Safety for Emerging Robotics and Autonomous Agriculture (SAFER AG) Workshop

December 3–4, 2024 | Urbana, IL

This workshop is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Workshop Overview

Currently, at least 47 manufacturers produce autonomous equipment. Moreover, over 500 autonomous machines are in use, covering more than 1 million acres of farmland across 40 countries and accumulating over 350,000 use hours (Jurgens, 2023). Given the rapid pace of technological advancement and the ongoing need for such initiatives, efforts should be made to ensure farmworker safety and health in the era of autonomous and artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology.

Before widespread adoption, these four areas need to be investigated:

Human-robot interactions research & development for autonomous agricultural machinery. This includes evaluating design principles and hazards associated with human-robot interactions and development of autonomous incident database.
Risk management techniques and liabilities. This includes a review of existing risk assessment techniques in addressing safety of autonomous machines, liability concerns of autonomous machines and addressing risk management gaps among small manufacturers.
Standards and design guidelines. This includes addressing standards maturity, limitation of standards for non-standard robotics and applicability of consensus standards.
Workforce development and training. This includes linking industry and academia to discuss course and program development, educating engineers on the safety standards associated with their technology, emphasis on safety and standard training for students, and development of credentials (certificates and degrees) associated with autonomous machinery and safety.

This workshop aims to bring together representatives from groups including farm operators, academia, industry, and governmental interests to distribute current information and discuss gaps in knowledge and research needs that connect to risks, insurability, regulations and policy, workforce, and societal implications.

Workshop Venue

Funk ACES Library at the University of Illinois

Our workshop will be take place at the Funk ACES Library located on the U. of I. Urbana-Champaign campus at 1101 S. Goodwin Ave, MC-633, Urbana, IL 61801.

Where should I park?

Limited meters will be reserved for this event and available to those first-come, first-serve. Meter hangtags are available on a first-come, first-serve at the Funk Library’s SAFER AG Workshop registration desk. Meter tags can be used in any of the yellow zones.

Cost & Registration

Registration is now closed.

Early Bird Discount Rate: $60
(increases to $75 after November 8th)

Farmers-Only Rate: $20

Registration Deadline: November 24, 2024

Call for Volunteers

We're looking for graduate student volunteers to help with our workshop. We will waive the registration fee for accepted volunteers!

Limited spots are available. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Dr. Salah Issa.

Agenda

This agenda is subject to change. Please continue to check this agenda periodically for the most up-to-date version. (All times are shown in Chicago time)

Time

Description

DAY 0

Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 | Pre-workshop Session

Functional Safety Bootcamp

Join us for an introduction to understanding ISO 25119 compliance and how it prepares for autonomy in agriculture. This engaging event spans three hours of in-depth training, insightful discussions, and valuable networking opportunities.

In this session, we will cover safety concepts, general principles, and more. The training will be led by an expert team from Balanced Engineering LLC. These sessions provide a solid foundation for understanding functional safety in the context of agriculture.

In addition, you will get the chance to complete your ISO 25119 training by using the Balanced Engineering online platform. Completing the training program will allow you to validate your knowledge with a quiz and certification.

Meet the Balanced Engineering Training Team

1:00 – 1:15 p.m.

Registration Check-In

📍Location: Heritage Room

1:15 – 3:15 p.m.

Introductions • What is Functional Safety • ISO 25119 Overview

📍Location: Heritage Room

3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

ISO 25119: General Principles for Design and Development • Concept Design

📍Location: Heritage Room

DAY 1

Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

Registration Check-In and Breakfast

📍Location: Heritage Room

8:30 – 8:45 a.m.

Welcome and Overview

📍Location: Heritage Room

🎤 Speaker: Salah Issa (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

8:45 – 9:15 a.m.

Autonomy in Agriculture: State of the Industry and Emerging Innovations

📍Location: Heritage Room

🎤 Speaker: Alex Foessel (Balanced Engineering LLC)

9:20 – 9:35 a.m.

☕️ Break

9:40 – 10:25 a.m.

Automation, Safety, and Reporting in Agriculture: Navigating New Frontiers

📍Location: Monsanto Room

🗣️ Moderator: Jennifer Lincoln (NIOSH)

Navigating Automation and Safety in Agriculture

🎤 Speaker: John Reid (Center for Digital Agriculture)

Cracking the Code: Unveiling the Secrets of Safety Incident Identification in the Age of Robots and Automation

🎤 Speaker: Kitty Kendricks (NIOSH)

Reporting Systems as a Key to Unlocking Pattern

🎤 Speaker: Emily Haas (NIOSH)

10:30 –11:10 a.m.

Understanding the Role of Safety in the Product Development Process

📍Location: Monsanto Room

🗣️ Moderator: Guy Roger Aby (Marshfield Clinic Health System)

🎤 Speaker: Trent Johnson (Grain Weevil)

11:15 a.m. – Noon

Securing the Future Agricultural Workforce

📍Location: Monsanto Room

🗣️ Moderator: Mark White, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

🎤 Speakers: Curt Sinclair (Illinois 4-H) and Travis McClure (Birkey’s Farm Store)

Noon – 12:45 p.m.

🍴 Lunch and ISO 18497 Updates

📍Location: Heritage Room

🎤 Speakers: Joe Flaugher (John Deere)

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Engineering Design and Safety Standards Bootcamp

📍Location: Monsanto Room

🎤 Speakers: John Shutske (University of Wisconsin), Kelly Sandner (CNH Industries), and Jean Walsh (ASABE)

2:15 – 5:30 p.m.

Audience Feedback Sessions

Human-Robot Interactions Research

Workforce Development and Training

Standards and Design Guidelines

Risk Management Techniques and Liabilities

DAY 2

Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Day 2 will start with a demonstration of autonomous systems in agriculture. Attendees will interact with various digital technologies, including sensors and robotic platforms, and preview upcoming technologies. The rest of the day will be focused on four workshop tracks. Track facilitators will lead the discussion to cover research needs and gaps in each track.

8:00 a.m.

Open Registration, Breakfast, SAFER AG 1.0 Updates and Future Plans

📍Location: Heritage

🎤 Speakers: John Shutske (University of Wisconsin), Jennifer Lincoln (NIOSH), Salah Issa (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), and Trent Johnson (Grain Weevil)

9:00 a.m. – Noon

I-FARM & SAFER AG Exhibition

📍Location: Stock Pavilion

Noon – 1:00 p.m.

🍴 Lunch and Updated from Industry

📍Location: Heritage Room

12:10 | IL County Broadband Infrastructure – Nancy Ouedraogo (IL Extension)
12:25 | Autonomous Ag Digital Twins (Fraunhofer Institute ); Introduced by Rick Weires (Balanced Engineering)

1:30 – ~3:00 p.m

Afternoon Workshop Tracks

Human Robot Interactions Risks & Solutions

📍Location: Monsanto Room

1:10 – 2:40 p.m. | Human-Robot Hazard Identification
2:45–4:45 p.m. | Type C Standard Needs Assessment

System Level Risks & Tracking

📍Location: Heritage Room

1:10 – 2:40 p.m. | System Level Risks & Unexpected Consequences
2:45–4:45 p.m. | “No-Loss” Events Tracking & Documentation

Workforce Development & Training

📍Location: Morgan Room

1:10 – 2:40 p.m. | Training the Future Agricultural Workforce
2:45–4:45 p.m. | Attracting New Talent to the Agricultural Workforce

5:00 – 5:15 p.m.

Workshop Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks

📍Location: Heritage Room

Lodging & Travel Information

Click on each tab below for more information on lodging options and getting around Champaign-Urbana.

Lodging Options
Getting Here/Around

We are working with the Illini Union Hotel and the Hyatt Place Champaign/Urbana to offer workshop attendees special room rates for a limited time.

Illini Union Hotel | Special Rate: $134/night | Booking Deadline: November 8, 2024

To book a room with the Illini Union, you must do so by November 8, 2024. Below are booking instructions to claim this special rate.

🌐 For Online Reservations:

1. Go to https://illiniunionhotel.illinois.edu/
2. Enter the stay dates and click “Enter it now” for Promo or Group Code.
3. Enter your group’s booking code and click update. Group booking code: SAGWORK24
4. Select room type and book

☎️ For Phone Reservations:

Call 217-333-1241 to book your room.
The hotel rep will ask you for the check-in and check-out dates of your stay and provide the group booking code: SAGWORK24.
The rep will ask you for additional details to complete your booking.

Hyatt Place Champaign-Urbana | Special Rate: $119/night | Booking Deadline: November 15, 2024

Below are booking instructions to claim this special rate online or via phone.

🌐 For Online Reservations: please use this special link to book a room with the Hyatt Place.

☎️ For Phone Reservations:

Call 217-531-2800 and press option 0 (zero).
Let the hotel rep know you would like to book a room in the “Safer AG Workshop Block.”
The group code to claim this rate is: G-SAGW.
The rep will ask you for details to complete your booking.

The Champaign-Urbana area has many hotels/motels near the University of Illinois campus. Below is a short list of potential lodging accommodations nearby.

iHotel and Illinois Conference Center | 🔗 stayatthei.com
Hilton Garden Inn Champaign-Urbana | 🔗 hilton.com
Home2 Suites by Hilton | 🔗 hilton.com

Champaign-Urbana is easy to get to and navigate. Conveniently situated off three major interstates, we’re nearly equidistant from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. Transportation options include:

Fly into our accessible airport – Willard Airport
Ride the Amtrak
Take a bus via Greyhound or the Peoria Charter Coach Company

Our award-winning mass transit district will help get you around, as will our rentable bikes and e-bikes or walk-in our connected districts! We also have taxi cab services and ride-sharing services available.