SUMMARYPath planning can be difficult and time consuming for inchworm robots especially when operating in complex 3D environments such as steel bridges. Confined areas may prevent a robot from extensively searching the environment by limiting its mobility. An approach for real-time path planning is presented. This approach first uses the concept of line-of-sight (LoS) to find waypoints from the start pose to the end node. It then plans smooth, collision-free motion for a robot to move between waypoints using a 3D-F2algorithm. Extensive simulations and experiments are conducted in 2D and 3D scenarios to verify the approach.

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Many ferromagnetic structures require regular inspection and maintenance to ensure their longevity, structural integrity and aesthetics. These operations are often very hazardous to workers, as they are normally performed at height or in confined spaces, and can expose workers to hazardous materials such as lead based paints and vehicle fumes. An inchworm climbing robot has been proposed as a solution that would improve the quality of the inspection procedure and the occupational health and safety for the maintenance personnel while reducing setup times and costs. However, a number of challenges in designing such an inchworm robot arise from the environmental, mobility and safety factors. This paper describes these challenges for given design applications and presents a method to optimise the design to address the challenges. Analyses of the results attest to the feasibility of the solution.

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