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Posted by Dave on October 25, 2006, 8:24 am
electrostaticism@googlemail.com wrote:
> Hi
> I wonder if anyone has any ideas or advice about building a
> pole-climbing robot. I'm doing some research for my MSc and have very
> little experience in robot building. The requirements are listed
> below:
> Essential Objectives
> Device must be capable of ascending and descending a standard 12 m
> octagonal lamp post five times from a start position of 1.70 m above
> ground level.
> Device must carry a miniature digital camera (18gm approx and around
> 2cm cubed) capable of wireless communication.
> Device should have the capability to carry alternative loads of
> varying dimensions and mass.
> Device must be self contained and capable of semi-autonomous operation
> or remote control operation.
> Device must have excellent stability to enable quality recording of
> visual images of the structure.
> Must have capability to record visuals around a 360 degree panorama.
> Must be able to manoeuvre around the structure in order to record
> visuals of the full construction.
> Device must be easy to transport (maximum 2 kg)
> Desirable Objectives
> Device should be capable of fully autonomous operation.
> Device should be easy to use for an un-skilled operator.
> Device should be flexible in design to allow functioning on pole
> structures of alternative terrain, dimension and cross-section.
> Device should be aerodynamic and visually appealing.
> I have been researching a good deal about past projects along this
> vein, however would greatly appreciate any details you may have about
> similar projects and would be grateful if anyone could give any
> opinions and advice on designs I am coming up with. At the moment I
> am still toying with design concepts for rubber wheeled systems, for
> rubber tracked systems, for utilising magnets (as most but not all of
> the pole surfaces it will be used on will be metal), or otherwise
> using the grasping climbing motion. There is only so much that can
> be got out of books, so any help would be very welcome.
> Regards,
> Jane Cheung
> MSc Design Engineering
> Middlesex University
> UK.
An interesting project. Some comments, based on absolutely no relevant
experience :-
Rubber wheels are good, anything more complex is not worth the effort. The
drive needs to be designed in such a way that as it slips down the pole it
tightens its grip. You probably also need a 'no power' parking capability -
if you need power on to just stand still then you will use a lot of juice
You will need to watch component weights very carefully to keep within a 2
kg mass limit
Otherwise, have fun !
Dave
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> I wonder if anyone has any ideas or advice about building a
> pole-climbing robot. I'm doing some research for my MSc and have very
> little experience in robot building. The requirements are listed
> below:
> Essential Objectives
> Device must be capable of ascending and descending a standard 12 m
> octagonal lamp post five times from a start position of 1.70 m above
> ground level.
> Device must carry a miniature digital camera (18gm approx and around
> 2cm cubed) capable of wireless communication.
> Device should have the capability to carry alternative loads of
> varying dimensions and mass.
> Device must be self contained and capable of semi-autonomous operation
> or remote control operation.
> Device must have excellent stability to enable quality recording of
> visual images of the structure.
> Must have capability to record visuals around a 360 degree panorama.
> Must be able to manoeuvre around the structure in order to record
> visuals of the full construction.
> Device must be easy to transport (maximum 2 kg)
> Desirable Objectives
> Device should be capable of fully autonomous operation.
> Device should be easy to use for an un-skilled operator.
> Device should be flexible in design to allow functioning on pole
> structures of alternative terrain, dimension and cross-section.
> Device should be aerodynamic and visually appealing.
> I have been researching a good deal about past projects along this
> vein, however would greatly appreciate any details you may have about
> similar projects and would be grateful if anyone could give any
> opinions and advice on designs I am coming up with. At the moment I
> am still toying with design concepts for rubber wheeled systems, for
> rubber tracked systems, for utilising magnets (as most but not all of
> the pole surfaces it will be used on will be metal), or otherwise
> using the grasping climbing motion. There is only so much that can
> be got out of books, so any help would be very welcome.
> Regards,
> Jane Cheung
> MSc Design Engineering
> Middlesex University
> UK.