FARMER
ROBOTICS:
RESEARCHERS DEVELOP
WEARABLE TECH
FOR FARMERS
18
Two National Science Foundation
grants of approximately $1.5 million,
awarded to Virginia Tech researchers,
will bring robotics and technology
assistance to provide physical safety
and to enhance the quality of life for
Virginia farmers.
The first project partners with
industry to use robotics to aid
farmers with mobility impairments.
The Partnership for Innovation (PIC)
grant is a collaborative effort between
Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering
and College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences (CALS), and community
partner AgrAbility Virginia, a program
that assists farmers with illnesses,
injuries, or disabilities that are
impeding their ability to work safely,
effectively, and productively. The
research will aid farmers through the
use of wearable robotics, and other
robotic apparatus, targeting back, knee,
and hand applications.
The Research Coordination Network
(RCN) grant, the second project,
is a collaboration with U.S. and
international researchers to enhance
technology on mid-sized farms.
Alexander Leonessa, professor
of mechanical engineering, is the
principal investigator for the PIC grant
and a co-investigator for RCN grant.
Leonessa is partnering with colleagues
Divya Srinivasan, assistant professor
in the Grado Department of Industrial
and Systems Engineering, and Kim
Niewolny, associate professor in
agricultural, leadership, and community
education in CALS, on both grants.
Partnership for Innovation grant
Working with partners, such as
TORC Robotics, researchers will
use robotics systems to generate
additional discoveries as they learn
from partner farmers. The project will
address the human factors component
of the technology and the need
to educate farmers. The team will
evaluate the farmers’ daily activity and
human-factors and agriculture experts
will work with farmers to provide inputs
to the design processes.