The focus of my research is investigating the machinery processes needed to enable a single human producer to effectively manage agricultural areas measured in hectares when variations occur at the sub-meter level. In particular, I’ve been studying this variability’s effect on machinery power usage and methods to address these effects using hybrid drivetrains and alternative energy sources. I’ve also been investigating ways to control and operate the machinery at the necessary resolutions through multiple sensors embedded within larger pieces of equipment or the autonomous control of multiple smaller machines. The outcome of this research would enable more production using fewer inputs. This research represents a small part of the world-wide recognized Water, Energy and Food Nexus and like the larger Nexus is composed of many interconnected components.
Sensors
Machinery
Autonomous Vehicles
Hybrid Powertrains
Vehicle Routing
Mobile Apps
Kansas State University Biological and Agricultural Engineering Ph.D. 2012
Oklahoma State University Biosystems Engineering M.S. 2007
Oklahoma State University Biosystems Engineering B.S. 2005
Associate Professor July 2019-present Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Assistant Professor 2012-June 2019 Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
National Science Foundation GK-12 Fellow 2010-2012 Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
Systems Engineer 2008- 2009 The Charles Machine Works, Inc. (Ditch Witch), Perry, Oklahoma
