The Global Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Jake's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
About Jake
Jake Shaw-Sutton is a highly experienced robotics engineer, entrepreneur, and academic with a strong track record in agri-tech innovation, advanced robotic system development, and applied research. He brings over a decade of hands-on experience across industry, academia, and commercial R&D, with a particular focus on agricultural robotics, autonomous systems, and knowledge exchange.
Currently, Jake serves as Lecturer in Applied Robotics at the University of Plymouth, where he continues to push the boundaries of practical robotics education and research. He is also the Director of Robotriks Ltd, a Cornwall-based robotics R&D firm he founded, which has delivered over 30 successful commercial and research projects, ranging from assistive breathing technologies for children to smart materials and custom-built metal 3D printers. The company specialises in the development of a proprietary, in-house manufactured agricultural robotic platform.
Most recently, Jake has held the roles of Technical Lead and Knowledge Exchange Manager for the Agri-Robotics Cornwall and Smart-AG projects. In these capacities, he developed innovative controlled growing environment technologies and deployed both terrestrial and aerial robotic platforms for real-time environmental monitoring and productivity optimisation across farms in Cornwall.
Prior to that, he led engineering on the Agri Environmental Space Living Lab project, where he designed and built a state-of-the-art mobile robotic deployment vehicle. This platform integrated high-bandwidth connectivity, edge compute capabilities, and on-site AI model processing, enabling real-time data acquisition and analysis directly from the field.
Jake also contributed significantly to the Recon Soil project, where he developed autonomous robotic systems for soil condition mapping and analysis. He held the position of Knowledge Exchange Manager for the Devon Agri-tech Accelerator (DATA), supporting numerous regional businesses in adopting advanced sensing and autonomous robotic systems to enhance productivity.
Jake’s academic journey at the University of Plymouth saw him rise from Technical Robotics Lead to Associate Lecturer in Advanced Robotic Design & Prototyping, showcasing his dedication to bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world application.
Earlier in his career, Jake worked internationally, completing a robotic tomato harvester project in Shanghai, China, and contributed to broadcast engineering by developing robotic systems for TV shows and documentaries. His career began at the agri-tech startup Fieldwork Robotics in Plymouth after earning a First-Class Honours MEng in Robotics.
With deep expertise in system integration, autonomous platforms, and industry collaboration, Jake remains committed to driving innovation in robotics to solve real-world challenges, particularly in agriculture and environmental sustainability.
