Climbing, walking and intervention robots

摘要

Explains how the Automatic Control Department of the Instituto de Automatica Industrial (CSIC) in Madrid, Spain has been developing robots for over 15 years. This activity began in the 1980s with the realization of industrial robots and then the department focused its attention on the area of robots for hostile/hazardous environments. Describes several achievements in this field including a complex tele‐operated system for steam generator inspection and maintenance in nuclear power plants; a tele‐manipulator for servicing a new concept of urban infrastructures; a self‐propelling climbing robot with magnetic feet; and a four‐legged walking robot for hazardous environments.