FPTD conducts research on improving yield, food quality, and food safety while minimizing environmental impacts by applying image processing, robotics, biosensors, and environmental treatment technologies to the modern food processing facility. This division also conducts air quality research related to monitoring and reducing the environmental impact of vehicular emissions; develops cutting edge systems to automate roadside maintenance for the Georgia Department of Transportation; develops advanced autonomous systems for agricultural crop monitoring; and develops cost-effective solar energy technologies through the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative.