John R. Spletzer, PhD.

Lehigh University

Assistive Technologies and Multi-Robot Systems

    The Automated Transport and Retrieval Systems (ATRS) represent a new mobility paradigm for drivers in wheelchairs. By leveraging robotics and automation technologies, ATRS allow independent mobility without permanent modifications to the vehicle. Dr. John R. Spletzer is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at Lehigh University, where he directs the VADER Laboratory. His research interest include intelligent vehicle systems, assistive technologies and multi-robot systems. He is a recent recipient of a Phase 1 National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research grant from the Technology Collaborative to support the development of smart wheelchair technologies. He serves as the principal investigator for the NSF Partnerships For Innovation program

to develop and commercialize an automated transport and retrieval system.

    With guidance from his colleague, CJ Taylor, Dr. Spletzer conducted research on the localization and target tracking application for mobile robot teams to earn his PhD in the GRASP Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania. He successfully worked as a test engineer for the U.S. Army before moving on to his current position at Lehigh University.

Joseph L. Jones, Harvest Automation, Inc.

Potted Plants and the Future of Robotics.  

joe.jones@harvestautomation.com, www.harvestautomation.com

    Practical robots operate on the basic principal that the robot must return a value that exceeds their cost. The latest necessity in the agricultural industry is the need for continuous and efficient placement, monitoring and movement of potted plants to ensure their successful growth and maturity. Joe Jones has been a robotics visionary for the past 24 years, with a pivotal talent in his ability to match technology to task. He is credited with the invention of the iRobot Roomba, the world’s first autonomous vacuuming robot, and is the author of three books including the most notable Mobile Robots: Inspiration to Implementation.

    Joe Jones is a graduate of MIT where he received his Bachelors of Science in 1975 and Masters of Science in 1978. He served as Research Engineer for nine years at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab and worked as a Senior Roboticist at iRobot Corporation for nearly 15 years. He currently holds nine domestic and several foreign patents for creative robotic works. Joe Jones is one of four engineers to found Harvest Automation, Inc., a Boston (Massachusetts)-based organization that works to provide new approaches in agricultural automation.