Details:

Alternative Title:
Development of an aerial platform system for bridge inspection.
Creators:
Moller, Paul S.
Corporate Creators:
University of California, Davis. Dept. of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering. AHMCT Center
Corporate Contributors:
United States. Federal Highway Administration
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Bridges California Inspection Robot Camera Robotics Technological Innovations
Publication/ Report Number:
CA 08-0182
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
California
Corporate Publisher:
California. Dept. of Transportation. Division of Research and Innovation
Abstract:
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) project resulted in the development of a twin-motor,

single duct, electric-powered Aerobot designed of carrying video cameras up to 200 feet in elevation to enable

close inspection of bridges and other elevated highway structures. The Aerobot designed to perform that mission,

the model ES20-10, is a forty-pound vehicle employing two electric motors with power, control commands, and

sensor images transmitted through a thin-wire and fiber-optic 200-foot cable. Aerobot is a ducted-fan vehicle

utilizing a unique computer-aided stabilization and control system. The vehicle is capable of vertical takeoff,

translation to horizontal movement as commanded by the pilot, hover at a point in space as commanded, rotation

about its vertical axis (yaw control), and controlled descent to a vertical landing. This control permits extensive

mobility for positioning the inspection camera to view elevated structures close-up from any angle. The system is

designed to be very safe to operate in that it allows a video camera to be placed close to the structure being

inspected while the operating personnel remain safely on the ground. The ducted fans are encased deep within

the duct and the duct inlet can be fitted with a safety screen. Onboard computer controls stabilize the Aerobot at

all times. Due to a number of implementation issues, the device did not perform as expected within the initial or

extended schedule of events and was not deployed.


Format:
PDF
Funding:
UCD02-02371
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:2a1e37d645be6bcbd1866e52041985b44c0bae7403025d14fe44fc9b77e6c434
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/27541/dot_27541_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

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