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CASC : Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops

Carnegie Mellon University, Robotics Institute, Research Guide

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) 855-3675

  • Marcel 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) 513-6110

  • Tara 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) 334-6271

  • Jillian 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 x331

  • David 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 x321

  • Gwen-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) 786-5609

  • German 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) 334-6271

  • Vincent 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 x273

  • James 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.edu

  • Avinash 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) 494-3551

  • George 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) 414-7933

  • Grzegorz 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.edu

  • Art 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.com

  • Brian 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.edu

  • Karen 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) 760-2263

  • Guiqin 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) 494-3455

  • Dana 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) 599-4430

  • William 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) 443-6517

  • James 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)363-3904

  • Johnny 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) 334-6271

  • Stephan Roth

    Theme: Reconfigurable Mobility

    Contact:
    Sensible Machines
    311 S. Craig St., Suite 301
    Pittsburgh, PA 15213
    sroth@sensiblemachines.com
    (412) 398-2694

  • Ali Samaha

    Theme: Information Management

    Contact:
    Trimble
    935 Stewart Ave
    Sunnyvale, CA 98405
    alain_samaha@trimble.com

  • James 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) 677-6116

  • Clark 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) 961-4709

  • Wenfan 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) 708-9657

  • Heather 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.edu

  • James Teza

    Theme: Reconfigurable Mobility

    Contact:
    Carnegie Mellon University
    5000 Forbes Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15213
    jpt@cmu.edu

  • Bret 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 x3

  • Jason Winters

    Theme: Reconfigurable Mobility

    Contact:
    Carnegie Mellon University
    5000 Forbes Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15213
    jason [AT] txt.com

  • Irene 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.edu

  • Ji 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.