Post on 16-Apr-2017
Design
Philosophy and Embedded Ethical Design: Rope Climbing NatureTech
Student Researchers: Kenneth Rauen, and Niklas Rowen, Jonah Baumgartner, Jorge Casanova. Faculty advisor: John Sullins
This project was funded by a WATERS and Norwick grant administered by the SSU Preserves.
Embedded Ethical Design practices
have been used to develop a small robot
that can be used to monitor the micro
environment found high in the tree
canopies at SSU’s Fairfield Osborn
Preserve. There are many possible
remote sensing devices but our design
is sensitive to philosophical values such
as leaving a small foot print in the
preserve, stewarding nature without
overt control, and making something
that can capture the imagination of
visitors to the preserve, especially the
many school children that interact with
the preserve each year. This project has
developed a prototype machine but
future work will refine this design and
make it more robust with the idea of
deploying more in various locations in
the preserve.
PurposeA LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 set was utilized for
proof of concept. Key elements of the design are:
• Minimal to no environmental/ aesthetic impact
• Ability to traverse 5/8” taut rope at any angle,
height, or length
• Non specialized in field/on the fly programming
via colored tape on rope (Reverse motors, take
measurements, stop etc.)
• Worm gears prevent slippage/ need for
breaking system
• Raspberry Pi allows various interfacing/wifi
connectivity and ease of access for stored data.
Further Development
• Engineer/ simplify 3D printable design for
production
• Further increase environmentally aesthetic and
inspirational aspect of design
• Develop solar panel/self-contained charging
stations
• Get a working network of robots deployed in the
Fairfield Osborn Preserve
• Expand scope of project to other nature
preserves in the area and throughout California