A planetary wheel type obstacle crossing robot, including a frame, a front drive set, and a rear drive set, is provided. The front drive set and the rear drive set are respectively connected to a front end and a rear end of the frame. The front drive set includes a dual-drive steering wheel structure, which includes two drive wheels and two first drive devices. The first drive devices respectively output different rotational speeds to the drive wheels, so that the dual-drive steering wheel structure rotates. The rear drive set includes two planetary wheel sets, two second drive devices, and a planetary wheel set suspension structure. Each planetary wheel set is individually driven and includes a front wheel, a rear wheel, and an upper wheel. The wheels of each planetary wheel set cooperate to climb over an obstacle under an action of a driving torque output by the second drive device.

A method is for mounting an object, such as a line sensor, to a power line. The method includes: i) suspending and tensioning at least two ropes between a physical ground and a power line; ii) coupling a rope robot with the at least two ropes in such a way that the rope robot can climb up and down the at least two ropes in operational use; iii) providing an object on the rope robot; iv) making the rope robot climb up to the power line to bring the object close to the power line; v) mounting the object to the power line with the rope robot, and vi) decoupling the rope robot from the object and making the rope robot climb down the at least two ropes. A rope robot is disclosed for carrying out this method.

A method is for mounting an object, such as a line sensor, to a power line. The method includes: i) suspending and tensioning at least two ropes between a physical ground and a power line; ii) coupling a rope robot with the at least two ropes in such a way that the rope robot can climb up and down the at least two ropes in operational use; iii) providing an object on the rope robot; iv) making the rope robot climb up to the power line to bring the object close to the power line; v) mounting the object to the power line with the rope robot, and vi) decoupling the rope robot from the object and making the rope robot climb down the at least two ropes. A rope robot is disclosed for carrying out this method.

In certain embodiments, a portable metal working robot system includes a metal working tool configured to perform a metal working process on one or more metal parts. In addition, the portable metal working robot system includes communication circuitry configured to receive control signals from a control system located remotely from the portable metal working robot system. The portable metal working robot system also includes control circuitry configured to control operational parameters of the portable metal working robot system in accordance with the received control signals.

In certain embodiments, a portable metal working robot system includes a metal working tool configured to perform a metal working process on one or more metal parts. In addition, the portable metal working robot system includes communication circuitry configured to receive control signals from a control system located remotely from the portable metal working robot system. The portable metal working robot system also includes control circuitry configured to control operational parameters of the portable metal working robot system in accordance with the received control signals.

An inspection robot, and methods and a controller thereof are disclosed. An inspection robot may include an inspection chassis including a plurality of inspection sensors and coupled to at least one drive module to drive the robot over an inspection surface. The inspection robot may also include a controller including an inspection data circuit to interpret inspection base data, an inspection processing circuit to determine refined inspection data, and an inspection configuration circuit to determine an inspection response value in response to the refined inspection data. The controller may further include an inspection response circuit to, in response to the inspection response value, provide an inspection command value while the inspection robot is interrogating the inspection surface.

Various embodiments of a bio-inspired robot operable for detecting crack and corrosion defects in tubular structures are disclosed herein.

Devices for moving on substantially vertical surfaces, tools for cleaning substantially vertical surfaces and systems for cleaning substantially vertical surfaces are disclosed.

Devices for moving on substantially vertical surfaces, tools for cleaning substantially vertical surfaces and systems for cleaning substantially vertical surfaces are disclosed.

A method of inspection or maintenance of a curved ferromagnetic surface using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a releasable crawler is provided. The method includes: flying the UAV from an initial position to a pre-perching position in a vicinity of the ferromagnetic surface; autonomously perching the UAV on the ferromagnetic surface; maintaining magnetic attachment of the perched UAV to the ferromagnetic surface; releasing the crawler from the magnetically attached UAV onto the ferromagnetic surface; moving the crawler over the curved ferromagnetic surface while maintaining magnetic attachment of the released crawler to the ferromagnetic surface; inspecting or maintaining the ferromagnetic surface using the magnetically attached crawler; and re-docking the released crawler with the perched UAV.