UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #935

Overall Research Project Description Amidst the escalating challenges posed by natural and man-made disasters, one of the most dire situations is the entrapment of individuals under debris from collapsed structures. The urgency to maximize survival rates necessitates swift and efficient rescue operations. To address this, this project aims to evaluate and optimize the design of excavator buckets to enhance their efficiency in rescue scenarios. To be more specific, in simulated rescue operation scenarios, student volunteers will operate small-scale excavators equipped with varying bucket designs in attempts to unearth a 3D printed human figure while measuring both the rescue time and the accumulative pressure given to the figure throughout the operation. Drawing from these findings, the bucket design will be iteratively refined, with the ultimate goal of establishing an excavator bucket design that harmoniously blends speed with the delicate precision required for safe rescue operations. Through this endeavor, the project seeks to bridge the gap between technological advancements and their practical deployment in life-saving activities, potentially revolutionizing post-disaster rescue operations.