IIPA Seminar Series – October 7 – Dr. Noel Anderson

How Precise is Enough? A 33-year Journey in Precision Agriculture

Description

Modern precision agriculture began when GPS satellites became operational in the early 1990s. Advances in localization, imaging, computing, and other core technologies have enabled sensing resolution and control to move from whole field to sub-plant. The presentation includes personal reflections on some of the technical waypoints on the digital agriculture journey to sub-plant resolution. It ends by questioning assumptions of digital precision agriculture and speculating on elements of a trans-digital agriculture.

About Dr. Anderson

Dr. Noel Anderson earned a PhD in computer engineering from Iowa State University. He was on the faculty of the electrical engineering department at North Dakota State University from 1988 until 1994 when he started a 30+ year career in the ag equipment industry, working for Concord Inc, Case Corporation (now CNH), and John Deere. In 2019, Noel was named a John Deere Fellow in Strategic Intellectual Property. In June 2024, he left John Deere and has been working as a collaborative consultant and educator on invention, innovation, and technology. This includes a part-time role as a technical advisor for Grand Farm. Noel’s creativity and prolific invention was recently recognized through the issuance of his 238th US patent. Many of his patents focus on ag equipment automation and autonomy spanning tillage, planting and seeding, crop care, harvesting, and logistics. These patents have garnered over 5500 forward citations on later granted patents. Sensing, machine health, machine intelligence, ag UAV applications, and precision agriculture are other major themes in his patent portfolio.

Time & Location

9:30 am – 10:30 am

115 Poultry Science Building and via Zoom