Poultry Automation Field Day: Robotics & Tech Showcase – Fayetteville, AR

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Researchers are showcasing advancements in robotic automation for poultry processing at a field day event on April 9, from 12:30 to 5 p.m., at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences. The event, hosted by the Center for Scalable and Intelligent Automation in Poultry Processing (CSIAPP), will demonstrate technologies aimed at increasing efficiency and safety in meeting the growing demand for poultry products.

The free event will feature presentations and demonstrations of robotic tools designed for tasks including deboning, detecting foreign materials and pathogens, and utilizing virtual reality for remote equipment operation. Doug Britton, a principal research engineer and manager of the Agricultural Technology Research Program in the Georgia Tech Research Institute’s Intelligent Sustainable Technologies Division, will deliver a keynote address during a “Lunch & Learn” session at 12:30 p.m.

CSIAPP, established in 2023, operates with a four-year, $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The multi-state research group includes partners from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Fort Valley State University in Georgia, according to event organizers.

Jeyam Subbiah, a professor of food science with the Division of Agriculture, associate vice chancellor for research development at the University of Arkansas, and project director of CSIAPP, will provide a project overview at 1:15 p.m. Following this, Ai-Ping Hu, a principal research engineer from Georgia Tech, will present a video demonstration of robotic deboning technology.

Researchers will also present on “Robot Swabbing, Biosensor, and Foreign Material Detection” led by Dongyi Wang, assistant professor in the departments of biological and agricultural engineering and food science for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Konrad Ahlin, senior research engineer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, will then lead a demonstration of virtual reality applications for remote work in poultry processing, including a pilot test for attendees.

The event schedule includes a break at 2 p.m., followed by presentations and demonstrations throughout the afternoon. Subbiah will deliver closing remarks at 5 p.m. Registration is available online, and lunch will be provided. Event organizers have noted that the event will not be streamed or recorded.

The Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences is located at 1371 W. Altheimer Drive in Fayetteville. Individuals requiring accommodations to participate should contact Casey Owens at [email protected].