The UCR team addressed that challenge by integrating a wheeled mobile robot, an electromagnetic induction sensor, onboard localization and a planning algorithm designed for orchard-scale operation. The system allows the robot to navigate orchard rows, prioritize important sampling locations and collect dense soil data within a fixed operating window.
Chen’s research program focuses on developing bioengineering and biosensing approaches for food safety, environmental monitoring, and clinical diagnostics, with a particular interest in CRISPR-Cas protein engineering. The new USDA-funded project builds on that work by applying molecular detection tools to a major food-safety challenge.
UCR earned five awards at this year’s regatta, including third place overall in the Cup Championship, which combines scores from races, technical evaluations, sustainability metrics, design categories, and team participation.
Profile on new Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering faculty member Markus Petters and his research focus on suspended particulate matter with an emphasis on their health threats and on understanding when and why these particles react in the atmosphere.
