Tree-felling robot nabs design award

A robot dubbed “Tarzan” recently earned a group of Canterbury engineering students a national engineering award.

This robot, which will eventually be used to fell trees on steep terrain, was invented by Canterbury students Scott Paulin, Sean Bayley, Thomas Gilbert and George Wareing, according to a report. The robot is designed to move from tree to tree for transportation, and is programmed to avoid disturbing soil and getting entangled in obstacles such as shrubs, according to the students.

A quarter-scale model of the robot was made and tested in a simulated forestry environment, but a Ph.D. student is now improving upon the design, aided by other students who are developing a saw system for the robot.

Click here to read the original report.