Inspection robots and methods for inspection of curved surfaces with sensors at selected horizontal distances

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 at a first selected horizontal position;
• and
• attaching a second sensor sled to the second or the third rail component at a second selected horizontal position,
• 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.

An inspection robot, the inspection robot comprising:

• a housing;
• a drive module comprising a wheel and a motor, wherein the drive module is operatively linked to the housing;
• a first sensor carriage and a second sensor carriage;
• and
• a first payload comprising:
• a first rail component comprising a first connector;
• and
• a second rail component comprising a second connector,
• wherein the first connector and the second connector are connectable at a first selected position of a plurality of discrete engagement positions,
• wherein the first payload is coupled to the housing,
• wherein the first rail component and the second rail component are each structured to support at least one of the first sensor carriage or the second sensor carriage, and
• wherein each of the first and second sensor carriages is coupled to the first payload at a respective selected horizontal position.