2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The objective of this senior design project, developed by a multidisciplinary team of Mechanical and Electrical-Computer Engineering Technology students, is to design and build a robot capable of climbing trees and trimming branches safely and efficiently.

Traditional tree-trimming methods require extensive safety measures—such as harnesses, ropes, and belay systems—to protect operators working at significant heights. Despite these precautions, such methods remain inherently dangerous; equipment failures or human errors can result in severe injuries or fatalities. The proposed robot aims to eliminate these risks by performing trimming operations autonomously or under remote supervision from the ground, thereby offering a safer, faster, and more cost-effective alternative to the large and expensive tree-maintenance equipment currently in use.

Design Concept:
Inspired by the motion of a caterpillar, the prototype utilizes a hydraulic system to compress and extend its body and pneumatic pistons to clamp its legs securely around the tree trunk. Both systems are remotely controlled by an operator. The robot’s structure is designed to be lightweight for efficient climbing yet durable enough to withstand minor impacts or falls due to slippage.

The robot moves in an inchworm-like fashion, gripping the tree with its lower legs, extending its core upward, and then clamping its upper legs before releasing the lower set. A mechanical arm equipped with a small chainsaw at the top of the robot provides trimming capability, offering 360° motion across three axes for precise branch cutting.

Project Goals:
The primary goal is to develop a robot capable of safely scaling various tree types while remaining affordable and user-friendly. Operators should be able to control the system with minimal training, compared to the extensive certification required for professional arborists.

Technical Integration:
This project integrates a broad range of engineering technology skills, including SolidWorks 3D design, coding and control systems development, and hands-on fabrication using mechanical and electrical tools. Safety remains a central focus throughout design, testing, and evaluation, aligning with the overarching goal of improving working conditions for arborists and landscape professionals.

Design Alternatives:
Alternative concepts explored include wheel-based climbing mechanisms (similar to coconut-harvesting robots) and electrically driven extendable bodies for enhanced flexibility and reach. Each concept was evaluated based on safety, energy efficiency, manufacturability, and climbing reliability.

Educational Outcomes:
This project supports the ABET-ETAC-accredited Engineering Technology program’s Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), specifically: “design systems, components, or processes meeting specified needs for broadly defined engineering problems appropriate to the ECET discipline.” Assessment results for this outcome, and its related Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), will be reported in the full paper.