After careful consideration of the many proposals we received in our first Seed Grant RFP, we chose three projects that align well with our mission to advance innovation in sensors and sensor systems, while providing unique interdisciplinary training for a graduate student team.
Awardee PI Suresh Venkatesh (Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering) and co-PI Elsa Youngsteadt (Applied Ecology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) collaborated on their proposal.
Their project, Millimeter-Wave Harmonic Radars for Highly Sensitive and Robust Entomological Tracking in Complex Environments, combines two seemingly disparate disciplines. Studying insect movement through radar technology provides valuable insights into their role in ecosystems, interactions with other species, and the impact of environmental factors on their behavior. Insect tracking has diverse applications, including understanding climate change, bio-warfare considerations, nervous system stimuli/sensing, and effects on food security and agriculture. This interdisciplinary project aims to innovate in circuit, antenna, and system design to develop a novel millimeter-wave entomological tracking radar. The focus is on tracking bee pollinators in urban and agricultural environments. The ability to monitor bee movements with precise spatiotemporal resolution will enhance efforts to conserve pollinators and manage crop pollination, addressing the heightened awareness of pollinator decline in the past decade. This collaborative project involves both sensor developers and users.
Congratulations to the research pair! We’re eagerly anticipating your results.
