Inspection robots and methods for inspection of curved surfaces
AssigneeGecko Robotics, Inc.
InventorsEdward A. Bryner, Kevin Y. Low, Ignacio J. Cordova, Francesco H. Trogu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Inspection robots and methods for inspection of curved surfaces are described. An example inspection robot may include a housing, and at least one drive module operative linked to the housing and including a wheel and motor. An example inspection robot may further include two sleds, each with a sensor, the sled connectable to a payload. An example payload may include multiple rail components with intervening connectors, the connectors are able to connect two rail components at a plurality of discrete engagement positions.
Claims15
An inspection robot, the robot comprising:
- a housing;
- at least one drive module comprising at least one wheel and a motor, wherein the at least one drive module is operatively linked to the housing;
- a first sled comprising a first sensor;
- a second sled comprising a second sensor;
- and
- a payload comprising:
- a first rail component comprising at least a first connector;
- and
- a second rail component comprising at least a second connector,
- wherein the first connector and the second connector are connectable at a first selected one of a plurality of discrete engagement positions,
- wherein the payload is operationally coupled to the at least one drive module, and
- wherein the first rail component and the second rail component are each structured to support the first sled or the second sled.
A method for provisioning an inspection robot, the method comprising:
- attaching a first rail component to a second rail component at a first selected position of a plurality of discrete engagement positions;
- attaching the second rail component to a third rail component at a second selected position of the plurality of discrete engagement positions;
- attaching a first sensor sled to the first rail component;
- and
- attaching a second sensor sled to a second or third rail component,
- wherein the first and second selected positions of the plurality of discrete engagement positions are chosen to enable operational contact of the first and second sensor sleds to an inspection surface that is non-planar across a length of the attached rail components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.