| Summary: | The Cool Robot is a solar powered autonomous robot designed to support summertime science campaigns in the Polar Regions. While the overall design was proven in a previous deployment to Summit Greenland, it lacked the robustness for longer campaigns, and the ergonomics of accessing the interior of the robot were arduous and time consuming. The objectives of this thesis were to 1) redesign the solar panel system for improved performance in wind and rough terrain and for easier assembly and access to inside of the robot chassis, 2) update the power system controls and electronics for reliable and robust operation, 3) update all electrical systems using common, off-the-shelf components, 4) establish a common code base and communication protocol used by other similarly designed robots, 5) provide permanent data logging capability to evaluate mobility and the power system performance, and 6) develop and implement a sensor-based framework for detecting and avoiding dangerous levels of tilt which could result in roll-over. All of these objectives aim to increase the performance reliability of the Cool Robot. The data logging capability allows for collecting data to evaluate performance of the new power system. The reliability of the Cool Robot will be tested during a summer mission to Summit Greenland.
|
|---|