Design of a Modular Wall-Climbing Robot with Multi-Plane Transition and Cleaning Capabilities

TL;DR

This paper introduces a modular wall-climbing robot that can autonomously switch walls and perform tasks like cleaning.

Contribution

The novelty lies in the modular design with quick attachment-and-disassembly and efficient wall detection for multi-plane transitions.

Findings

The MC-1 robot successfully performs multi-angle wall transitions.

It demonstrates good crawling ability and loading capacity.

The magnetic attachment method and ultrasonic sensor enhance autonomous operation.

Abstract

This paper presents the design and development of a new modular wall-climbing robot—Modular Wall Climbing-1 (MC-1)—for solving the problem of autonomous wall switching observed in wall-climbing robots. Each modular robot is capable of independently adhering to vertical surfaces and maneuvering, making it a fully autonomous robotic system. Multiple modules of MC-1 are connected by an electromagnet-based magnetic attachment method, and wall transitions are achieved using a servo motor mechanism. Moreover, an ultrasonic sensor is employed to measure the unknown wall-inclination angle. Mechanical analysis is conducted for MC-1 at rest individually and in combination to determine the required suction force. Experimental investigations are performed to assess the robot’s crawling ability, loading capacity, and wall-transition performance. The results demonstrate that the MC-1 robot is capable of multi-angle wall transitions for executing multiple tasks. It provides a new approach for wall-climbing robots to collaborate during wall transitions through a quick attachment-and-disassembly device and an efficient wall detection method.

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