The Robotics Institute

RI | Seminar | January 21

Robotics Institute Seminar, January 21
Time and Place | Seminar Abstract | Speaker Biography | Speaker Appointments


Agricultural Robots and Food Traceability Based on Robotic Agriculture

Naoshi Kondo

Director

SI Seiko Co., Ltd

 

 

Time and Place

Mauldin Auditorium (NSH 1305)
Refreshments 3:15 pm
Talk 3:30 pm

Abstract

 

The world has been worrying about the quality of the food supply system because of recent problems with fruits, vegetables, meats, and other processed foods: food poisoning by bacteria, illegal unregistered agricultural chemicals, camouflage products, BSE, etc.  To solve these problems, a food traceability system which can provide the food’s history during production, distribution and consumption is desirable.  Bio-production robots have been substituted for human labor and have contributed to raising product market values and to ensuring product uniformity.  Recent experiences show that these robots can be useful and necessary to add precise information to data relating to field operations and thus can be valuable contributors to precision farming systems.

 

Speaker Biography

 

Dr. Kondo spoke on "Robotics for agriculture and bio-production" at this RI Seminar nine years ago on March 8, 1996 when he was an Associate Professor at Okayama University, Japan.  While at the university, he developed many agricultural robots and wrote a book entitled Robotics for Bioproduction Systems (ASAE, 1998).  He however wanted to realize his primary school dream "To substitute autonomous agricultural robots for farmers" and as such moved to industry in 2000.  Since then, he has commercialized the fruit grading robot and several automation systems.  He is currently a director of SI Seiko Co., Ltd, Matsuyama, Japan, and is still challenging commercialization of a harvesting robot.  He has been a visiting scientist at the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Ohio State University since October, 2004.

 

Speaker Appointments

For appointments, please contact Heather Farrah.


The Robotics Institute is part of the School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University.