SIU earns second place in international ag robotics competition

INDIANAPOLIS — Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Agricultural Robotics Club accomplished an impressive feat in its first international competition with a second-place finish in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers’ Robotics Student Design Competition.

Joy Howard, microbiology program undergraduate, and Nathan Wellendorf, crop, soils and environment management program undergraduate, designed, built and perfected the computer coding for their robot.

The duo received guidance from Billy Ram, School of Agricultural Sciences assistant professor.

The team designed a robot to detect simulated cornstalks that are planted too close to one another — which can be a real-life issue for farmers when plants compete for nutrients.

SIU competed against 14 teams, including from China and Canada, in the event in Indianapolis.

“The biggest challenge I think was calibrating our robot,” Howard said. “We had to make sure we calibrated it just right or it would miss a turn which would have been catastrophic for our run.”

The robot successfully navigated up and down simulated cornfield rows. An attached camera detected the cornstalk count and sent a signal to a screen, which flashed green for a single stalk or yellow for two stalks.

When the robot detected a yellow stalk, it triggered a spinning motor to “cut” the extra cornstalk, which was magnetically connected to its 3D-printed stand.

Howard said she didn’t anticipate earning second place because this was SIU’s first competition and the quality of the other teams’ robots.

“I was in disbelief to be honest,” Howard said. “I thought we did well, but was expecting third or fourth place. I know we did really well, but so did many other teams. I was extremely excited and proud of Nathan and me.”

Ram spearheaded developing the Agricultural Robotics Club — which is awaiting its registered student organization status — after coming to the university in the fall of 2025.

He received approval from the administration to not only create the club, but also participate in the international agricultural robotics competition.

“I also want to take the opportunity to thank Kristina Boone, dean of the College of Agricultural, Life and Physical Sciences, and Ira Altman, director of the School of Agricultural Sciences, for their continued investment in the student body. This was only possible with their support,” he said.

Ram also acknowledged a group of high school students who worked in his lab through the SIU STEM Research Academy and created the AI model used in the competition.

The STEM Education Research Center holds the academy during the summer, providing an opportunity for high school students to gain hands-on research experience.

Brooke Keltner is a public information associate at Southern Illinois University.