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Harvard Forest REU Symposium Abstract 2013
- Title: Designing and Assembling an Aerial Tram to Collect Data in Remote and Treacherous Terrain
- Author: Devin J Carroll (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
- Abstract:
The gathering and analysis of data is a driving force behind much of science. However, the data gathering process, especially if located in a treacherous or remote area, can take considerable time and can expose individuals to serious risks. One solution to this problem is an autonomously operating, self-sustaining aerial tram, deployed at the Harvard Forest for the purpose of making consistent and repeated measurements over a re-growing forest stand. Phase one of this solution is a two-fold process: first, a design must be engineered and a prototype built for testing. Using a three-dimensional modeling software, SolidWorks, the tram was designed in the lab. Next, a prototype was constructed and installed in a nearby location to test its functionality. Its movement, controlled using LabView, is currently being tested to identify different mechanical and coding problems and improve performance. The final step in the process is to make the tram self-sustaining. After preparing an energy budget, a computer aided design software (AutoCAD) was used to design a solar system to run the tram. Phase two of the project requires installing the tram above the re-growing forest stand. The plan is to install it this spring, collecting and uploading data to the Internet so that users can access the data in near real time for use in research on environmental reactions to a disturbance.
- Research Category:
- Figures: tram_and_i.jpg
