Welcome to the MONKEE Project Highlights.
Here we share the highlights of our project and key milestones as we build a tree-climbing robot. From early prototypes and internal reviews with our professors to lots of testing and iterations, follow along as we bring MONKEE to life.
Testing in Hölstein Basel
We had the great opportunity to test Gibby in the forest at Hölstein,where a canopy crane let us access the trees and ensure a safe recovery.
We succesfully climbed the spruce up to 25 meter, without having to intervene. This was a huge milestone for us since it showed, that we were able to fully complete out goals.
Testing
After a year of hard work, we were able to climb a 3 meter high tree without the invervention of a user. This was a huge milestone and showed us, that our concept does work.
Current Prototype
As we get closer to the end, we are proud to present our current prototype. With just a few weeks left until the Rollout, every day counts.
Since Review 3, we have implemented key feedback and made a major design change by rotating the end effector. This adjustment significantly extended the length of our arms and tripled the robot’s reach. While working on many tasks in parallel, we are finally seeing all the pieces come together.
On the right you can see our first climbing sequence, speed up x8.
Development and Testing – Insights into our workspace
Take a look behind the scenes of the MONKEE project. From CAD modeling and PCB design to late-night teamwork and daily problem solving. It’s a glimps into our daily lives.
From assembling key components to watching our robot take its very first steps, this video shows part of our progress. With each test and adjustment, our vision of an autonomous tree climbing robot becomes more real.
Review 3
Our last review took place on April 11, 2025. The goal was to inspire our audience with the vision behind MONKEE and to present the current state of our prototype.
We began with a presentation, followed by a guided visit to our workspace. This allowed us to receive one on one feedback from lab members, professors and our coaches in a more hands-on setting.
With this valuable input, we are now continuing to refine our robot and move closer to its final iteration.
Family Day
One of the most memorable highlights of our project was the opportunity to share it with our families. Parents, siblings, grandparents and many other supporters came to see what we have been working on over the past months.
It was incredibly rewarding to show them a glimpse of our daily life. We hosted a small apéro, demonstrated some of the capabilities of our robotic arm and even invited them to try it out themselves.
Moments like these reminded us how far we have come and how important it is to celebrate progress with the people who support us behind the scenes.
Review 2
The second review was a key technical milestone for the MONKEE project. Each subteam including locomotion, adhesion, electrical and controls presented their solutions to the challenges they were facing and received valuable feedback from everyone in attendance.
We began with a joint presentation to update the entire group on our overall progress. This was followed by breakout sessions where each subteam presented in smaller groups to enable focused discussions and one on one feedback.
After a successful review we were relieved and proud of the outcome. We wrapped up the day with a team lunch and a well earned break.
Review 1
On 21. October 2024, we successfully completed our first project review together with Serenity Robotics. We shared our vision, requirements, and initial prototypes with Roland Siegwart‘s lab ASL and Robotic Systems Lab. Afterward, we welcomed our supervisors, coaches, and fellow students into our workshop to showcase and demonstrate the prototypes in action. The feedback we received has been key to shaping the next steps in developing our full system concept.
Join us as we work towards making an impact on climate change research and forest conservation!
Defining our Goal
Welcome to project MONKEE!
We are a group of ten mechanical engineers developing a tree climbing robot to revolutionize canopy research. This innovative technology will allow scientists to access and study treetops like never before, unlocking new data to better protect our forests and fight climate change.
Join us on our journey to reach new heights!
A BIG thank you to our videographer Lauro De Min for the amazing drone shots, filming and editing!
Meeting the Team
Nervous but full of excitement, we met for the very first time, not yet knowing how much we would grow together. Right from the start, there was a strong sense of curiosity, motivation and mutual respect that set the tone for the months ahead. After the first meeting, we headed out for beers, already laughing like a team and looking forward to what was coming.
