Abstract: Closed-loop cyber-physical systems (CPS) for agriculture typically integrate sensing/monitoring, interpretive schemes, communication layers, and system control or actionable insights for decision-making. This discussion centers around how CPS might find wider applicability for smaller farms and factors that hinder general adoption of CPS in agriculture.  There is greater potential to improve plant and animal system management. Applicable programs at the USDA-NIFA and future programming needs will also be presented.

Bio: Dr. Steven J. Thomson is National Program Leader (NPL) with the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Fellow with the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). He engages Universities, other federal agencies, and industry to provide national leadership in Capacity and Competitive Grant programs. Grant programs he manages include Engineering for Agricultural Production and Processing, Precision Crop and Water Management, and NSF-collaborative programs Foundational Research in Robotics, Cyber-Physical Systems, AI Institutes, Smart and Connected Communities, and the CIVIC Innovation Challenge. He was a Lead Scientist with the USDA ARS before joining USDA-NIFA in early 2016 and served seven years on faculty in the Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) and Engineering Fundamentals Departments at Virginia Tech before beginning his service with ARS. Dr. Thomson received the Alpha Epsilon and Outstanding Faculty awards while in the BSE Dept. at Virginia Tech. He has authored or co-authored over 100 journal articles, two book chapters, and several Extension publications and software.