Featured Research:
Lavender Robots
This project is transforming small-scale lavender farming by developing mobile harvesting robots equipped with advanced manipulators. Led by researchers at Michigan Technological University, the effort addresses labor shortages by creating automated systems that reduce costs and improve harvest quality.
Lucky Clover Farm in Gaylord, Michigan—home to seven lavender species with distinct stem and flower structures—serves as the primary testing site. To handle this diversity, the project is creating adaptive algorithms that allow robots to identify and harvest each species accurately and efficiently.
The resulting technology represents a major step forward for lavender farm automation and holds promise for broader use in small fruit and specialty crop production across Michigan.
Project Team: Jungyun Bae (PI), Vinh Nguyen, Myungkuk Park
Meet Balto
Michigan Tech’s quadruped robot “Balto,” a customized Boston Dynamics Spot platform, serves as a versatile research tool for advanced human–robot interaction studies. Designed for stable indoor and outdoor operation, Balto enables exploration of physical manipulation, mobile autonomy, and coordinated teamwork between robots and human operators.
Led by Assistant Professor Michael Walker, the research uses Balto to investigate how robots can support first-response scenarios, mixed-reality teleoperation, and collaboration alongside drones and humanoid systems. These capabilities position Balto as a key asset for developing next-generation robotic solutions that operate safely and effectively in complex, real-world environments.
Learn more about Balto here