Education

Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, 1991

Major research areas: machine vision, digital image processing, automated inspection, robotics, and artificial intelligence

M.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1988

Major research areas: expert system, computer modeling, and artificial intelligence

B.S., Nanjing Institute of Technology, 1982

Major study: computer science and engineering

Professional Experience

Professor, Biological Resources Engineering, University of Maryland, 2004-present

Associate Professor, Biological Resources Engineering, University of Maryland, 2000-2004

Asst./Assoc. Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas, 1996-2000

Adjunct Asst./Assoc. Professor, Electrical Engineering, University of Arkansas, 1997-2000

Vice President/Director of R&D, AGRI-TECH, Inc (FMC Corp). 1993-1996, 1991-1993

• Prominent manufacturer of complete lines of fruit and vegetable inspection and packing equipment designed to efficiently and effectively bring food products to the market.
• Research leader responsible for corporate R&D programs executed to automate agricultural processes. Enable technologies currently under scientific investigation and technological development including Machine vision, Digital image processing, Non-invasive inspection, High-speed optical-electronic sorting and computer based machine control systems.
• Headed the research and development of award-winning (1993 ASAE AE50) advanced high-resolution Merlin® color vision sorting system for sorting a wide variety of fruit and vegetables including apples, citrus, pears, tomatoes, and stone fruits for quality grades at speed up to 44 tons/hour. Gained competitive advantage over European machines with wide installations in many countries, including the U.S. (sorting about 45% of total US apples alone), Canada, South America countries, China and other countries.
• Headed projects including OSCARTM optical inspection system, Vision-robot defect sorter, and R&D projects. Other project management activities.

Honors

Honorary Guest Professor, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Since 2003.

Associate Editor of the Transactions of ASAE, 1996 - 2003.

Expert Invitations by China Ministries of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Education, and Expert Bureau. Academic exchange. 1999. Yangling Agricultural Zone Development, 2002.

Grants

Dr. Tao has been awarded over $3 million in external grants in the areas of x-ray and optical imaging for detection and automated recognition.