Our Mission
The
objective of this project is to design and build an instrument that can
identify midden in remote
locations and differentiate soil types at various depths. The prototype
must be relatively lightweight, have strength in compression, and be
portable. The penetrometer was originally used as an agricultural tool
to determine the soil compaction, which helped farmers decide if the
soil could be used for crop production. Due to varied results from site
to site, a standard design of the penetrometer was developed.
Archeologists use penetrometers to locate soil midden levels as well as
determine how deep it runs below the ground. This information
can assists archeologists in verifying if there is organic
material present at the test site. Team 18 will develop a prototype of
a penetrometer that is portable, wireless, and easy to use in the
field. This penetrometer prototype will determine the type of soil by
calculating the friction coefficient of the soil. The prototype should
produce reliable data that can be transmitted to a handheld device.
