Project Members
Sanjiv Singh
CASC Project Director
Sanjiv Singh is a Research Professor at the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. He obtained his PhD in Robotics at Carnegie Mellon in 1995. His research relates to the operation of robots in natural and, in some cases, extreme environments. He specializes in machine perception, the ability of machines to understand the world around them. Since October 2009, Dr. Singh has led CASC (http://www.cascrop.com), a four-year, multi-institutional effort funded by the USDA to investigate the use of automation in specialty agriculture. Dr. Singh is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Field Robotics and the founder of two spin-off companies.
Contact:
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
ssingh@cmu.edu
(412) 855-3675Marcel Bergerman
CASC Project Manager
Marcel Bergerman is a Systems Scientist at the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. He manages projects for the Autonomous Helicopter Laboratory and Field Robotics Center. Previously Marcel was Innovation Manager at Genius Institute of Technology in Brazil (2001-2005) and Coordinator of the Robotics and Computer Vision Laboratory in Campinas, Brazil (1997-2001). He received his PhD (1996) from Carnegie Mellon; electrical engineering MS (1992) and bachelor's (1990) degrees from the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Contact:
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
marcel@cmu.edu
(412) 513-6110Tara Baugher
Themes: Sociological Implications; Outreach and Extension
Tara Baugher joined the Penn State Cooperative Extension horticulture team in 2004.
Specialty crop initiatives include:
- Working with industry groups to develop a road map for retooling mid-Atlantic orchard enterprises with innovative technologies
- Increasing orchard sustainability with advanced integrated crop management programs for intensive planting systems
-Conducting research trials and educational programs on improving production efficiency, environmental protection, energy efficiency, natural resource conservation and social responsibility in orchard systems
- Conducting leadership development and coalition-building educational programs for a new generation of specialty crop growers (e.g., The Young Grower Alliance)
Contact:
Penn State University
670 Old Harrisburg Rd, Suite 204
Gettysburg, PA 17325
tab36@psu.edu
(717) 334-6271Jillian Cannons
Theme: Automated Scout
Jillian Cannons is a software engineer at Vision Robotics Corporation in San Diego. She received a PhD in electrical engineering in 2008 from the University of California, San Diego and an MS in electrical engineering in 2002 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research interests include wireless sensor networks, image watermarking, and robotics.
Contact:
Vision Robotics
11722 Sorrento Valley Rd
San Diego, CA 92121-1021
jcannons@visionrobotics.com
(858) 523-0857 x6#Katie Ellis
Themes: Outreach and Extension; Sociological Implications
Katie Ellis joined Penn State Cooperative Extension in February 2009 as the Ag Innovations for Specialty Crops Educator. She has a BS in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a PhD in Entomology from Penn State University. Katie has research experience in insect pests of field, forage, and tree fruit crops.
Contact:
Penn State University
670 Old Harrisburg Rd, Suite 204
Gettysburg, PA 17325
kag298@psu.edu
(717) 334-6271 x331David Michael Glenn
Themes: Plant Stress and Disease Detection; Insect and Infestation Monitoring
Mike Glenn is a scientist for the Integrated Orchard Management for Deciduous Tree Fruit Crops. He researches soil-water management and soil-plant-water relations in fruit production. His work focuses on the response of fruit and shoot growth to chemical and physical changes in the plant environment. The research will develop management systems that more efficiently utilize the environmental resources and production systems that minimize pesticide usage.
Contact:
USDA Agricultural Research Service Appalachian Fruit Research Station
2217 Wiltshire Road
Kearneysville, WV 25430
michael.glenn@ars.usda.gov
(304) 725-3451 x321Gwen-Alyn Hoheisel
Theme: Outreach and Extension
Gwen Hoheisel works for WSU Extension with responsibilities in viticulture, tree fruit, and high-value specialty crops. Gwen focuses on technology transfer, application technology and sustainable pest management. She received her MS in Entomology from Pennsylvania State University.
Contact:
Washington State University
1121 Dudley Avenue
Prosser,WA 99350
ghoheisel@wsu.edu
(509) 786-5609German Holguin
Themes: Plant Stress and Disease Detection; Insect and Infestation Monitoring
German HolguinGerman Holguin is working towards a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Purdue Robot Vision Laboratory. German's research interests include robotics visual servoing, measurement and automation technologies.
Contact:
Purdue University
465 Northwestern Avenue Box #258
West Lafayette, IN 47907
gholguin@ecn.purdue.edu
(765) 494-3455
Larry Hull
Themes: Plant Stress and Disease Detection; Insect and Infestation Monitoring
Larry Hull works deligently in both research and extension. His current programs include developing expert systems for grower use; implementing integrated pest management programs for deciduous tree fruits; and providing information and recommendations for the control of deciduous tree fruit pests.
With CASC, Larry is working on the design of an electronic trap that will have wireless capabilities to report immediately if an internal feeding moth has entered the trap.
Contact:
Penn State University Fruit Research & Extension Center
290 University Drive
Biglerville, PA 17307
lah4@psu.edu
(717) 334-6271Vincent Jones
Themes: Insect and Infestation Monitoring; Outreach and Extension
Vince Jones' research includes pest management in orchard systems, insect population dynamics, importance of landscape-level dispersal on IPM and biological control, sampling systems, biological control, agricultural acarology, effect of introduced pests on natural and agro-ecosystems, mechanisms of mating disruption, and demography of insect populations.
Contact:
Washington State University
1100 N Western Ave.
Wenatchee, WA 98801
vpjones@wsu.edu
(509) 663-8181 x273James Julian
Theme: Economic Analysis
Jim Julian is a native of Indiana where he received a PhD in horticultural trade and marketing from Purdue University in 2003. Jim studied the impact of sanitary and phytosanitary regulations on fruit and vegetable trade and taught classes in marketing and management principles for horticultural businesses. In addition to his training in agribusiness, he has a BS in Landscape Management and a MS in Plant Physiology.
His responsibilities at the NWREC include developing and updating enterprise budgets, applied research in production economics, and presenting at workshops and short-courses. Jim focuses his outreach in increasing producers understanding of their market and the economics of their operation.
Contact:
Oregon State University
15210 NE Miley Rd
Aurora, OR 97002
james.julian@oregonstate.eduAvinash Kak
Theme: Plant Stress and Disease Detection
Avinash Kak is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University whose interests are sensor networks and networking, security and sensor networks. Avinash focuses on data abstractions and control abstractions and their subsequental modeled applications in programming languages as they lend organization to software so that it can be extended and maintained easily.
Contact:
Purdue University
465 Northwestern Avenue
West Lafayette, IN 47907
kak@purdue.edu
(765) 494-3551George Kantor
Theme: Accurate Positioning
George Kantor focuses on the dual problems of controlling robotic mechanisms with non-trivial dynamics and perceiving the state of world through indirect measurements. His approach is both analytical and experimental. He uses mathematics to understand the physical behavior of a given system and then uses that understanding to create algorithms for control or estimation. George strives to develop new theoretical concepts and translate them into real-world implementations that solve problems such as balancing an unstable robot or estimating the location of an autonomous vehicle.
Contact:
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
kantor@ri.cmu.edu
(412) 268-7084 (412) 867-8665
James Kim
Theme: Plant Stress and Disease Detection
James Kim, prior to joining the USDA-Agricultural Research Service in 2005, was a Senior Engineer at John Deere where his research focused on optical sensing of the reflectance of plant canopies for site-specific crop management by assessing crop nutrient stress. He developed a real-time multi-spectral imaging system to predict plant nutrient status based on leaf reflectance. He also worked as a System Integration Engineer in field robotics and autonomous navigation projects to develop unmanned vehicles for lawn and turf applications. His PhD work was dedicated to the development of a multi-spectral image sensor to assess nitrogen stress of corn crop and conducted in cooperation with Case Corporation, where he formulated corrections for robust reflectance response under varying natural ambient illumination.
Contact:
USDA Agricultural Research Service Appalachian Fruit Research Station
2217 Wiltshire Road
Kearneysville, WV 25430
james.kim@ars.usda.gov jameskim@purdue.edu
(765) 494-0616 (765) 414-7933Grzegorz Krawczyk
Themes: Plant Stress and Disease Detection; Insect and Infestation Monitoring
Grzegorz Krawczyk's research activities and interests include integrated pest management in agricultural ecosystems, integrated fruit production methods, biology and control of tree fruit insect pests, pesticide resistance management in agricultural ecosystems, phytophagous and predatory mite management in orchard ecosystems, insect rearing techniques/laboratory bioassays.
Contact:
Penn State University Fruit Research & Extension Center
290 University Drive
Biglerville, PA 17307
gxk13@psu.eduArt Lange
Theme: Information Management
Art Lange received his PhD from Stanford in 1974. He has worked with GPS systems for agriculture applications since joining Trimble in 1985.
Contact:
Trimble
935 Stewart Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 98405
art_lange@trimble.comBrian Lee Lehman
Theme: Insect and Infestation Monitoring
Brian Lee Lehman is a research technician at the Fruit Research and Extension Center in Biglerville, PA. He earned his MS in plant pathology from Michigan State University and is involved in the plant stress and disease prediction and insect monitoring aspects of the project.
Contact:
Penn State University
290 University Drive
Biglerville, PA 17307
bll143@psu.eduKaren Lewis
Theme: Outreach and Extension
Karen Lewis is a Washington State University Tree Fruit Extension Horticulturist. Karen works with industry and academic partners to identify, develop, and evaluate tools, technologies and practices that improve fruit quality that in turn increases consumer demand and the growers return on investment. Specific areas of interest include: Integration of people, technology and perennial systems, electric light duty farm vehicles, mobile platform and over the row technologies, mechanized thinning, and efficient orchard systems.
Contact:
Washington State University
PO Box 37, Courthouse
Ephrata, WA 98823
kmlewis@wsu.edu
(509) 754-2011 x413
(509) 760-2263Guiqin Li
Theme: Plant Stress and Disease Detection
Guiqin Li is working towards a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Guiqin is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Purdue Robot Vision Laboratory. Guiqin's interests are Computer Vision, Image Processing and Pattern Recognition.
Contact:
Purdue University
465 Northwestern Avenue
West Lafayette, IN 47907
lig@purdue.edu
(765) 494-3455Dana Lonn
Theme: Reconfigurable Mobility
Dana Lonn is the Director for TORO’s Center for Advanced Turf Technology, a cross-functional team of engineers and agronomists dedicated to developing cutting-edge technologies in turf care. Lonn is most noted for his innovation in "going green" and leading TORO's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Project. Dana brings his experience and direction to work with customers, academic leaders and industry experts to develop solutions that could emerge as breakthrough products to the project.
Contact:
Toro
8111 Lyndale Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55420-1196
dana.lonn@toro.com
(952) 887-8204
(612) 599-4430William Messner
Theme: Augmented Harvesting
Bill Messner currently leads the Augmented Harvest effort with CASC. He is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with courtesy appointments in the Robotics Institute and in the Department of Electical and Computer Engineering. His work specializes in controls for data storage systems, robotic systems, and biological instrumentation. Bill received a BS in mathematics from MIT, where he placed second in the 1983 Mechanical Engineering "Introduction to Design" contest. He also worked extensively in the Newman Laboratory for Biomechanics and Human Rehabilitation. Bill received an MS in 1989 and a PhD in 1992 both in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. From 1985-1987 he worked with BBN Laboratories in Newport, Rhode Island. Bill has been with Carnegie Mellon since 1993.
Contact:
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
bmessner@andrew.cmu.edu
(412) 268-2510
(412) 443-6517James Owen
Theme: Automated Caliper and Counter
Jim OwenJim Owen brings his knowledge in nursery systems and systems automation to the project. Jim works with U. S. Nurseries in areas of water management in containerized crop production, soil / substrate physiochemical properties, containerized crop nutrition and nutrient environmental fate.
Contact:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center
1444 Diamond Springs Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
jim.owen@vt.edu
(757)363-3904Johnny Park
Themes: Plant Stress and Disease Detection; Insect and Infestation Monitoring
Johnny Park is a research assistant professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. His research interests span various topics in distributed sensor networks, computer graphics, computer vision, and robotics. Johnny is affiliated with the Purdue Robot Vision Lab where he has the privilege of working with some of the most brilliant students.
Contact:
Purdue University
465 Northwestern Avenue
West Lafayette, IN 47907
jpark@purdue.edu
(717) 334-6271Stephan Roth
Theme: Reconfigurable Mobility
Contact:
Sensible Machines
311 S. Craig St., Suite 301
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
sroth@sensiblemachines.com
(412) 398-2694Ali Samaha
Theme: Information Management
Contact:
Trimble
935 Stewart Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 98405
alain_samaha@trimble.comJames Schupp
Theme: Augmented Harvesting
James SchuppJames Schupp Associate Professor of Pomology, Fruit Research and Extension Center
Contact:
Penn State University Fruit Research & Extension Center
290 University Drive
Biglerville, PA 17307
jrs42@psu.edu
(717) 677-6116Clark Seavert
Theme: Economic Analysis
Clark Seavert's research interests are production economics, budget analysis, agricultural finance, returns on investment of agricultural research, and the costs and benefits of technology adoption. As an AG-Economist, his focus is on risk management and developing tools for agricultural producers' risk assessment.
Contact:
Oregon State University
15210 NE Miley Rd
Aurora, OR 97002
clark.seavert@oregonstate.edu
(503) 961-4709Wenfan Shi
Theme: Automated Caliper and Counter
Wenfan ShiWenfan Shi's research interests include robotics system integration, micro-controller, DSP system design and implementation and robotics vision system. Additional interests are computing security, wireless network, internet/intranet services, system programming and system administration.
Contact:
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
wshi@cmu.edu
(412) 268-6558
(412) 708-9657Heather Stoven
Theme: Automated Caliper and Counter
Heather Stoven brings a variety of nursery related experience to NWREC. She received a MS from UC Davis in Integrated Pest Management where she studied mealybug pests of California nursery production. In addition, she spent 10 years working at a wholesale nursery with responsibilities in multiple areas including propagation, plant health, soils and fertility. Heather assists Dr. Jim Owen in his research with substrates, fertility, and irrigation.
Contact:
Oregon State University
15210 NE Miley Rd
Aurora, OR 97002
heather.stoven@oregonstate.eduJames Teza
Theme: Reconfigurable Mobility
Contact:
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
jpt@cmu.eduBret Wallach
Theme: Automated Scout
Bret Wallach founded Personal Robotics Inc. in 1999 to develop autonomous robotic solutions that focused on vision-based mapping. At that time a convergence of favorable cost factors, the need for more efficient labor solutions across multiple industries and consumer markets, and advances in robotics technology indicated that robotics was ready to move out of the lab and into the marketplace.
The company, which was renamed Vision Robotics Corporation to better reflect the technology that drives VRC's proprietary, patented technology, has been capitalized through private funding and partnerships with, among others, the California Citrus Research Board and Korvan Industries.
Contact:
Vision Robotics
11722 Sorrento Valley Road
San Diego, CA 92121-1021
bwallach@visionrobotics.com
(858) 523.0857 x3Jason Winters
Theme: Reconfigurable Mobility
Contact:
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
jason [AT] txt.comIrene Yung
Theme: Outreach and Extension
Irene Yung has produced websites and interactive media for over a decade. She received her BA from Wellesley College.
Contact:
Washington State University
1121 Dudley Avenue
Prosser, WA 99350
irene.yung@wsu.eduJi Zhang
Area: Accurate Positioning
Contact:
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
jizhang03 [AT] gmail.com
Advisory Panel
Name | Institution | Category |
Sergio Aguilar | Pennsylvania grower | Producer |
Mark Anderson | GVM Inc. | Commercial Machine Developers |
Paul Baker | New York State Horticultural Society | Commodity Associations |
Matt Boyer | PA grower | Commodity Associations |
Robert (Bob) Brammer | Washington State grower | Producer |
Tom Butler | Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission | Commodity Associations |
Judy Chambers | Rural Community Development, Penn State University | Consumer, Rural Community Development & Workforce Development |
Jim Cranney | California Citrus Quality Council | Commodity Associations |
Tom Demarree | New York Grower | Producer |
Sam Doane | Oregon nursery producer | Producer |
Bill Dodd | Ohio grower | Producer |
Rich Fenske | Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Program | Consumer, Rural Community Development & Workforce Development |
Phil Glaize | Virginia grower | Producer |
Ken Guise | US Apple Association | Commodity Associations |
Paul Heinemann | Department of Biological Engineering, Penn State University | Science and Engineering |
Peter M. Hirst | Department of Horticulture, Purdue University | Science and Engineering |
Rich Hudgins | California Canning Peach Association | Commodity Associations |
Ben Keim | Pennsylvania Grower | Producer |
Chris Kropf | Michigan grower | Producer |
John Marriott | New York Grower | Producer |
Jim McFerson | Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission | Commodity Associations |
Lynn Moore | Maryland grower | Producer |
Jean-Mari Peltier | National Wine and Grape Initiative | Commodity Associations |
Ron Perry | Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University | Science and Engineering |
Matt Peters | Commercialization Advisor, N. M. Bartlett Inc. | Commercial Machine Developers |
Susan Pheasant | Pheasant Projects | Commodity Associations |
Lela Reichart | Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture | Consumer, Rural Community Development & Workforce Development |
Maggie Reid | Young Grower Alliance | Producer |
Dan Rice | Pennsylvania fruit grower/packer/broker | Producer |
Ricardo Salvador | Food Systems and Rural Development, Kellogg Foundation | Consumer, Rural Community Development & Workforce Development |
Ed Schuster | Laboratory for Manufacturing & Productivity, MIT | Science and Engineering |
Andre Tougas | Massachusetts grower | Producer |
Dan Ward | Rutgers University; Dept. of Horticulture: ecosystem-based specialty crop systems | Science and Engineering |
Ed Weaver | President, State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania | Commodity Associations |
William (Red) Whittaker | Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University | Science and Engineering |
Robert Woolley | California nursery producer | Producer |
Collaborating Orchards & Nurseries
Bailey Nurseries Inc., Yamhill, OR |
Bear Mountain Orchard, Aspers, PA |
Beechwood Orchards, Aspers, PA |
C & G Orchards, Gardners, PA |
Cameron Nursery, El Topia, WA |
Columbia Basin Nursery, Quincy, WA |
Dave Wilson Nursery, Modesto, CA |
Eisler Nurseries, Prospect, PA |
Fetters Orchards, Aspers, PA |
Flinchbaugh’s Orchard and Farm Market, York, PA |
Fruit Haven Orchards, Aspers, PA |
Gardenhour Orchards, Smithsburg, MD |
Half Crown Hill Orchard, Pittsburgh, PA |
Hollabaugh Brothers, Biglerville, PA |
J Frank Schmidt and Son Co. Wholesale Tree Growers, Boring, OR |
JP Partners, Aspers, PA |
Knouse Fruitlands Orchards, Arendtsville, PA |
McCleaf’s Orchard, Biglerville, PA |
Oregon Turf and Tree Farms, Hubbard, OR |
Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center, Biglerville, PA |
Raemelton Farm, Doubs, MD |
Ridgetop Orchards, Fishertown, PA |
Soergel Orchards, Wexford, PA |
Weaver’s Orchard and Farm Market, Morgantown, PA |
Willow Drive Nursery, Ephrata, WA |
WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center – Sunrise Orchard, Quincy, WA |
Student Involvement
Undergraduate and graduate student involvement with CASC fulfills part of our mission to foster long-range outreach and education. Slideshow of photos here.
Name | Institution* | Area | Level of Study** | Thematic Area | Activities |
Alex Leslie | Pennsylvania State University | Agricultural & Biological Engineering | Undergraduate (S) | Augmented Harvesting, Outreach | Tested energy absorbing materials; built and tested mock-ups of passive bin fillers; assisted with efficiency trials in pilot orchards |
Alex Reece | Carnegie Mellon University | Robotics | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed new user interfaces for the APM |
Amelia Jarvinen | Pennsylvania State University/Oberlin College | Social Science | Undergraduate (S) | Outreach | Assisted with efficiency trials in pilot orchards |
Andrew Haun | Pennsylvania State University/Shippensburg University | Biology | Undergraduate (S) | Insect Monitoring | Assisted in checking traps on a daily/weekly basis; taking pictures of IFW injury in orchards |
Anjali Patwardhan | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed and developed novel bin-filling systems |
Art Flores | Washington State University/Columbia Basin Community College | Nursing | Undergraduate | Outreach | Assisted with outreach efforts and field trials of equipment at Washington State University |
Asif Siddiqi | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed and developed novel bin-filling systems |
Bethany Ely | Pennsylvania State University | Communications | Undergraduate (S) | Insect Monitoring | Assisted in checking traps on a daily/weekly basis; checked for IFM injury in orchards |
Brian Kliethermes | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Graduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed and developed novel bin-filling systems |
Brian Moore | Oregon State University/Clackamas Community College | Horticulture | Undergraduate | Caliper Measurement | Assisted in ground-truthing the on-the-go caliper device at Bailey and J. Frank Schmidt Nurseries |
Caleb Tan | Purdue University | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Undergraduate | Insect Monitoring | Assisted in the assembly of digital trap prototypes |
Caroline Song | Carnegie Mellon University | Information Systems | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed and field-tested a grower-friendly interface for autonomous electric utility vehicles with a lift |
Celine Kuntz | Pennsylvania State University/Millersville University | Economics | Undergraduate (S) | Outreach | Assisted with efficiency trials in pilot orchards |
Claire Micklin | Carnegie Mellon University | Human-Computer Interaction | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Designed and field-tested a prototype grower-friendly interface for agricultural platforms |
Cody Musselman | Pennsylvania State University/Kalamazoo University | Social Science | Undergraduate (S) | Outreach | Assisted with efficiency trials in pilot orchards |
Corinne Walters | Carnegie Mellon University | Computer Science | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed and field-tested a grower-friendly interface for autonomous electric utility vehicles with a lift |
David Ferguson | Carnegie Mellon University | Robotics | Graduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed and field-tested algorithms for robust row turning |
David Stonestrom | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Developed physics-based simulations of passive bin filing systems |
Dong Hyun Choi | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed and developed novel bin-filling systems |
Esther Sollenberger | Pennsylvania State University/recent graduate from fruit grower family | Community Development | Looking at Graduate Programs | Outreach | Assisted with writing of outreach publications |
Evan Moore | Pennsylvania State University/Grove City College | Social Science | Undergraduate (S) | Outreach | Assisted with efficiency trials in pilot orchards |
German Holguin | Purdue University | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Graduate | Insect Monitoring | Designed and assembled digital trap prototypes |
Gokhan Bayar | Carnegie Mellon University/Middle East Technical University, Turkey | Robotics | Graduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed enhanced dynamic models and control algorithms for autonomous electric utility vehicles |
Guiqin Li | Purdue University | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Graduate | Plant Stress and Disease Detection | Developed algorithms for detecting internal feeding worm damaged apples |
Gustavo Freitas | Carnegie Mellon University/Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Robotics | Graduate | Accurate Positioning | Developed enhanced laser odometry-based localization methods for autonomous electric utility vehicles |
Gwendolyn Barr | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Graduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed and developed novel bin-filling systems |
Helen Park | Carnegie Mellon University | Writing | Graduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed apple unloading mechanism to improve worker safety and maintain efficiency and current levels of apple quality |
Jackson Kowalski | Oregon State University/University of Puget Sound | Biological Systems | Undergraduate | Caliper Measurement | Assisted in ground-truthing the on-the-go caliper device at Bailey and J. Frank Schmidt Nurseries |
Jacob Koan | Pennsylvania State University/Michigan State University | Agricultural Engineering | Undergraduate (S) | Augmented Harvesting, Outreach | Tested energy absorbing materials; built and tested mock-ups of passive bin fillers; assisted with efficiency trials in pilot orchards |
Jacqueline Libby | Carnegie Mellon University | Robotics | Graduate | Accurate Positioning | Developed and field-tested algorithms for vehicle localization |
James Kim | Purdue University | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Post-doctoral | Plant Stress and Disease Detection | Carried out performance evaluation of NDVI sensors; Designed multi-sensor system for stress and fire blight detection |
Jason Yore | Carnegie Mellon University | Industrial Design | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed and field-tested a grower-friendly interface for autonomous electric utility vehicles with a lift |
Jennifer Rouzer | Pennsylvania State University/McDaniel College | Biology | Undergraduate (S) | Outreach | Assisted with efficiency trials in pilot orchards |
Ji Zhang | Carnegie Mellon University | Robotics | Graduate | Accurate Positioning | Low-cost systems for orchard vehicle localization |
John Michael Flowers | Carnegie Mellon University | Human-Computer Interaction | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Designed and field-tested a prototype grower-friendly interface for agricultural platforms |
Julie Bai | Carnegie Mellon University | Human-Computer Interaction | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Designed and field-tested a prototype grower-friendly interface for agricultural platforms |
Juliet Hulse | Pennsylvania State University | Biology | Undergraduate (S) | Insect Monitoring | Assisted in checking traps on a daily/weekly basis; checked for IFM injury in orchards |
Julius Tarng | Carnegie Mellon University | Industrial Design | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed and field-tested a grower-friendly interface for autonomous electric utility vehicles with a lift |
Jung Hwan Park | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed and developed novel bin-filling systems |
Katie Reichard | Pennsylvania State University | Horticulture | Graduate (S) | Outreach | Assisted with efficiency trials in pilot orchards |
Kelly Lau-Kee | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed apple unloading mechanism to improve worker safety and maintain efficiency and current levels of apple quality |
Kevin Chung | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed apple unloading mechanism to improve worker safety and maintain efficiency and current levels of apple quality |
Kuan-Po Chen | Purdue University | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Undergraduate | Insect Monitoring | Assisted with the development of a solar harvesting system |
Laura West | Carnegie Mellon University | Industrial Design | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed apple unloading mechanism to improve worker safety and maintain efficiency and current levels of apple quality |
Lauren Von Dehsen | Carnegie Mellon University | Human-Computer Interaction | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed and field-tested a grower-friendly interface for the APM |
Le Wei | Carnegie Mellon University | Computer Science | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed and field-tested a grower-friendly interface for autonomous electric utility vehicles with a lift |
Lily Li | Carnegie Mellon University | Human-Computer Interaction | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed and field-tested a grower-friendly interface for the APM |
Luke Kambic | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed and developed novel bin-filling systems |
Matt Aasted | Carnegie Mellon University | Robotics | Graduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed and field-tested a system to automate thinning with the Darwin machine |
Matt Morrill | Carnegie Mellon University | Human-Computer Interaction | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Developed and field-tested a grower-friendly interface for the APM |
Matthew Hartwig | Pennsylvania State University | Biology | Undergraduate (S) | Insect Monitoring | Assisted in checking traps on a daily/weekly basis; checked for IFM injury in orchards |
Mattie Kuntz | Pennsylvania State University/Millersville University | Biology | Undergraduate (S) | Plant Stress and Disease Detection | Assisted with laboratory, greenhouse and field studies on tree stress and fire blight detection |
Mike Kapsimallis | Oregon State University | Horticulture | Graduate student intern | Caliper Measurement | Assisted in the field deployment of caliper and counter and analysis of results |
Mukul Bhatt | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed and developed novel bin-filling systems |
Nastasha Tan | Carnegie Mellon University | Human-Computer Interaction | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Designed and field-tested a prototype grower-friendly interface for agricultural platforms |
Nicolas Liebrum | Pennsylvania State University | Bio-engineering | Undergraduate (S) | Insect Monitoring | Assisted in checking traps on a daily/weekly basis; taking pictures of IFW injury in orchards |
Paul Kimball | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed apple unloading mechanism to improve worker safety and maintain efficiency and current levels of apple quality |
Randy Lee | Carnegie Mellon University | Biomedical Engineering | Graduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed apple unloading mechanism to improve worker safety and maintain efficiency and current levels of apple quality |
Reuben Dise | Pennsylvania State University | Agricultural & Biological Engineering | Graduate | Augmented Harvest, Outreach | Researched and helped modify orchard harvest platform for autonomous control; assisted with efficiency trials in pilot orchards |
Robin Pritz | Carnegie Mellon University/Pennsylvania State University | Robotics | Undergraduate (S) | Augmented Harvesting, Reconfigurable Mobility | Designed and developed novel bin-filling systems, assisted with APM field testing |
Russell Rohrbaugh | Pennsylvania State University | Agricultural Systems Management | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting, Outreach | Assisted with efficiency trials in pilot orchards and harvest platform |
Ryan Hilton | Pennsylvania State University/James Madison University | Alternative Energy/ Engineering | Undergraduate (S) | Outreach | Assisted with energy efficiency trials in pilot orchards |
Sangwon Lee | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed and developed novel bin-filling systems |
Sarah Sydow | Oregon State University | Horticulture | Graduate student intern | Caliper Measurement | Assisted in the field deployment of caliper and counter and analysis of results |
Seoyeon Yang | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed and developed novel bin-filling systems |
Sunny Chan | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed apple unloading mechanism to improve worker safety and maintain efficiency and current levels of apple quality |
Tiffany Ng | Carnegie Mellon University | Human-Computer Interaction | Undergraduate | Reconfigurable Mobility | Designed and field-tested a prototype grower-friendly interface for agricultural platforms |
Tom Kon | Pennsylvania State University | Horticulture/Pomology | Graduate | Outreach | Assisted with efficiency trials in pilot orchards |
Wei Jian Chan | Purdue University | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Undergraduate | Insect Monitoring | Assisted with the development of a solar harvesting system |
Tristram Hogben | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed novel mechanisms for handling apples during harvest |
Charlie Barber | Carnegie Mellon University | Industrial Design | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed novel mechanisms for handling apples during harvest |
Mark Slabinski | Carnegie Mellon University | Professional Writing | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed novel mechanisms for handling apples during harvest |
John Ni | Carnegie Mellon University | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed novel mechanisms for handling apples during harvest |
Krupa Mehta | Carnegie Mellon University | Engineering Technology Innovation Management | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed novel mechanisms for handling apples during harvest |
Kan Tao | Carnegie Mellon University | Chemical Engineering | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed novel mechanisms for handling apples during harvest |
Patricia Loring | Carnegie Mellon University | Professional Writing | Undergraduate | Augmented Harvesting | Designed novel mechanisms for handling apples during harvest |
* When two institutions are listed, the first is where the student is interning for CASC work and the second is his/her home school.
** (S) indicates summer intern.