CLIMBING MODEL AND OBSTACLE-CLIMBING PERFORMANCE OF A CABLE INSPECTION ROBOT FOR A CABLE-STAYED BRIDGE

A cable inspection robot is proposed to automatically check the cables of a cable-stayed bridge. First, a climbing model supported by an independent spring and an inspection robot is designed. Second, the dimensionless parameter, h/r, which is the ratio of the vertical height of the obstacle to the radius of the obstacle-climbing wheel, is selected as the evaluation standard of the climbing ability of the robot; after which a mathematical model of such obstacle-climbing ability is established. Third, the bearing capacity of the driving wheel rubber is studied using the finite element method. Afterwards, the analysis of the climbing performance is then carried out through simulation by studying two influential perspectives, namely, the positive pressure from the passive end spring and the swinging angle of the passive wheel. Finally, field experiments are carried out on the HuangPu Cable-Stayed Bridge. Based on the results, the robot can climb steadily on various inclined cables.