A SMART robot designed to tackle a poisonous plant that can kill horses and livestock is being put to work in Dorset this summer.

Nicknamed “Raggy”, the autonomous farm robot has arrived at Dorset Innovation Park for final testing before beginning field trials across farms and open land around the county.

Its mission is to spot and remove ragwort – a toxic yellow-flowering weed that poses a serious danger to grazing animals and creates a major headache for farmers and landowners.

Usually, ragwort must be pulled by hand, a slow and labour-intensive job that can also carry risks for people and the environment.

Raggy’s developers hope the robot could offer a safer, more efficient solution.

Developed by South West firm Robotriks, alongside Dorset Council, Telint and Neutral Networks, the electric-powered machine uses advanced cameras and AI-powered technology to identify ragwort and remove it mechanically at the root.

But it is not about wiping the plant out entirely, as Ragwort also supports wildlife, including bees and butterflies, meaning control work is carefully targeted to areas where livestock are at risk.

Director of Robotriks Jake Shaw-Sutton said the robot was designed for “real-life farm conditions”.

“Raggy uses advanced machine vision and connected technology… to identify and remove ragwort mechanically at the root,” he said.

“This approach reduces the need for harmful chemicals, supports healthier soils and protects animals and habitat.”

Dorset Council said its countryside rangers currently spend many hours manually removing ragwort from parks, reserves and open spaces.

Council leader Cllr Nick Ireland welcomed the trial. He said: “We are delighted this autonomous and environmentally sensitive solution is being tested, evaluated and developed on our land here in Dorset.”

Between trials, Raggy will be based at BattleLab, the NATO-accredited innovation hub at Dorset Innovation Park, which has become a testing ground for cutting-edge autonomous technology.

If successful, the robot could offer farmers a high-tech new weapon in the battle against one of the countryside’s most troublesome weeds.