As an Agricultural Engineer by training, my past and current research centers around applied robotics, mechatronics, machinery, and artificial intelligence for food production systems. The current agricultural system faces numerous critical challenges, such as labor shortages, safety, and high operation costs. Thus, my research program aims to address these critical challenges in the food production system to move toward sustainably feeding the world by 2050 and beyond. My research thrusts range from conventional agricultural machinery to mobile robots, and falls into three primary categories:

• Develop and integrate a robotics-based solution: I believe that intelligently incorporated mobile robotics can provide a valid solution to major Ag challenges while deepening human-robot collaboration. Moreover, solar-powered, indefatigable, and multiple small robots (swarm robots) are more resilient to unfavorable weather conditions and could bring a paradigm shift in current Ag practices. Therefore, we aim to mesh robotic technology with conventional and non-conventional food production.
• Develop and integrate precision Ag technologies: Today’s cropping systems are characterized by intensive and uniform crop input application, which is environmentally unsustainable and costly. Thus, I aim to develop and integrate precision Ag technologies (equipped with advanced sensors, robots, and data) for input optimization and site-specific operation, which is critical in reducing environmental footprints and costs.
• Employ and harness the potential of AI: AI has untapped capabilities to answer the Ag system problems and make meaningful and informed decisions from data. I aim to introduce and implement AI in conventional Ag machines and mobile robots.