STRIDER: Semi-Autonomous Tracking Robot with Instrumentation for Data-Acquisition and Environmental Research

Abstract

Abstract STRIDER is conceived to be a self-propelled aquatic platform for automated sampling, characterization, and depth profiling to document microbial content and nutrient load of surface waters. It has served as the basis for senior design project for several engineering students at University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) and continues to provide a development platform for a multidisciplinary team of STEM students to meet all of the design requirements with supervision of a team of UMES faculty members and collaborators from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The design and data analyses efforts will also serve as the basis of a master’s thesis work for a STEM graduate student at UMES. At present the base platform has been designed and utilized for navigation using remote control to specified locations to collect water quality data and sampling of surface water on a UMES pond. For visualization purposes geo-located measurement data have been embedded on appropriate google earth imagery. Preliminary trials with PID gain adjustments for autonomous navigation have also been undertaken. Design alternatives are being explored for collecting water samples from various depths along with corresponding in-situ water quality data. Integration of education, experiential learning, and research encompassing several disciplines that often create artificial walls within academia have provided rich learning outcomes for not only the individuals who have directly participated in design, development, and analysis efforts, but also to those interested students who have participated in group discussions and critical thinking endeavors to explore design alternatives. Informal conversations with students have provided anecdotal evidence of positive learning outcomes. Formal assessments has been undertaken to document assessment of academic, life-skills, and civic responsibility outcomes of the student engagement with the project.