A stable and robust wheeled autonomous platform is needed to facilitate mobile scientific experiments and remote sensing in adverse environments. It is impractical to use Commercial off the Shelf (COTs) chassis’ because one-fit-for-all-purpose designs rarely match the intended use/function.  The platform must be stable and robust enough to carry a custom built mobile scientific experimentation station in adverse/unknown environments. There is a strong desire to improve agility, while reducing cost and maintaining quality. Rapid prototyping facilitates speedy fabrication of designs. Accurate 3D models are essential for 3D printing, but are time consuming and tedious to derive manually. We need the ability to rapidly prototype and produce high quality, robust, custom parts, for an autonomous platform.

SlamERS: Team #1: Embedded System Design

2019 Goals: Students will integrate all system design components from previous year into a COTs based autonomous wheeled platform using sensor arrays (IR Rangers, Lidars etc), integrating circuits, sensor arrays, and motor controls, from previous year into a complete PIC-based system. Final product be stable and robust under adverse conditions.

SlamERS: Team #2: Robust Chassis for an Autonomous Platform

2019 Goals: Students will design, prototype, test, and produce a 4WD chassis, which is stable and robust enough to carry the required load (mobile science/experiment system) in off-road terrains (sand, gravel, dirt, under-brush and heavy foliage) and adverse weather conditions (wind, rain, ice, heat). A small, commercial off the shelf (COTs), prototype will be supplied for a scale-up reference. Use engineering analysis and tools such as modeling and simulation to validate design selection and experimental results. Design, prototype, test, and build a functional 4WD chassis.

SlamERS: Team #3: 3D Design

2019 Goals: Students will determine whether Intel depth cameras are capable of producing highly accurate 3D models of small complex objects (gears etc) by comparing the accuracy of the resulting models with those obtained from the Capture Laser Scanner (3D systems, Inc), designing an interface to convert the 3D point clouds to 3D mesh/models for use with CAD tools and 3D printers, and using engineering analysis and tools to validate and compare the accuracy of models obtained from both systems.

More on the project.

Further More on the project (note: zip file)