Catherine Merchant
Research Interests
I am interested in researching focus on sustainable solutions and using cutting-Edge engineering to benefit the environment.
Activities and Outputs
- Assisted with outreach at Croptec 2023 (Nov 2023)
About me
I have a master’s degree in mechanical engineering During my degree I studied sustainable initiative such as building an offgrid refrigeration system to assist farmers in rural Africa. However it was my experience in designing a fully automated vertical farm that sparked my interest in how technology can improve sustainability. This experience has motivated me to pursue further knowledge and its practical applications. The CDT is the perfect opportunity for me to deepen my expertise and contribute to sustainable agriculture.
I am excited to do my PhD at Cambridge University.
MSc Project
Advancing Automation: Development and Assessment of Lightweight Open-Source Robotic Arms
My research focuses on the development and evaluation of lightweight, open-source robotic arms for agriculture. The project aims to design a versatile and cost-effective robotic arm and asses its performance. I will complete a literature review to analyse current small open-source robotic arms to create an analyses on the best most effective arm. This will serve as a bases for other researchers to select the correct arm for their projects. I will then build a robotic arm and modify it to develop a better understanding of the technology.
PhD Project
Title to be confirmed