Development of a Pre-Commercial Demonstrator Inspection Robotic Platform Based on Innvotek’s Vortex Vacuum Suction Technology

The VORTEX proposal seeks to develop a vortex suction technology robot that will autonomously navigate the vertical surfaces of such structures while deploying a combination of non-destructive inspection techniques. Air suction through a nozzle of a specific geometry create a vortex and initiate a force that attaches the robot to a vertical surface while its wheels move it around. The VORTEX project will create a system that can rapidly and economically inspect any large vertical structures, Wind turbine and airplane wings, fuselage and other confine space, saving huge amounts currently spent during the manual periodic inspections.

The VORTEX platform will provide the industry with a portable flexible and multifunctional platform for surveying any assets with complex geometries in hazardous environment and will be able to survey non-magnetic structures including rough and uneven surfaces.