Mapping Rabbit Burrows

The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) is a North American rabbit, and is one of only two rabbit species in America to dig its own burrow. The goal of this project is to design and build a device that can enter a pygmy rabbit burrow. Once inside the burrow data will be collected that can be used to generate a 3D map of the burrow.

Background
The pygmy rabbit digs burrows into the ground, which help to keep it safe from predation and the cold winters of its environment. These burrows are important to the pygmy rabbit, but they are also very important to the local ecosystem. The burrows are often used as shelter for other animals who cannot dig their own burrows. They also have an impact on soil density, temperature and water retention, which impacts surrounding plant life. The pygmy rabbit has a very strong impact on the plants and animals of its environment, and as such is important to study. Some important data on the rabbit burrows is presented below:

•	Burrow diameter between three and eighteen inches •	On average, each burrow has between three and five entrances, with an expected maximum of fourteen entrances •	Each burrow is between a meter and one and one-half meters under ground •	Each burrow entrance will be between two and three meters away from other entrances

Specifications
The requirements for the project are as follows. The robot must: •	Fit inside wide range of rabbit burrows •	Take measurements of the burrow space which may be used to provide volumetric data •	Record images of the burrow interior to be used by client •	Record all relevant data and return to the surface in a timely manner •	Be useable by the client with no special skills •	Operate for a period of one hour

Project Learning
Motor Characterization Objective: A characteristic Speed (S) vs. Torque (τ) curve is needed for a particular motor pair in order to predict motor performance in operation. This information may be used for engineering purposes such as gear ratio selection, operational voltage, and speed control. Efficiency (η) and Power (P) vs. Torque curves are also desired in order to select an ideal operating point with regard to motor speed. As these curves are not available for the pair of motors intended to be used in the prototype build, they must be developed experimentally. Methodology: A matched motor pair may be assumed to have equal efficiency, power and torque characteristics. Using this equivalency, one motor of the pair may be used to drive the other as in a motor/generator pair. As a load is applied to the generator side, the speed, input power to the drive motor and output power from the generator are monitored at varying load levels. Holding the input voltage constant, the efficiency, torque and power may be determined algebraically for each data point resulting in the desired characteristic curves. An Engineering Equation Solver (EES) script is used to model the desired operating conditions for a prototype model, and to calculate prototype performance based on the experimental data. A 30:1 gear ratio is desired for the prototype for manufacturability purposes. Because there is no maximum requirement for speed in this prototype, the model is used primarily to verify that minimum torque and power requirements are met. Reflection: As the operating point sits above the desired torque and speed output, it is likely the motor will be run below the assumed 12V EMF input. In order to locate a more appropriate operating point, it would be valuable to perform a similar experiment in which the load resistance was varied, and the input voltage was adjusted to achieve a specified angular velocity. A torque vs. voltage curve could then be generated for a specified gear ratio and vehicle velocity. Such an experiment may be useful to perform on the final motors as well, as such data is not typically given.

Sponsor
Janet Rachlow is a mammalian ecologist interested in behavior and conservation of both rare and common mammals. Her current research focuses on habitat relationships of diverse species, with an emphasis on understanding the consequences of habitat modification. Rachlow along with her students and collaborators conduct field and laboratory studies to address questions that can help manage and conserve wildlife and their habitats. Janet enjoys outdoor activities and Idaho’s terrific wildland resources.

Instructor
Dr. Joel C. Perry is a new member of the Mechanical Engineering Department as an assistant professor with a focus on robotics and engineering design. He received a B.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering from Gonzaga University in 2000, and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington, in 2002 and 2006 respectively. Dr. Perry spent the past 6 years working abroad in the Department of Rehabilitation Technologies at Tecnalia Research & Innovation in San Sebastian, Spain, where he managed R&D activities in the development of low-cost solutions for upper extremity rehabilitation. Before joining Tecnalia, Dr. Perry was involved in the development of a 7 degree-of-freedom (dof) arm exoskeleton, a 5-dof high precision positioning robot, a 5-dof surgical simulator, a novel 2-dof surgical grasper, and a 1-dof powered prosthesis for early-stance gait improvements in trans-tibial amputees. His research interests include enabling technologies for upper and lower limb disability, rehabilitation robotics, and surgical robotics.