Themes Publications Media Team

CASC : Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops

Carnegie Mellon University, Robotics Institute, Research Guide

Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops

Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops (CASC) is a matching grant program funded by the USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative and industry to develop comprehensive automation strategies and technologies for the specialty crop industry, with an initial focus on apples and nursery trees. We are a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional group comprised of engineers, scientists, extension educators, growers, and industry representatives in universities, government labs, and companies spanning five states, representing some 70% of all US apple production.

Partners

CASC's partners include academic institutions (Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania State University, Washington State University, Oregon State University, Purdue University, Virginia Tech), agricultural machinery companies (DBR Conveyor Concepts, Spensa Technologies, Vision Robotics, Toro, and Trimble), and a federal research laboratory (USDA Agricultural Research Service).

Advisory Panel

CASC activities are overseen by an advisory panel of growers and stakeholders, including the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, US Apple Association, National Wine and Grape Initiative, California Citrus Quality Council, California Canning Peach Association, International Fruit Tree Association, and several US universities, among others.

CASC Goals