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[ Rev.2--Small File] November 1 , 2014 Project Description STEM--NEPAL. A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT OF THE BULLIS SCHOOL, KANJIROWA NATIONAL HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, AND A CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER. Goals.
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[Rev.2--Small File]November 1, 2014Project DescriptionSTEM--NEPAL A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT OF THE BULLIS SCHOOL, KANJIROWA NATIONAL HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, AND A CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER
Goals • Conduct pathfinder, robotics project to establish a collaborative, STEM support and exchange relationship between The Bullis School, Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, The Kanjirowa National Higher Secondary School, Kathmandu, Nepal, and the Challenger Learning Center, Wheeling West Virginia, USA • Respond to national needs of Nepal • Provide for cultural exchange and enrichment
Needs • Mitigation ofsafety risks of bridges and aerial lines and cables in Nepal • Improvement of disaster response in Nepal
Rationale • Suspension, cantilever, and other bridges, as well as aerial lines and cables, are essential to providing access and supplies to vast, remote areas of Nepal • Safety maintenance is challenged by funding, engineering, materials, and infrastructure limitations, as well as by greatly varied and extreme environmental conditions -- heat, humidity, dense jungle, dangerous wildlife, torrential rain, floods, landslides, earthquakes, frequent lightening, dense fog, high winds, snow, ice, avalanches, high mountains, difficult terrain • Disaster response is especially challenging in Nepal. Location of disaster victims is particularly difficultin Nepal’s environment
Response • Robotic systems • Based on study of the certain robotic systems, the elements and capabilities of which could be adapted to the unique conditions of Nepal and to the particular requirements for inspection of suspension, cantilever, and other bridges, as well as aerial lines and cables, there, this project will conduct research, development, evaluation, testing, operation, and maintenance of prototype, visual inspection robots for practical use in the field • The systems will also be suitable for use in disaster relief operations. • To be appropriate to challenging local conditions, the systems will be inexpensive, human-portable, modular, remotely operated, self-propelled, highly mobile, internally powered, computer supported, relatively simple to construct, operate, and maintain, and effective in extreme and radically varying environmental conditions. • Aerial drone technology has been selected • Rracked and wheeled systems employing robotic arms are under continuing study • The Canadarm, a robotic system, conducts inspection and other operations on the International Space Station in an extremely challenging environment. NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover carries out observations on the hostile, Martian surface • Note: Robotics is included in the curricula of some schools in Nepal. The Robotics Association of Nepal is quite active, holding annual competitions
Participants • Bullis students, faculty, parents, alumni with robotics expertise • Kanjirowa National Higher Secondary School students, faculty • Challenger Learning Center leadership and staff • Other appropriate parties
Technical Support • NASA, NOAA • Project Advisors • U.S. Technical Adviser, William Rory Kronmiller, Computer Science, RPI
Tasks • Develop project rationale and description, including milestones, events, activities • Hold discussions within and among, and establish agreements between, Bullis, Kanjirowa National Higher Secondary School, Challenger Center • Secure assistance of Bullis alumni with expertise in robotics • Establish website • Establish distance learning capability • Establish Project Advisory Board • Secure support of Nepal Government • Coordinate with U.S. Government (NASA, State Department, Commerce Departments, including NOAA; U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu) • Obtain commitments from institutional and individual participants; establish roles and responsibilities • Consult with Project Coordinator—Nepal • Determine and initially arrange logistics • Secure funding commitments • Conduct fact finding and initial system testing mission to Nepal • Gather equipment, supplies; complete planning and logistics (update contingencies) • Conduct on-site Nepal operational phase • Assess results • Consider future collaboration
Schedule • First Phase--2014-2015 Academic Year • 2014 Project organization; selection and initial testing of first drone • March 2015 exploratory trip to Nepal including first tests of relatively simple, video-equipped aerial drone. Post-visit, continued testing by Kanjirowa. Distance learning enabled collaborative development work. • Second Phase--2015-2106 Academic Year • Intensified distance learning in collaborative development of fully capable second test/operational drone • Two-three weeks Bullis presence in Nepal for testing. Visit to USA by faculty and students of Kanjirowa National Secondary High School
Cost • Individual costs--Assume Bullis students and parents to cover costs of transportation, accommodations, meals, insurance, etc., for First and Second Phases • Joint costs--Bullis, Kanjirowa National Higher Secondary School, Challenger Center, to be funded by Bullis from sources TBD (e.g., foundations, corporations, crowd sourcing)
Logistics • Briefings; distance learning assets and training; passports; visas; export/import controls compliance re: equipment and technical data; inoculations, medications, sanitary and dietary regimes; local currency; air and ground transportation of participants, personal effects, and project equipment; hotels; project venues; security; emergency and routine medical care in country; clothing; tours; contingency planning and preparation
Key Contacts • The Bullis School:Ms. Yen, Ms. Darling, Michael Kronmiller • Kanjirowa National Higher Secondary School, Kathmandu, Nepal: Mr. PuspaRegmi • Challenger Learning Center at Wheeling Jesuit University:Ms. Jackie Shia • Experts: Dr. Scott Parazynski; Mr. Keith Cowing • Project Coordinator--Nepal:Prem, Adventure Samsara, Kathmandu • U.S. and Nepalese Government officials:TBD • U.S. Technical Adviser: William Rory Kronmiller, Computer Science School, RPI
First Test SystemPhantom 2 Vision + http://www.dji.com/product/phantom-2-vision-plus
Candidate Second Test/Operational DroneDSLRPros S-1000 • To be modified for conditions and requirements in Nepal http://www.dslrpros.com/brands/dslrpros/drone-kits/dslrpros-s1000-kit-372.html
Possible Follow On Vehicles • Tracked or wheeled vehicles utilizing robotic arms have been under study for more than a year. While these systems appear to be less suitable, than a drone, for the objectives of the Project, study will continue.
Key Websites • http://clc.cet.edu/?/home/; • http://www.kanjisl.edu.np/; • http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=28096 • http://www.bullis.org/ • http://www.bullis.org/student-life/global-studies/index.aspx • http://www.bullis.org/student-life/clubs-and-academic-teams/index.aspx • http://www.nasa.gov/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html; • http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html; • http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5283.htm • http://www.state.gov/p/sca/ci/np/ • https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/np.html • http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/children/Nepal; • http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/nptoc.html (Detailed Nepal Study) • csa.gc.ca/eng/default.asp; • http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/canadarm/default.asp • http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/canadarm/mda_neptec.asp • http://nepal.adventure-samsara.com/ • http://ran.org.np/ (Robotics Association of Nepal) • http://www.ncit.edu.np/ (Nepal College of Information Technology—winner or RAN First Prize, October 2013) • https://www.google.com/search?q=bridges+in+nepal&espv=210&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=WK_2UtiMH8SX0QG4jIH4Cg&ved=0CCcQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=1082 (Bridges) • http://kronmiller.net/Photos/2011/Asia/Nepal/ • http://www.robotshop.com/en/robot-parts.html • http://www.trossenrobotics.com/ • http://www.robotmarketplace.com/store.html • Dslrpros.com