Abstract: A robot for cleaning and inspecting wind turbine blades. The robot has a module that adheres to the blade using a vacuum force. The robot also has a cleaning compartment is divided into two sections that are connected by a flexible section. The cleaning compartment is flexible such that it adapts to convex and concave curvatures on the blade.

Abstract: A robot for cleaning and inspecting wind turbine blades. The robot has a module that adheres to the blade using a vacuum force. The robot also has a cleaning compartment is divided into two sections that are connected by a flexible section. The cleaning compartment is flexible such that it adapts to convex and concave curvatures on the blade.

Abstract: A robotic device for providing vertical mobility has a payload disposed inside a central compartment and can move up and down through spring load to keep intimate contact with the surface and cross over bumps. The apparatus uses a flexible seal to create a reliable vacuum chamber. The flexible seal comprises a foam ring inside fabric pocket. A plurality of rod and spring strips are configured to apply a downward force to the flexible seal to conform with surface curvatures. The fabric pocket fills in the gaps or seams to maintain a vacuum. The air flows inside a manifold and passes through a filter to avoid debris from damaging the vacuum motor assembly.

Abstract: A robotic device for providing vertical mobility has a payload disposed inside a central compartment and can move up and down through spring load to keep intimate contact with the surface and cross over bumps. The apparatus uses a flexible seal to create a reliable vacuum chamber. The flexible seal comprises a foam ring inside fabric pocket. A plurality of rod and spring strips are configured to apply a downward force to the flexible seal to conform with surface curvatures. The fabric pocket fills in the gaps or seams to maintain a vacuum. The air flows inside a manifold and passes through a filter to avoid debris from damaging the vacuum motor assembly.

Abstract: A robotic device for providing vertical mobility has a payload is disposed inside a central compartment and supported by a skid. The skid can move up and down through latch and hook pairs to keep intimate contact with the surface and cross over bumps. The apparatus uses a flexible seal to create a reliable vacuum chamber. The flexible seal comprises a foam ring inside fabric pocket. A plurality of rod and spring strips are configured to apply a downward force to the flexible seal to conform with surface curvatures. The fabric pocket fills in the gaps or seams to maintain a vacuum. The air flows inside a manifold and passes through a filter to avoid debris from damaging the vacuum motor assembly.

Abstract: A robotic device for providing vertical mobility has a payload is disposed inside a central compartment and supported by a skid. The skid can move up and down through latch and hook pairs to keep intimate contact with the surface and cross over bumps. The apparatus uses a flexible seal to create a reliable vacuum chamber. The flexible seal comprises a foam ring inside fabric pocket. A plurality of rod and spring strips are configured to apply a downward force to the flexible seal to conform with surface curvatures. The fabric pocket fills in the gaps or seams to maintain a vacuum. The air flows inside a manifold and passes through a filter to avoid debris from damaging the vacuum motor assembly.

Abstract: A drive unit for driving a robot along an inclined surface is disclosed. An endless tread engages a pair of wheels to define a planar bottom surface of the endless tread. A vacuum motor pulls air through holes in the endless tread when the holes are aligned with a vacuum opening.

Abstract: A drive unit for driving a robot along an inclined surface is disclosed. An endless tread engages a pair of wheels to define a planar bottom surface of the endless tread. A vacuum motor pulls air through holes in the endless tread when the holes are aligned with a vacuum opening.

Abstract: A mobile robot generally including a first suction module, a second suction module and a hinge assembly pivotably connecting the suction modules together. Each of the suction modules includes a support frame defining a vacuum chamber and a vacuum unit supported on the support frame and communicating with the vacuum chamber. The vacuum unit includes a rotating impeller and an exhaust cowling surrounding the impeller. The impeller has an axis of rotation and is adapted to draw air from the vacuum chamber into the impeller in a direction generally parallel to the impeller axis of rotation and to discharge the drawn air in a direction substantially perpendicular to the impeller axis of rotation. The exhaust cowling is adapted to redirect the discharged air, whereby a thrusting force is applied to the support frame in a direction opposite of the direction of the drawn air from the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A mobile robot generally including a first suction module, a second suction module and a hinge assembly pivotably connecting the suction modules together. Each of the suction modules includes a support frame defining a vacuum chamber and a vacuum unit supported on the support frame and communicating with the vacuum chamber. The vacuum unit includes a rotating impeller and an exhaust cowling surrounding the impeller. The impeller has an axis of rotation and is adapted to draw air from the vacuum chamber into the impeller in a direction generally parallel to the impeller axis of rotation and to discharge the drawn air in a direction substantially perpendicular to the impeller axis of rotation. The exhaust cowling is adapted to redirect the discharged air, whereby a thrusting force is applied to the support frame in a direction opposite of the direction of the drawn air from the vacuum chamber.