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UA Agricultural Systems Technology Program Uses Robot Donated By Tyson Foods
Don Johnson, professor of agricultural systems, demonstrates the capabilities of a six-axis robotic arm donated by Tyson Foods, Inc.
U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Nick Kordsmeier
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK.
The department of agricultural education, communications and technology in the University of Arkansas’ Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences recently received a robotic helping hand from Tyson Foods.
Tyson awarded a grant for a robot that will be used in many agricultural systems and technology courses. Tyson awards the grant to nine schools around the state to encourage student engagement in science, technology, engineering and math.
Don Johnson, agricultural systems professor for Bumpers College and the UA System Division of Agriculture, said the robot will be used in existing classes, as well as an upcoming special topics class on agricultural industrial robotics.
"Robots are often used in industry," Johnson said. "This class will help prepare students to use them in the workforce."
The programmable six-axis robot can be programmed through a touchpad or software. In industry, similar robots are often used for palletizing or welding. Industrial robotics technology continues to evolve and is being increasingly used in the food processing industry. It is just now appearing in secondary agricultural education.
Students will become familiar with the machine to use in industry or to use as a teaching tool.
The agricultural systems and technology management concentration in AECT stays up to date on precision agriculture technologies and other industrial machines such as drones, irrigation methods, robotics and GPS automated systems.
"If it is something technologically related and relevant, we use it and teach it," Johnson said.
Johnson attended a training through ABB, the manufacturing company for the robot, to gain further knowledge on the system's operations. Rodney Ellis, a technical education liaison with Tyson Foods, coordinated the training workshop. Ellis is a U of A and Bumpers College graduate in agricultural education, communication and technology.
The grant from Tyson is equivalent to $50,000. Along with the robot, Tyson donated 100 copies of software programming.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch and Instagram at ArkAgResearch. ∆
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