US: Data center project to test crop-picking robots
Purdue University Northwest will test out crop-picking robots at a new greenhouse at the Digital Crossroads Data Center in Hammond.
A team of Purdue University Northwest College of Technology researchers have landed more than $1 million in federal and private funding to test the new agricultural technology, which has the potential to help farmers facing labor shortages. Machine operators would remotely pick tomatoes, strawberries, fruits and vegetables, Purdue University Northwest Economic Development Director Don Babcock said. You can grow the vegetable and fruit and harvest them remotely when they re ripe. That s the concept. It s something really unique we re doing in Northwest Indiana we need to amplify.
Purdue University Northwest will test out crop-picking robots at a new greenhouse at the Digital Crossroads Data Center that could be used in space colonies and on farms.
Don Babcock, who retired as NIPSCOâs economic development director, has joined Purdue University Northwest.Â
Babcock â who s been described as Northwest Indiana s biggest cheerleader â will serve as director of economic development and community relations at PNW. He is joining Chancellor Thomas Keon s staff in the part-time role to help further economic and community development in Northwest Indiana, with a focus on LaPorte and Porter counties.
âWe are thrilled to bring Donâs extensive expertise and skill in economic development to PNW,â Keon said. âHe has made incredible impacts on the Region throughout his career at NIPSCO and has been a wonderful collaborator and friend of the university for many years. He is also a PNW alumnus and deeply understands the crucial role the university plays in regional community and economic development.â
Longtime NIPSCO executive Don Babcock joins Purdue Northwest Chancellor s staff thepilotnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thepilotnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
April 27, 2021
Don Babcock, longtime regional economic development leader who retired from NIPSCO at the end of 2020, will join the staff of Purdue Northwest Chancellor Thomas L. Keon as director of economic development and community relations. Babcock, a PNW alumnus, will work to expand the university s efforts around community and economic development in Northwest Indiana.
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Purdue University Northwest announced today that longtime Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) director of economic development, Don Babcock, will be joining the staff of Chancellor Thomas L. Keon part-time, as director of economic development and community relations, to expand the university s efforts around community and economic development in Northwest Indiana, especially La Porte and Porter counties.