Lewis Foster

Morrisons on Tritton Road has launched a special shopping hour for autistic customers and the carers of autistic children.

The ‘Quieter Hour’ is being introduced for customers who would benefit from a calmer shopping trip and will take place every Saturday from 9am until 10am.

Many people who are autistic can struggle with music and everyday supermarket noises like checkout beeps. The ‘Quieter Hour’ has been launched with the support of the National Autistic Society to make supermarket shopping a less anxious experience.

Alongside turning off noises such as checkout beeps, Morrisons is also working to improve the awareness amongst staff members of the issues autistic customers face in store.

During the ‘Quieter Hour’ Morrisons will:

• Dim the lights
• Turn the music and radio off
• Avoid making any tannoy announcements
• Reduce the movement of trolleys and baskets
• Turn checkout beeps and other electrical noises down
• Place a poster outside to inform other customers it’s ‘Quieter Hour’.

Staff will reduce the movement of trolleys and turn off the radio during ‘Quieter Hour’

Dan Turner at Morrisons Lincoln said: “Our initial trials showed there is a need for a quieter shopping experience. We hope that these changes make a real difference for some of our customers at our store.”

The changes come after a survey among Morrisons customers found that one in five had a family member or friend with autism and would appreciate the opportunity for a quiet shop on a Saturday morning.

Daniel Cadey, from the National Autistic Society said: “Around 700,000 people are on the autism spectrum in the UK. This means they see, hear and feel the world differently to other people, often in a more intense way. Morrisons ‘Quieter Hour’ is a step in the right direction for autistic people who find supermarket shopping a real struggle.”

The University Of Lincoln is helping to create the next generation of fruit pickers in a new robotics project.

The university is working with Saga Robotics UK and Berry Gardens Growers Ltd in a two-year project nicknamed RAS-Berry.

The project aims to develop an AI (artificial intelligence) robot that could help to pick soft fruit.

The work has been described by the government as “trailblazing” and is the largest of its kind in the European Union.

The machines can carry 200kg of fruit. Photo: University Of Lincoln

The machines are designed to transport heavy boxes of fruit from the picking point to the collection point, relieving agricultural workers from the heavy work.

When completed, the robots will help increase productivity at the point the fruit is picked.

Simon Pearson, Professor of Agri-Food Technology at the university, commented: “We are delighted that Lincoln’s research has been recognised as a trailblazer for AI. Our work is focused on the agri-food chain and this sector is now entering the digital age.

“These new and augmented technologies have the power to transform productivity within this critical sector of the UK economy.”

Funding for the project comes from several sources, including the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the £1 billion AI sector deal which puts the UK at the forefront of the AI sector.

It’s thought the autonomous robots may be working Lincolnshire’s fields in just two years. Photo: University of Lincoln

Richard Harnden, Director of Research at Berry Gardens Growers Ltd, said: “Robotic strawberry picking is still some years away, but this associated project will help human pickers by removing the burden of carrying full trays of fruit from the field to the collecting point on the field margin.

“This makes their task substantially easier as well as increasing the amount of time they have available for picking.

“We are delighted to have won the funding for this futuristic project from Innovate UK and look forward to seeing the autonomous Thorvald robots being used by our growers in two years’ time.”