David Parsons

University of California, Berkeley, Silsoe Research Institute

Papers

Total Citations

123

H-Index

About

David Parsons is a researcher whose work spans two distinct but equally impactful domains: robotics and agricultural systems modeling. In robotics, his most recognized contribution is a sophisticated motion planning algorithm for multiple mobile robots operating within shared workspaces containing polygonal obstacles, published in 2002 and accumulating an impressive 82 citations. This work addressed a fundamental challenge in autonomous robotics — coordinating independent translational movement among multiple agents — and remains a notable reference in the field of multi-robot systems. Parsons has also made meaningful contributions to agricultural technology, particularly in the modeling and economic analysis of automatic milking systems. Through simulation-based research conducted in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he explored how robotic milking technologies could be optimized across different management strategies for dairy farms, including both housed and grazing cattle operations. His survey-informed work assessing robotic milking adoption on UK dairy farms offered practical insights into labor requirements and herd management, contributing to evidence-based agricultural decision-making during a pivotal period of farm automation. With a combined citation record reflecting influence across engineering and agricultural science, Parsons exemplifies interdisciplinary research that bridges technical innovation with real-world applications.