AI-Driven LiDAR and Machine Vision for Autonomous Forest Robotics

Graduate Student Name: 
Jiyeon Ryu
Email Address: 
Faculty mentor/Supervisor: 
Heesung Woo
Email Address (Faculty mentor/Supervisor): 
Department Affiliation: 
Forest Engineering Resources & Management
Job Location: 
Oregon State University, Corvallis (primarily on-campus; hybrid may be considered)
Description of project or research opportunity: 
The project focuses on developing an AI-autonomous system for segmenting and interpreting forest environments using 3D LiDAR point clouds and machine vision imagery. The undergraduate student will assist in advancing next-generation robotics for intelligent forest operations by supporting data annotation, model development, and technical documentation.
Tasks student will perform: 
- Annotate image datasets for machine vision training (e.g., object detection, semantic segmentation). - Label and classify LiDAR point cloud data from UAV, mobile, and terrestrial platforms. - Assist in developing machine learning models using frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow. - Support technical documentation, data pipeline development, and literature reviews.
Special skills required: 
- Basic understanding of programming (Python preferred). - Interest in machine learning, AI, or robotics. - Attention to detail for data annotation tasks. - No prior experience with LiDAR or machine vision required, but eagerness to learn is essential.
Proposed dates of employment (must be between June 19 and September 4): 
Thursday, June 19, 2025 to Thursday, September 4, 2025
Anticipated hours worked per week: 
7