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Traversing Sensor Platform for Environmental Measurements
Author(s) -
Ham Jay M.,
Caldwell F. W.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1993.00021962008500040033x
Subject(s) - traverse , path (computing) , actuator , electrical engineering , computer science , environmental science , acoustics , engineering , geology , geodesy , physics , programming language
Under conditions of high spatial variability, environmental sensors can be transported across or through the region of interest to obtain representative samples of the measured parameter. A traversing platform was designed to carry heavy sensors and instruments along a horizontal path under field conditions. The system was composed of a 0.17‐ by 0.13‐m rolling platform atop a 2.2‐m long aluminum channel. A motorized cable‐chain drive was used to move the platform at a speed of 0.035 m s −1 . The system was powered with 12‐V DC deepcycle batteries and consumed ≈6 W of power when the sensor platform was in transit. On‐board circuits can be used in conjunction with a programmable datalogger to sense the platform's location or stop the platform at user‐specified locations along the traversing path. The mechanism was capable of transporting a 5‐kg sensor package at inclination angles up to 45°. The system operated without failure for a 6‐wk period under field conditions.