CAAI4SA Research Updates and Applications (October 2, 2026)
The CAAI4SA Webinar Series Episode 1, hosted by Christina Chiu and introduced by founding director Dr. Joe Mari Maja, highlighted cutting-edge research and applied technologies developed by the Center of Applied AI for Sustainable Agriculture at South Carolina State University. Dr. Maja outlined the center’s mission to integrate artificial intelligence, robotics, and remote sensing into sustainable farming practices, touching upon projects ranging from hyperspectral crop monitoring to upcoming drone spraying training under FAA Part 137 certification.
Following the introduction, Van Patiluna presented an automated nursery plant inventory system utilizing UAVs equipped with RFID readers, demonstrating that loop-lock tags and optimized flight parameters can achieve near 100% scanning accuracy in a single pass to eliminate tedious manual counts. Next, Jyoti Neupane shared findings on an autonomous ground vehicle (UGV) fitted with pulse-width modulation (PWM) nozzles for cotton defoliation, revealing that lower chemical application rates—such as 20% duty cycles—can successfully penetrate crop canopies while maintaining fiber quality and yield. Expanding on cotton management, Ashish Karki discussed his research on canopy-wise staggered defoliation using autonomous robotic platforms, exploring how temporal intervals between bottom, middle, and top canopy treatments impact fiber length and maturity. The session concluded with highlights on USDA-funded training initiatives for small farmers and veterans, student achievements, and future collaborative opportunities across academic and industry networks.
You can view the entire webinar below.