Course Description
UST 3000 (undergraduate)
UST 5000 (graduate)
Investigate how autonomous robots can operate safely and effectively in the extreme cold and challenging conditions of Northern Minnesota's mining environment.
This project will bring together students from Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and related fields to design, build, and test an autonomous robot for cold-weather mining applications. Students will work on a real-world engineering challenge that requires the integration of mathematical modeling, mechanical design, sensing, control, and computer vision.
Students will participate at different levels according to their experience and academic background. New students will begin with well-defined tasks connected to their foundational coursework, while experienced students will take on increasingly complex technical responsibilities and help guide newer team members. Because the project involves multiple interconnected technical modules, students from different majors can make meaningful contributions while also developing an understanding of how their work fits into a larger autonomous system.
Highly Iterative Process
Design > Implement > Test > Analyze > Troubleshoot > Refine
The ultimate goal is to produce a working prototype of an autonomous mining robot that integrates mobility, sensing, control, and computer vision. Students will also have opportunities to communicate their work through technical presentations, demonstrations, reports, and interactions with industry stakeholders. The project will seek collaboration with Minnesota's mining industry, including potential industry partners such as Talon Metals and U.S. Steel - Minntac, providing students with exposure to authentic engineering needs and opportunities to develop solutions with practical relevance. In the longer term, the project can serve as a foundation for expanded industry collaboration and externally funded research at UMD.
Full Team Meeting Time & Location
TBD
Topics & Challenges Involved
- Safer, more efficient, and more technologically advanced approaches to mining operations.
- Provide a foundation for adapting technology to other applications where autonomous systems must operate in harsh or hazardous environments.
- Develop a workforce with interdisciplinary robotics and engineering skills that are relevant to Minnesota's industries.
- Strengthen the connection between UMD's educational mission, regional workforce needs, and technology innovation.
Community Partners & Sponsors
- Talon Metals
- U.S. Steel - Minntac
Methods & Technologies
- Microcontrollers
- Sensing units (LiDAR, cameras, IMUs)
- Linear actuators
- DC motors
- 3D printers
- Cold testing chamber
- MATLAB/Simulink
- SolidWorks
- ANSYS Workbench
- ROS2 development frameworks
- Mathematical modeling
- Chassis fabrication
- Drivetrain assembly