UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — At the intersection of technology and agriculture, Penn State’s Agribot Club in the College of Agricultural Sciences aims to shape the future of farming through robotics.
A small but passionate group of students, club members collaborate to design and build robots that address real-world agricultural challenges, providing hands-on experience in engineering, programming and automation.
The club brings together students from various technology-related majors, including cybersecurity, mechanical engineering and computer engineering. Joshua Gatten, a fourth-year student majoring in cybersecurity and the club’s president, emphasized the increasing relevance of robotics.
“Technology is expanding, and robots are becoming a whole lot more prevalent in society,” he said. “Learning how robots work and how to build them is going to be, if it’s not already, an important life skill.”
Robotics is playing an increasingly vital role in agriculture, Gatten said, making tasks more efficient and reducing labor-intensive work. The club emphasizes the importance of these innovations and the career opportunities they present.
“With the agricultural industry rapidly adopting robotics, learning these skills now will be a valuable asset for the future,” he said. “Even small-scale farmers are using drones for planting, monitoring crop health and diagnosing plant diseases.”
Founded under the guidance of Shirin Ghatrehsamani, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, the Agribot Club has competed in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) robotics competitions. These annual events challenge students to create robots capable of performing specific agricultural tasks.
Last year, the club competed in Anaheim, California, an experience that members described as both thrilling and rewarding. They said the experience and knowledge gained through competition continue to fuel their motivation to improve and expand their capabilities.
Beyond competitions, the club also strives to foster a deeper understanding of robotics by teaching students the fundamentals of robot design, sensor programming and automation. Members collaborate in specialized teams focusing on vision systems, robotic arms and movement mechanisms. The club also welcomes students with little or no prior experience, providing guidance and mentorship to help them develop technical skills.
“This club is for anybody that’s interested in learning about robotics and getting hands-on experience designing robots that interact with their environment,” said Juan Arguijo, a graduate student pursuing a degree in agricultural engineering and the club’s treasurer.
While the club prepares for competition, Gatten said the members hope to expand into additional projects as membership grows.
“Right now, our focus is on the ASABE competition,” he said. “But in the future, we’d love to enter other contests or work on side projects.”
This year, the team is working to design a robot that can sort and place various types of wooden and plastic eggs into designated areas within a timed setting. Gatten said while the task may sound simple, programming and designing a robot with precise sensors, arms and movement capabilities presents a complex challenge that requires critical thinking and teamwork.
Looking ahead, the Agribot Club hopes to attract more members and participate in additional robotics competitions. Members also are working to increase their outreach by developing social media platforms to boost visibility and engagement.
Interested students can join at any time during the semester, regardless of prior experience. The club meets at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays in 134 Agricultural Engineering Building at Penn State University Park.