By Scout Nelson
Assistant Professor Ji Youn Shin of the University of Minnesota College of Design has received $524,000 in funding from Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund to support research on collaborative robotics for small-scale farms. The project aims to improve farm sustainability, efficiency, and long-term resilience through technology designed specifically for smaller agricultural operations.
The initiative, titled “Sustainable Land Use on Small-Farms through Collaborative Robots,” seeks to address challenges faced by community-based and small-scale farmers. By combining robotics innovation with farmer expertise, the project aims to support sustainable farming practices, increase access to healthy local food, and strengthen Minnesota’s agricultural sector.
Small farms often use practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, and adaptive planting to improve soil health and respond to changing weather conditions. While these methods promote sustainability, they can also be labor-intensive and difficult to manage efficiently with limited resources.
Agricultural robotics can help automate routine tasks and improve crop monitoring, but many existing technologies are designed for larger operations. High costs, diverse planting systems, and limited technical training often make it difficult for small-scale farmers to adopt advanced technologies.
To address these barriers, Shin is partnering with Professor Rajesh Rajamani from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA). Together, they will design and test an agricultural robot tailored to the needs of small-scale producers and the unique conditions of their farms.
Farmers will play an active role throughout the project by participating in the design, training, and field-testing phases. This approach will help ensure that traditional farming knowledge and real-world farming needs are incorporated into the technology.
A major goal of the project is to create practical solutions that reflect the priorities of farming communities. By involving producers directly in development, the research team hopes to make robotic tools easier to integrate into everyday farm operations.
In addition to developing the robot, the partnership will provide a comprehensive support package that includes technology deployment, farmer training, and ongoing maintenance assistance. The long-term objective is to expand the use of these robotic solutions on small farms across Minnesota.
Shin serves as an assistant professor in the School of Product Design and co-director of the CoLab Research Group. Rajamani is the Benjamin Y.H. Liu-TSI Endowed Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering and associate director of the Minnesota Robotics Institute.
By bringing together expertise in design, engineering, and agriculture, the project aims to make advanced farming technology more accessible. The initiative could help small-scale farmers improve productivity, support sustainable land use, and remain competitive in a changing agricultural landscape.
Photo Credit: university-of-minnesota
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Equipment & Machinery, Rural Lifestyle, Sustainable Agriculture