ESCALACAI: Open-Source Mechanical Climbing System for Smooth-Trunked Palm Trees (Açai, Areca, Coconut)

ESCALACAI is an open-source mechanical climbing system designed for safe ascent on smooth-trunked palm trees such as açaí, coconut, and areca. The project aims to improve harvesting safety while remaining compatible with local manufacturing capacities in tropical regions. The system is based on a dual cam mechanism that converts the climber’s weight into controlled radial gripping force without penetrating the tree bark. It is specifically designed to operate on conical trunks and incorporates an adjustable pivot position to accommodate diameter reduction during ascent. The present document constitutes Version 1.0 of the foundational open-source specification. It describes the mechanical principle, structural architecture, adjustment mechanisms, and safety considerations. Certain parameters, such as material selection and lever dimensions, are intentionally adaptable in order to support local fabrication using available resources. ESCALACAI is released under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike 4.0 license. Commercial production requires prior written agreement with Amazonia Viva. The project promotes community-based development, technical autonomy, and responsible open innovation in tropical agricultural contexts.