Design of a Tick Collecting Robot

           The overall goal of this research project is to fully design, manufacture, and test a robot for tick collection. The robot will be designed to collect ticks in regions such as Albany Pine Bush with thickly branched vegetation including shrubs, trees, and leaf liter. The robot will be useful to biologists who collect ticks for research or disease control purposes because it will reach areas that are inaccessible to human-powered collection methods, and thus provide them with a more accurate estimate of the local tick density. Its compact size, tank treads and dual use of RC and autonomous control systems will allow the robot to maneuver in between and over obstacles such as low-hanging branches. Video will be shown of the robot in action.