Caltrans bridge inspection aerial robot.

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
  • Inspection
  • Technological innovations
  • Robot camera
  • Robotics
  • California
• 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.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  UCD02-02371
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/27541/dot_27541_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1012.84 KB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:2a1e37d645be6bcbd1866e52041985b44c0bae7403025d14fe44fc9b77e6c434