Desirable

The robot will be made to look less intrusive and camoflaged in the environkment it will be exploring.  So, aesthetics are an important part of this project.  The robot will have several colors.  It will be primarily sand colored and have touches of light green.  These colors will allow the robot to blend with the plants and sand found in a dune ecosystem.  To make the entired robot waterproof, the circuitry will be covered with a plastic, dome shaped cover.  This will also shade the motors from overexposure to the sun, which could cause overheating.  The appearance of the robot will not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also vital if the robot is going to asymmilate into the dune environment.

Useful

The robot was created to help allieviate stress that the dune and its ecosystem may undergo when a human walks into the dune for research. The robot, being small, subtle, and less intrusive than a human wil go into the dunes and take samples: sediment, plant, and video.  A single wireless controller will operate the robot, making it easy to run by a researcher or marine biogist. 

Usable

The robot be easy to use by the operator.  The operator will control the robot using a wireless remote control that coresponds with different functions on the robot.  Once someone understands the controls, controlling the robot will be easy.  The different buttons on the controller can be callibrated and changed to meet the operators standards.  The robot will be powered using a rechargeable battery so that the robot could be used everyday.  Also, the wireless functions will mitigate most distance restrictions so long as the robot stays within operating range.

Figure 8 - Alternate Solutions/Brainstorming - 3D Shovel Design 2

Figure 8 is a shovel design that seems best suited for the objectives tah need to be accomplished.  The tapered design allows the front end to "cut" right into the sand without applying as much force as a blunt ended shovel would need.  The shovel would be released using a servomotor, and dig into the sand as the robot moves forward.  Once enough sand is collected, the servo will swing the shovel back into its normal position, thus containing and storing the sediment sample.

Figure 7 - Alternate Solutions/Brainstroming - 3D Shovel Design 1

Figure 7 is a shovel design that could potentially be used to help take a sediment sample.  semicircle design allows the sample to easily stay in when the robot is moving.  However, one possible weakness of the design may be that its untapered front design could give the robot trouble when it is trying to push the shovel into the sand.  The shovel would be released using a servomotor, and dig into the sand as the robot moves forward.  Once enough sand is collected, the servo will swing the shovel back into its normal position, thus containing and storing the sediment sample.