Published September 29, 2026.
Students from Carver-Edisto Middle School experienced a fun and educational introduction to precision agriculture during CAAI4SA technology demonstrations at the South Carolina Research and Demonstration Farm in Olar, SC. The students witnessed cutting-edge technology using drones and robotic platforms, highlighted by the integration of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology with drones for plant inventory and asset tracking. Dr. Joe Mari Maja, director of CAAI4SA, piloted the Matrice 600 Pro drone carrying an RFID reader module and antenna, showing students firsthand how it could scan RFID tags across the field. Meanwhile, CAAI4SA research assistant Van Patiluna gave students a close-up view of the robotic cotton harvester designed and developed by CAAI4SA. The visit concluded with hands-on ‘stick time,’ allowing students to operate the small but powerful Husky A200 robotic platform.