Biosensor Development for In-Field Plant Diagnostics and Physiology Monitoring

The project aims to explore the potential benefits of combining biosensing, machine learning, and robotics for in-field plant diagnostics and physiology monitoring. Plant diagnostics will primarily focus on molecular diagnostics platforms that enable early and precise detection and identification of pathogens, such as fungi, as supported by prior work. Biosensor-enabled plant physiology monitoring will also target early disease detection as well as elements of plant growth (e.g., healing, ripening, senescence).

This project brings device-level developments to the CDT for system-level applications. The project plan aims to solve unmet needs between the industry and state-of-the-art agricultural research within the scope of the AgriFoRwArdS CDT. From a top-level perspective, this project lies firmly within the CDT's sensing and perception research area but aspires to interact with projects focusing on manipulation, mobile robotics, and automation. Autonomous Mobile Diagnostics Platform, Plant-as-a-Sensor Paradigm, and Olfactory Fruit Harvesting are all subprojects that may be explored under this research theme in collaboration with other CDT students and the industry partner.