Abstract
The evolution of the wind turbine to generate carbon-free renewable energy is rapidly growing. Thus, performing maintenance and inspection tasks in high altitude environments or difficult to access places, and even bad weather conditions, poses a problem for the periodic inspection process of the wind turbine industry. This paper describes the design and development of a scaled-down prototype climbing robot for wind turbine maintenance to perform critical tower operations. Thus, the unique feature of this maintenance robot is the winding mechanism, which uses a tension force to grip on the tower surface without falling to the ground either in static or dynamic situations, with the locomotion to perform a straight up–down motion in a circular truncated cone and the stability to work at significant heights. The robot computer-aided design (CAD) model of the mechanical mechanism, force and structural analysis, and the testing of the prototype model, are addressed in this paper. The key hardware developments that were utilized to build a low-cost, reliable and compact climbing robot are the embedded microprocessors, brushed DC motors, stepper motors and steel rope. This paper concludes with a successful preliminary experiment of a scaled down prototype proving the functionality of the concept. The potential applications for this robot are industrial maintenance, inspection and exploration, security and surveillance, cleaning, painting, and welding at extreme height conditions.
Highlights
Bridges, dams, fuel storage tanks, cargo ships, vessels and onshore/offshore wind turbines are important industrial and economic structures
The rapid increase in wind turbine demand extended to a manifold task and will equate to face a different challenge in terms of its operation and maintenance
The inspection personnel may perform simple ground visual inspections, or a close-up tower visual inspection to assess on nominated areas at the different intensities of dirt, corrosion and cracking on the wind turbine parts.these hazardous tasks are suitable for the climbing robot mission rather than human beings for safety and ease of inspection
Summary
Dams, fuel storage tanks, cargo ships, vessels and onshore/offshore wind turbines are important industrial and economic structures. The innovation of this climbing robot is that its method of adhesion uses a tension rope force to grip rather than conventional techniques such as magnetic adhesion, vacuum suction, electrostatic adhesion and propeller-type adhesion. The four rubber wheels in contact with the wind turbine tower will provide sufficient friction as they roll on the tower surface and are prevented from slipping This climbing robot can facilitate movement in a straight up–down motion with the wired.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
