Arborist Safety Robot

Serpent Robotics

Serpent Robotics is a remotely operated system that ascends standard arborist ropes, stabilizes at the cut site, and performs controlled pruning cuts. I cofounded the startup with three partners, and the team has received $56,000 in non-dilutive funding for prototyping and pilot deployment.

01

Research and Validation

Outreach with more than 25 arborists and industry experts identified operator controls, camera position, branch capture, and rope-based stabilization as critical design issues.

  • 25+ industry interviews
  • Operator controls
  • Camera positioning

02

Field Testing

With advisor Peter Fixler, we tested multiple prototypes on dead and living trees at Morris Arboretum alongside working arborists.

  • Morris Arboretum
  • Dead and living trees
  • Arborist feedback

03

Concept Prototype

The robot climbs an arborist rope to the cut site, where it is remotely stabilized before making a controlled pruning cut.

  • Rope ascent
  • Remote stabilization
  • Controlled pruning cut

04

Engineering Tests

Prototype work compared game-controller inputs, camera setups, claw designs, saws, blade types, and rope configurations.

  • Game-controller inputs
  • Camera tests
  • Claw and saw iterations

05

Pilot Preparation

The team is preparing pilots with private tree-care practices to evaluate safe operation, consistent performance, uptime, and fit within daily workflows.

  • Private-practice pilots
  • Operational uptime
  • Daily workflow fit