The City of Los Angeles is responsible for maintaining over 11,000 miles of sidewalks. When a sidewalk segment becomes uneven—due to factors such as ground settling or tree root intrusion—it can pose significant hazards to pedestrians. In addition to safety concerns, the City is legally obligated to ensure that its sidewalks comply with Federal ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards, which place strict limits on allowable sidewalk slopes and surface irregularities.

ABSTRACT / DESCRIPTION: This marks the eighth term of an ongoing multi-year project. In the previous term, a rover was successfully fabricated and is now capable of 1) remote-controlled movement, 2) measuring crossing and running slopes, 3) collecting GPS data, and 4) capturing photographic images. In the current term, we aim to enhance the system further by developing a module to measure vertical and horizontal displacement, in collaboration with the Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering Departments. Additionally, we will continue advancing the software components of the system, with a focus on the following tasks:

Task 1 – Recruit 3 – 4 students from the Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical Engineering Departments to continue enhancing the existing modules  – The faculty advisors shall recruit students from the Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering departments to continue to improve the module developed by the previous team to collect vertical and horizontal displacement data.

Task 2 – Improve the integration of the module collecting vertical and horizontal displacement with a rover – The students shall collaborate with the ME and EE team to improve the physical integration of the module collecting vertical and horizontal displacement onto the rover.

Task 3 – Develop software to semi-automate navigation of the rover – The students shall design and implement a program that enables the rover to navigate semi-autonomously, supporting more efficient data collection in the field.  

Task 4 – Conduct extensive field testing to evaluate the system and collect sidewalk data. – The students shall perform extensive field tests to prepare the system for real-world deployment, including test runs at the Echo Park field site.