Towards the design of a shape-shifting robot for wind turbine Inspections

What is it about?

As the industry shifts toward renewable energy energy sources, keeping wind turbines in good condition is essential for their long-term performance. Therefore, regular inspections are necessary, however, traditional human inspections can be dangerous and expensive due to the environments these turbines are placed in, as well as their very tall height. As such, robots offer a safer and more efficient alternative to inspections. However, as multiple sections need inspecting on a single turbine, using multiple types of robots for different inspection tasks can increase complexity and cost. This research introduces a single, shape-shiting robot designed to inspect multiple parts of a wind turbine on its own. The design was tested in computer simulations to ensure it is strong enough to handle real-world conditions. The study also examined how the robot would perform in high winds and explored different movement methods to ensure smooth operation. These findings suggest that a shape-shifting robot could improve the efficiency and safety of wind turbine inspections.

Featured Image

Photo by Rabih Shasha on Unsplash

Photo by Rabih Shasha on Unsplash

Why is it important?

In this work, we introduce a new design concept that can fly, climb and drive around a wind turbine structure (something that has been only very briefly explored before). The findings from this research suggest that there is merit to considering an integrated design instead of having multiple robots to inspect the different relevant parts. Our findings suggest that the proposed design can be used as a starting point for the development of an all-encompassing robot design with a robust shell and reasonable air-resistive properties.