Designing a Robot to Measure Soil Hydrophobicity and Optimize Tilling for Hydration

Importance

With wildfires becoming increasingly frequent, hydrophobic patches of soil are becoming more common issues. These soils prompt a multitude of issues, including runoff, flash flooding, soil erosion, and sediment in waterways. Furthermore, current methods for assessing and treating hydrophobic soils are laborious and inconsistent. While previous systems attempting to automate these tasks have measured soil water repellency or applied treatments such as fertilizers, no existing robot platform combines identification and improvement specifically for water-repelling soils. Addressing this gap can reduce negative environmental impacts and quicken reparation of wildfire-affected landscapes.

Grant Proposal