Lynx

Lynx

Capstone Project
A data-collection and analysis robot for more efficient and effective forest management
DESIGNER(S)
IN COLLABORATION WITH
MAJOR
Industrial Design
FACULTY
Sang-gyeun Ahn
Findings from the Bureau of Labor show that there aren’t enough young people going into forestry in the US to replace the current, aging workforce. This is attributed to factors like low pay, lack of college programs and high school vocational programs, decreased funding to programs that do exist, and general disinterest in forestry-related fields. Furthermore, decades of poor environmental policies now result in massive, highly destructive wildfires, increasing the need for better forest management. Given these trends, Lynx is a small, autonomous vehicle that utilizes stereoscopic technology to collect qualitative and quantitative data about trees and forest ecosystems in lieu of actual human workers. It would be paired with an AI that uses this data to devise comprehensive forest management plans.
DESIGNER(S)
MAJOR
Industrial Design
FACULTY
Sang-gyeun Ahn
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION OF DESIGN