At the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), Georgia Tech Research Institute's (GTRI) Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP) captured industry attention with two groundbreaking technology demonstrations. Highlighted in the latest Georgia Tech Research Podcast episode, hosted by Stephanie Richter, the expo showcased how ATRP continues to drive innovation in poultry production.

"IPPE is a fantastic event that allows us to showcase what our great folks do here at GTRI," said Doug Britton, ATRP program manager. "We get a chance to network, learn what's state-of-the-art, and build relationships crucial for driving our innovation forward."

The ATRP booth featured two key projects: the revolutionary poultry rehang shackle system by Dr. Konrad Ahlin and the autonomous chicken house monitoring robot, Go-Bot, led by Colin Usher.

Konrad’s demonstration focused on improving safety and ergonomics in poultry processing. "We’re developing a system for performing the rehang action, simplifying a physically and mentally demanding job," explained Konrad. "Our device allows operators to push the birds onto a rehang mat, reducing the risks associated with manually hanging birds on fast-moving shackles."

Meanwhile, Colin Usher’s Go-Bot, a fully autonomous ground robot designed to monitor chicken houses and collect eggs, drew significant interest. "It started as a wild idea in 2014," Colin recalled. "The first time we showed it, farmers didn't ask about research—they just wanted to buy it. That blew our minds."