Autonomous Modular Tracked Bulldozer for Simulation Validation and Field Research
Problem statement
Imagine the cost and disappointment of sending a multimillion-dollar rover to the Moon or Mars only to discover it cannot perform its mission as expected. Because the extreme environmental conditions of other planets cannot be replicated on Earth, researchers rely on simulations to predict rover performance, yet without a reliable physical test platform these simulations cannot be fully validated. Current options, such as small off-the-shelf remote-controlled cars, fail to capture the complexity of tracked mobility, excavation tasks, and sensor integration, leaving critical gaps in verifying simulation accuracy. For Professor Dan Negrut and the Simulation-Based Engineering Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this presents a pressing challenge: without an adaptable and robust platform, their cutting-edge simulation tools risk being disconnected from the realities of planetary exploration. The BUCK-E project addresses this need by creating a tracked bulldozer with a vertically actuated plow and modular design, enabling researchers to swap out hardware and sensors for different experiments. By directly correlating simulation models with real-world data, BUCK-E will not only advance the lab’s research but also contribute to the broader goal of developing autonomous systems capable of thriving in the harsh and unforgiving conditions of space exploration.
Team members
Akash Deepak – facilitator
Alex Aquino – admin
Brian Vazquez Sanchez – accountant
Gavin Chang – communicator
Client
Harry Zhang
UW – Mechanical Engineering