Development of a Small‐Scale Coating Thickness Detection Robot for Plane Steel Gate Panel

ABSTRACT A small‐scale coating thickness detection robot with remote wireless control was developed to solve the problems of high labor intensity, safety hazards, and lack of special automated equipment for plane steel gate panel coating thickness detection. The robot adopted a chain mechanism and permanent magnet to realize the adsorption crawling on vertical panels, and a 180° reversible detection bench was designed to realize the conversion between panel coating thickness detection operation and panel cleaning operation. The operation flexibility was improved by the x ‐axis and z ‐axis movement control mechanism; it made the robot capable of adjusting the detection position while parked. The main crawling posture of the robot on the panel was analyzed, and the magnet adsorption force and crawling driving torque were determined. The remote control system was designed, and the robot crawling, detection position adjustment, camera screen, and data transmission display, and so on, could be controlled by the control page, making the robot easy to operate. Finally, it was verified that the detection robot can stably adsorb and crawl within the load of 2 kg, the error of coating thickness detection does not exceed the allowed range of 5%, and the surface of the panel after brush cleaning can meet the requirements of the detection. The stability and accuracy of the detection robot can meet the actual needs of plane steel gate panel coating thickness detection, can replace manual operation to reduce labor intensity and safety hazards, and further enhance the development process of intelligent equipment in the water conservancy industry. This study can provide some help for the development and application of this kind of robot.