The Cavern Crawler: a Bridge Between Humanity and the Depths Below.

Hello there! My name is Oliver Victor, and I am an upcoming 14 year old freshman at my high school, where I plan to pursue a pathway in engineering. In my area, there is a system of caverns known as the Mammoth Cave, the largest known cave system in the world. With over 400 miles of it explored and an estimated 600 more to be within, the secrets and experiences it could hold know no bounds. That's why for my submission, I designed a machine that could act as a bridge to transfer us average people into the great unknowns of the Mammoth Cave system and others as well for the experience of a lifetime. Now, I know what you're thinking, and while it may not be a bridge in the typical format, it is still able to connect our society to an unknown place, and brings a unique perspective to what a bridge can be like in a fairly enclosed area. With that, I present my submission: The Cavern Crawler!

Supplies

Step 1: Brain Storming

With my plan set into motion, I devised some parameters I would need to make this possible which include

• An area to carry passengers
• An entrance/exit
• A way to travel across uneven terrain...

This final one proved to be the engineering dilemma with my project, so I jotted down some ideas in my notebook to get a blueprint going. I ended up choosing a function similar to a zip line that would, with the help of some motors, allow the capsule to travel a linear path through the ups, downs, lefts and rights of caves.

Step 2: The Body

If I wanted to get the design out there, I needed something to build off of. Hence, I began the design portion of my project by bringing various shapes together to build the capsule where the people would sit on their journey. I wanted to make it feel spacious enough without being too large to fit in many caves, so I opted with a cylindrical design that included chairs for the passengers and a central control section for the pilot to manage all the gimmicks of the Crawler, which will be discussed later. The reason for the full enclosure is to ensure a safe journey for the guests from debris, rocks, and animals that might run rampart in the caverns. I later added a glass floor using transparent bricks to allow for a more immersive travel. Once the body was finished, I had many more things to add on, but my next step was a way to get into my creation.

Step 3: The Entrance

For the entrance to the crawler, I made a motor-powered opening gate that allows for easy exit through the roof in the event of an emergency or if a tour outside the crawler is scheduled. It also allows for easy repairs, maintenance and accessibility to the interior, all while remaining safe and sound during a venture. The glass aspect also allows for an appealing visual of the journey.

Step 4: The Zipline

With my body complete, I now needed it's means of travel. So, after careful consideration, I implemented a zip-line like system to chug it along through caves. Originally, I designed it so that the zip line could be shot out like a projectile, and with a drill attached to the tip of it that would attach itself to a cave wall and create a cable path for the crawler to, well, crawl along on. I left this idea in the build as it still retained much potential if a diversion were necessary, but the primary travel method would be simply zipping to one resting location, switching cables, and going to another one, with the cables already installed into the cave by previous expeditions. As for what would happen to the projectile launcher during this process, the cable would enter in through the spot where the cable attached to the projectile would have gone, and would do so after being attracted by a magnet and pulled in with a track that would spit it out the other side, attach it to a zip line pole (already installed) via another magnet (and then something more stable) and let it rinse and repeat with the next one. This mainline process would allow for longer areas to be traversed quicker, even if the attaching process takes a minute. However, the alternative process I mentioned earlier would much improve the waiting time for setting up a travel section.

Step 5: The Projectile

Using a pneumatic and spark powered launcher, a drill with a cable attached would be launched across the cave to the point in which the pilot directs it. The drill would dig into the cave, providing a sturdy location for the cable, which could then be cycled through and repeated on the other side. To allow for any direction of travel, the projectile launcher can turn 360° around and nigh on 180° across while retaining its launching power. Another key function implemented in the body is the gear/pulley system that goes through the launchers and the top of the roof that will let the crawler boost itself along the cable line steadily. This is one thing that remains consistent in both designs, as it has the same purpose in either. I also went through several iterations of the "arrowhead" but ended up with a much lighter and simpler design when I realized the drill would still be able to spin mid flight when I took in mind the mass of the cable behind it. Other iterations could still be used if the drill needs more time to puncture with the downside of more weight. This system requires one more thing to make it work though, and that is

Step 6: The Joiner Drills

This set of drills along the side is necessary for the process of switching cable directions. When the crawler is launching or connecting a new cable, it is left with only one hanging on, which would result in the capsule falling down and possibly breaking the cable still attached. The Joiner system creates a steady base in the wall while the switching process occurs by extending its drill to a nearby wall and inserting it, making the crawler nothing more than a temporary extension of the cave for the time being. Each drill is also connected to 3 more extenders that have a ball joint joining them together, which allows for it to be aimed in a few directions with the proper extensions. They are then attached to a rotating flat, which would let those few directions turn into many more. An alternative joiner that would avoid damaging the walls entirely through the Zip line variant of the transportation method would implement places for the drills to connect to that doesn't drill into the walls, a form of reusable areas to steady the crawler.

Step 7: Miscellaneous Objects

A few details on a couple other miss-able details on the model. First off, for improved visibility, I added lights and cameras on the outside to further improve knowledge of the surrounding cave and where to aim certain moving parts like the projectile launcher or the joiner drills. The pilot could look at the cameras through the computers ate his desk, which would also let passengers get a better view of the space they're traversing. I also attempted to cushion the chairs as much as possible to make the ride more comfortable, as I assume it would get bumpy at times when gears are turning and pulling everything along. Below the chairs are also some personal storage containers where items can be placed in preparation for the journey.

Step 8: Submitting My Project

This is the step I am currently on, which will wrap up my project. I hope my explanations of each part detailed enough information on what they would do and why they are important to the design of the Cavern Crawler. This project took a lot of time and had a couple setbacks, but fortunately was able to come together in the end. It was a fun opportunity to create a bridge between us and cave systems as I had a fun time studying how the mechanics would work and the structure of caves. It took civil engineering to a whole new level for me, and was fueled a bit by my exploration fantasies as well. This project has been good fun, and yes, while it may not be a conventional bridge, the point isn't how it gets you there; it's where it will take you.