Climbing Robots Meet Ultrasonic Tomography: A New Era for NDT on Tall Structures

Tall and complex vertical structures, especially reinforced concrete chimney stacks and bridge piers, present challenges for non-destructive testing (NDT) professionals, particularly where internal or subsurface imaging is required and visual inspection is not sufficient. Traditional approaches such as rope access or scaffolding pose logistical, financial, and safety burdens, often limiting the feasibility of thorough inspections. In this paper, we present a collaborative project between HausBots (developers of climbing robotic platforms), ACS (creators of the MIRA ultrasonic tomography system), and EDF (end user and asset owner), which demonstrates the viability of advanced robotic-assisted ultrasonic inspection on vertical concrete infrastructure. A field trial on a large concrete chimney stack at an EDF facility validated the successful integration of ultrasonic tomography with a wall-climbing robot using HausBots’ proprietary AEROGRIPTM adhesion system. The project highlights how robotic inspection platforms can deliver safe, high-resolution, subsurface data from hard-to-access areas without manual intervention or elevated work platforms. This paper offers a detailed review of the methodology, technical integration, field results, and broader implications for the future of infrastructure assessment.