Pole Climbing Robotic Rescue Worker

Pole Climbing Robotic Rescue Worker

Author JoeDigital

Critical Inspections are one of many recognized uses for the HyDRAS robotic Climber

The Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa) of the College of Engineering from Virginia Tech won the grand prize at the 2008 International Capstone Design Fair, recently. Their entry was a robotic device intended to be used for rescue and other high risk missions that involve vertical climbing. Little more than a set of computerized wheels, the device is able to wrap itself around a pole or other vertical object, cling to it, and manuver upwards.

Inspecting high rise buildings, or the pilings under bridges are other potential uses for the HyDRAS, which is approximately 1 meter (3 feet) long, and employs computers and cameras both for navigation and for inspection on arrival at a work location when in use. These pole climbing rescue workers could be used for shuttling equipment and information, as well as other tasks that would endanger additional lives.

Another contender in the competition was the CIRCA, which was similar, but employed compressed air for movement and actuation, as opposed to the electrical methods used with HyDRAS. Both showed enormous potential, and may soon be saving lives and preventing human endangerment in hazardous locations worldwide.

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