Autonomous robotic platform for inspection and repairing operations in harsh environments

Abstract

The MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) industry expected economic growth is severely limited by the high human injury and death toll rates, mainly associated to harsh working environment and scarcity of unmanned support solutions. The present work introduces an advanced mobile robotic platform that is capable of providing a clear response to key MRO barriers being designed to climb vertical surfaces and operating in harsh environment while executing inspection and repairing tasks. The paper outlines the integrated design procedure supporting the engineering of the mobile platform; the benefits of the solution have been addressed and validated with regard to real world operating scenarios.