Electric field measurements made on a robotic platform

TL;DR

This paper presents the first data from a ground-based robotic platform equipped with a field mill, demonstrating stable electric field measurements unaffected by the robot's motion and charging, with potential for autonomous environmental sensing.

Contribution

It introduces a robotic platform with a mounted field mill that provides reliable electric field data in dynamic conditions, a novel application in autonomous environmental monitoring.

Findings

Field mill data remains stable during robot movement

Electrostatic effects from robot components do not perturb measurements

Measurement variability is reduced by half compared to handheld devices

Abstract

This presentation reports the first known data from a field mill mounted on a ground-based robotic platform. The robot's motor and electrostatic charging of its wheels do not perturb the field mill data, and electric field varies smoothly whilst the robot is moving. Test measurements under a charged polystyrene plate are reduced in variability by a factor of 2 compared to a hand-held field mill. This technology has potential for autonomous measurements in inaccessible or hazardous environments.