Background
Tubular structures play a critical role in sectors like manufacturing, oil and gas, and power generation, where they are essential to machinery like heat exchangers and boilers. However, the severe environments that these constructions frequently encounter cause corrosion, cracks, and other types of deterioration. Frequent inspection is essential to avoid costly downtime-causing malfunctions like tube leaks. Although essential, traditional inspection techniques are frequently laborious and unable to handle the intricate geometries and diverse surface textures of tubular structures. There is a need for more sophisticated, flexible inspection systems in order to reliably and safely explore and evaluate complex structures.
Invention Description
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a bio-inspired robot designed specifically for tubular construction inspection. The robot is outfitted with specialized frictional pads that allow it to climb and navigate a variety of tube surfaces, including those with difficult geometries like 90-degree bends, flanges, and both ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials. The robot's movement and attachment abilities are inspired by the movement and abilities of lizards. Additionally, the robot incorporates cutting-edge ultrasonic imaging methods—including Lamb waves and multi-helical ultrasonic imaging (MHUI)—to identify and describe damage like corrosion and cracks without using conventional contact procedures. It also contains passive acoustic monitoring and a dry couplant phased array to improve damage localization and assessment capabilities, providing a complete and effective solution for the inspection and maintenance of vital industrial components.
Potential Applications
- Power generation
- Oil and gas
- Industrial inspection
- Maintenance and safety
Benefits and Advantages
- Enhanced maneuverability
- Advanced damage detection
- Increased efficiency