use of robots on farms, and topological navigation for fleets of robots across whole farms.
- Digital twins and simulation. Simulated strawberry, tomato and packhouse environments for developing and testing robots before they reach the farm.
Read more on the Outcomes page, or go straight to the Software and Resources.
Where it goes next
Navigation and fleet coordination technology developed at the University of Lincoln in Agri-OpenCore is now licensed to JABAS.AI, a University spinout incorporated in February 2026. Open components are already used by others, including SowBot, and the AOC ROS 2 stack underpins the digital infrastructure of the new HARVEST Robot Adoption Hub.