{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T17:59:50Z","timestamp":1775066390381,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":2,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,23]],"date-time":"2007-10-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1193097600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,23]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper aims to develop a robot that climbs on non\u2010ferrous surfaces, e.g. aircraft wings and fuselages, carrying a heavy payload up to 18\u2009kg including scanning arm and various equipments, for non\u2010destructive testing (NDT).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>This robot in the study uses vacuum suction cups for adhesion, and two pairs of pneumatic cylinders to drive itself, moving in two directions in stepping gait. A rotation mechanism in the centre is used to correct the off\u2010course deviations by \u00b1 5 degrees. Multiple universal joints are used to make every single suction cup, every robot foot and the whole structure flexible to negotiate with varying surface curvatures presented in different parts of aircraft. This flexible structure is also rigid once the robot is stuck on the surface to enable the NDT inspection being carried out reliably.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper finds that the walking speed is limited by the cylinder stroke, time for generating vacuum and changing legs. Although most NDT inspection is time\u2010consumable, it is still desirable to increase the robot speed.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The application of this robotic NDT can significantly reduce the cost of aircraft inspection, eliminate labour\u2010intensive and monotonous inspection tasks and eliminate the need for an operator to work in confined and dangerous spaces.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper introduces the structure that combines flexibility and rigidity for a robot climbing on non\u2010ferrous curvatures.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/01439910710832093","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,6]],"date-time":"2007-10-06T07:01:20Z","timestamp":1191654080000},"page":"495-502","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":67,"title":["Design of a climbing robot for inspecting aircraft wings and fuselage"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"34","author":[{"given":"Jianzhong","family":"Shang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Tariq","family":"Sattar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Shuwo","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Bryan","family":"Bridge","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022021320293920800_frd1","unstructured":"Bridge, B. and Sattar, T.P. (2001), \u201cTotal integrated robotic structural inspection for enhanced aircraft life and safety\u201d, Proceedings: 17th International Conference on CAD\/CAM, Robotics and Factories of the Future, Vol. 1, pp. 444\u201053."},{"key":"key2022021320293920800_frd2","unstructured":"Sattar, T., Chen, S., Bridge, B. and Shang, J. (2003), \u201cROBAIR: mobile robotic system to inspect aircraft wings and fuselage\u201d, Proceedings: 19th International Conference on CAD\/CAM, Robotics and Factories of the Future, Vol. 2, pp. 795\u2010802."}],"container-title":["Industrial Robot: An International Journal"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emeraldinsight.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1108\/01439910710832093","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/01439910710832093\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/01439910710832093\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]],"date-time":"2025-07-24T23:50:14Z","timestamp":1753401014000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/ir\/article\/34\/6\/495-502\/174594"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Ole","family":"Madsen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,23]]},"references-count":2,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,23]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/01439910710832093"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/01439910710832093","relation":{},"ISSN":["0143-991X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0143-991X","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,23]]}}}