Development of a Mobile Arctic Sensor Node for Earth-Science Data Collection Applications

Abstract

Arctic regions are thought to be more sensitive to climate fluctuations, making weather data from these regions more valuable for climate modeling. However, Greenland and Antarctica present an extreme environment, one in which it is difficult to travel, and in which it is dangerous to work. The use of robotic sensor nodes for the collection of arctic weather data could minimize the exposure of humans to the harsh environment while allowing dense, targeted data collection to commence. Details of the design and construction of a prototype arctic sensor node are described, with emphasis on the design tools utilized and the motivation of design decisions, while lessons learned during field testing on a glacier in Alaska are presented.