Yu, Riggan Will Use AI Vision to Improve Agriculture
This fall, the University of Tennessee welcomes associate professors Hongkai Yu and Benjamin (Ben) S. Riggan to the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) faculty.
Yu earned his PhD in computer science and engineering from the University of South Carolina in 2018. As an associate professor at Cleveland State University, Yu founded the Cleveland Vision & AI Lab, which focuses on the real-world applications of computer vision, machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence. In 2025, he was listed in the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List for his work in artificial intelligence and image processing.
Riggan grew up in the Carolinas and earned his PhD in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University. His research focuses on the intersection of optical physics, AI, and defense, including nighttime facial recognition and recognition in low-quality images. He has an extensive background in national security and law enforcement applications of image recognition technology.
Both Riggan and Yu were hired as part of UT’s transdisciplinary Cluster Initiative, which unites faculty from multiple disciplines in groundbreaking collaborative research that cannot be achieved by individual departments or colleges.
Hongkai Yu
Yu joins the EECS faculty as a member of the Plant Ecosystem Resilience in a Changing Environment Cluster, which aims to enhance food security by accelerating development of stress-resistant crop plants and other cutting-edge technologies.
“Ever since high school, I’ve been interested in using science and engineering to solve real-world problems,” Yu said. “When I come to UT, I will continue research in computer vision, robotics, and machine learning, and I will apply them to the interdisciplinary area of agriculture and forest systems.”
For example, Yu is interested in developing AI-enabled autonomous vehicles that can monitor a variety of environmental factors around a farm, then translate the information into recommendations that farm managers can use to optimize plant growth and yields.
He will also continue a National Science Foundation grant he received last year to create a robot arm that uses computer vision and AI to help greenhouse managers monitor growing tomatoes.
Yu looks forward to supervising and teaching Engineering Vols at both the undergraduate and graduate level. While a strong foundation in mathematical formulas and engineering methodologies is key, Yu incorporates animations and video demonstrations to make his lectures interesting and emphasizes practical applications when possible.
“Making the class solid, interesting, and practical—that’s my teaching philosophy,” he said. “This fall semester I will be teaching digital system design, (which) will involve hardware, software, simulation, and real-world projects.”
Yu is looking forward to exploring the excellent fishing spots around Knoxville and shooting hoops in the hometown of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Benjamin Riggan
After working in multiple branches of the United States Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and as an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Riggan has a strong research network within the domain of national security, intelligence, and law enforcement. He has also worked with policymakers, helping them understand how biometric technologies work and how to implement them ethically.
“Ever since I got my PhD, (working at the) University of Tennessee has been my long-term goal,” Riggan said. “Being part of the strong community of EECS and the growing AI initiatives at UT—and, really, statewide—is what motivated me most.”
At UT, Riggan will continue his research on AI-supported image recognition, including his ongoing project to translate daylight images into the thermal domain to improve nighttime facial recognition.
As a member of the Resilient Agriculture and Forest Systems Cluster, he will also expand his expertise into precision agriculture, building livestock-monitoring systems and other AI-supported tools that will preserve national food production and security.
In the classroom, Riggan focuses on real-world problems, helping students see where they can apply the dense technical curriculum to their career goals. He emphasizes opportunities outside the classroom, encouraging students to take part in laboratory research, internships, and co-ops rather than getting stuck in the university “bubble.”
Part of that encouragement is being honest about his own experiences—even if they aren’t always flattering.
“I’m just a guide to help (students) along their educational journey. I’m not trying to come across as a perfect person,” he said. “I love to share stories of all the mistakes I’ve made, so the students can learn from those mistakes.”
After years living on the plains of Nebraska, Riggan is delighted to be back near the Smoky Mountains, where he looks forward to hiking, fishing, and camping.
Contact
Izzie Gall (egall4@utk.edu)