An Unmanned Tracked Vehicle for Snow Research Applications

R.K. Das; A Upadhyay; R.K. Garg

doi:10.14429/dsj.1.8952

R.K. Das Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, Chandigarh
A Upadhyay Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, Chandigarh
R.K. Garg Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, Chandigarh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.1.8952

Keywords: Unmanned tracked vehicle, Sinkage, Compaction, Traction, Remote-controlled

Abstract

Lightweight robotic vehicles can be designed for over-snow mobility to carry out a variety of snow and glacier related studies like carrying out GPR survey of cracks & crevasses over ice crusts that cannot support foot travel, for collecting snow samples and carrying out sub-surface experiments with penetrometers on terrain that are dangerous for human, GPS mapping of avalanche debris etc. Sinkage, resistance to snow compaction, loss of traction and ingestion of snow into the driving system are some of the challenges that an unmanned lightweight tracked vehicle faces in snowbound terrain. In present work, a lightweight and unmanned remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is conceptualized and developed as a technological solution. In this paper design and features of this vehicle, named HimBot, are presented along with the results obtained from tests carried over snow at Solang Nullah field observatory of SASE in February 2013. The outcome of this work will help in developing an optimized design of an ROV for over snow mobility for a variety of applications.

Author Biographies

R.K. Das, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, Chandigarh

Mr R.K. Das obtained his BTech (Electronics & Comm. Engg.) from NIT Hamirpur (HP) and ME (Electronics Engg.) from PEC, Chandigarh. He is working as Scientist ‘E’ at Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), Chandigarh and has acquired expertise in Automatic Weather Stations and Meteorological instrumentation. Presently he is working in the area of Wireless Sensor Networks and Robotics.

A Upadhyay, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, Chandigarh

Mr A. Upadhyay obtained his BSc (Mechanical Engg.) from Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra and MTech in Cold Region Science and Engg from G.B. Pant University, Pantnagar. He is working as Scientist ‘E’ at Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), Chandigarh. His areas of research are snow mechanics and avalanche dynamics.

R.K. Garg, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, Chandigarh

Mr R.K. Garg obtained his BTech (Electronics & Comm. Engg.) from REC Hamirpur (HP) and MTech (Microwave Electronics) from Delhi University. Presently he is working as Scientist ‘F’ at SASE, Chandigarh. His areas of interest include: Automatic telemetry network, microwave radiometers and ground penetrating radar.