# 32. Robot That Will Save Grape Farmers Billions & How Metallic Glass Will Result In Affordable Robotics

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2021-08-24
- Length: 20m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-24-32-robot-that-will-save-grape-farmers-billions-how-metallic-glass-will-result-in
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/32-robot-that-will-save-grape-farmers-billions-how-metallic-glass-will-result-in-affordable-robotics-43XOkE3O

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss two engineering breakthroughs: a Cornell University robot named Blackbird that uses AI to detect powdery mildew in grapes, developed by Professor Lance Cadle-Davidson and Professor Yu Jiang, reducing analysis time from six months to one day. They then cover NASA JPL researcher Douglas Hoffman's work on bulk metallic glass gears, which eliminates the need for lubrication and reduces manufacturing costs by enabling injection molding instead of machining.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-24-32-robot-that-will-save-grape-farmers-billions-how-metallic-glass-will-result-in#t=0) Introduction: Cornell Grape Robot and NASA Metallic Glass
- [1:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-24-32-robot-that-will-save-grape-farmers-billions-how-metallic-glass-will-result-in#t=63) Blackbird Robot: AI-Powered Powdery Mildew Detection
- [5:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-24-32-robot-that-will-save-grape-farmers-billions-how-metallic-glass-will-result-in#t=321) Impact of Automated Analysis on Agriculture and Fungicide Use
- [8:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-24-32-robot-that-will-save-grape-farmers-billions-how-metallic-glass-will-result-in#t=488) The Cost Barrier of Collaborative Robots and Strain Wave Gears
- [13:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-24-32-robot-that-will-save-grape-farmers-billions-how-metallic-glass-will-result-in#t=782) Bulk Metallic Glass: Material Properties and Manufacturing
- [14:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-24-32-robot-that-will-save-grape-farmers-billions-how-metallic-glass-will-result-in#t=847) NASA's Mars Rover Challenges and Lubrication Solutions

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Cornell University (company)
- Blackbird (product)
- NASA JPL (company)
- Douglas Hoffman (other)
- Lance Cadle-Davidson (other)
- Yu Jiang (other)
- Wevolver (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep063: Magnetic Gears, AI Green Screen, Plasma <3 Sharpie, and a Rubbery Drivetrain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-04-17-ep063-magnetic-gears-ai-green-screen-plasma-3-sharpie-and-a-rubbery-drivetrain) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 237: Dancing Raisins, Coding on Apples, and a Salad Spinner Mouse](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-09-23-ep-237-dancing-raisins-coding-on-apples-and-a-salad-spinner-mouse) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Household Robots Are Now Available, Moonwalker Shoes Help You Walk Faster, And More | Hard Tech #3](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-06-04-household-robots-are-now-available-moonwalker-shoes-help-you-walk-faster-and-mor) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [Ep 324: Ribbon Microphone From A Gumstick, Texture From a Virtual Log, and a Robot Arm From PVC](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-06-07-ep-324-ribbon-microphone-from-a-gumstick-texture-from-a-virtual-log-and-a-robot) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 112: We Have an NFT, Racing a Mobius Strip, and Syncing Video with OpenCV and Blender](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-04-02-ep-112-we-have-an-nft-racing-a-mobius-strip-and-syncing-video-with-opencv-and-bl) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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