We first had the idea to automate manual vaccination in 2003. We won a UK Government SMART grant to look at the feasibility of building a system that could do this. We wanted a machine driven by a vision system that could recognise individual features on a fish and from those features, determine the vaccination point. This project made us realise we were too far ahead of the curve and technology would have to take a big leap forward for us to realise our idea.

Fast forward to 2013 when we started to take a serious look at automation again as there had been huge advances in vision systems, algorithm development and robotics. From 2013 onwards we started to develop the idea and in 2017 we were confident enough to commission the building of a proof-of-concept system called “The Inocubot”.

The success of this system allowed us to build a three-robot commercial prototype with funding from the Scottish Government and a small equity raise. The coronavirus interrupted our planned roll out of this system but we are now getting back on track and plan to roll out the first system for Q4 2021.

We have also received funding to develop this concept into a system for vaccinating fish from 5 grams to 20 grams to support hatcheries where early vaccination is required. This work is ongoing.