Willow Mandil
Papers
4
Total Citations
142
H-Index
3
About
Willow Mandil is a leading researcher at the intersection of agricultural robotics and tactile manipulation, whose work is shaping the future of autonomous food production. Her primary research areas include selective harvesting robotics, tactile sensing for agri-food applications, and bioinspired control strategies for dexterous manipulation. Mandil’s major contributions are twofold: she has provided the first comprehensive frameworks for autonomous selective harvesting, synthesizing advances in perception, design, and motion planning, and she has pioneered the use of tactile-sensing technologies to enable precise physical interaction with delicate crops. Her landmark review on selective harvesting robots has garnered 68 citations, establishing a foundational reference for the field, while her companion review on tactile-sensing technologies (65 citations) has become a go-to resource for researchers tackling manipulation challenges in agriculture. Most notably, her recent work on bioinspired trajectory modulation introduces a novel slip-control paradigm that moves beyond traditional force-based methods, offering a more robust approach for handling fragile produce. Through these contributions, Mandil is driving the transition toward fully autonomous, gentle, and efficient harvesting systems, addressing critical labor shortages and food waste in global agriculture.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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