New designs in construction increasingly include glass walls or larger glass windows. While this is an attractive design, it requires greater maintenance. The detection of flaws in the glass may not be as simple as with concrete or gypsum walls and can be disastrous if not identified and corrected quickly. Mr. Shawn Jagdeo decided that the best way to detect these flaws and avoid catastrophe would be to create an inspection robot for use specifically on glass walls. Shawn’s project sought to design, build and test an external, wall-climbing inspection robot. The project was supervised by Professor Prakash Persad, Programme Professor of Mechatronics Design and Manufacturing of The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).

The robot was designed to climb the external side of glass walls, in order to minimise the risk of human involvement. The inspection is relayed through the use of a web cam with a cable long enough to connect directly to a laptop. The robot was constructed out of aluminum, making it durable, light weight and relatively cheap. Essentially, the robot uses two levers to walk. When the levers are diagonal and perform this action sequentially, the robot walks and mimics the walking movement of a lizard. The levers move via two servomotors; one for the front lever and one for the back. Suction cups, attached to the levers, are used in conjunction with a small vacuum pump to give the robot the adhesive effect; this is what allows it to "walk" vertically on the glass surface. A 5V power supply was used to power the servo motors and a 12V power supply for the vacuum pumps. A web cam placed on the top of the robot allows for real-time inspection.

While the project was successful, as evidenced by the creation of a working prototype, Shawn notes that improvements can be made for a better, more universal and all-rounded robot, such as the use of bearings to allow for smooth, frictionless movement and a Bluetooth camera to allow for greater, unrestricted movement. Other upgrades that can be made include allowing   the robot to turn, varying its speed and more powerful components for heavy duty applications and battery power so the movement and range would not be limited by electrical cables. UTT’s Department of Design and Manufacturing Engineering wishes Shawn all success in his future projects.

Biography

Shawn is a graduate of UTT with a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology.  He will also graduate in November 2016 with a B.A.Sc. in Manufacturing and Design Engineering. Mr. Shawn Jagdeo is a mechanical technician at Nestle T&T, where he has worked for the past eight (8) years. He has substantial experience in preventative maintenance, servicing equipment and machinery and troubleshooting. His most recent position was Acting Supervisor for the Processing Equipment and PET Bottling plant, working with other mechanical and electrical technicians, servicing equipment and providing technical support during production in the specified areas.