VertiGo: Wall Climbing Robot

The VertiGo features a lightweight carbon fiber frame, two independently-tilting propellers, and four 3D-printed wheels (the front two of which are steerable).

In "ground mode" the rear prop is angled perpendicular to the ground, providing enough horizontal thrust to carry the machine across a variety of terrains. Upon reaching a wall, however, the front propeller kicks in and tilts upwards, pulling the front end of the robot up that wall. The rear prop continues to push the back end forward until it's also up against the wall. The choice of two propellers rather than one enables a floor-to-wall transition – thrust is applied both towards the wall using the rear propeller and in an upward direction using the front propeller, resulting in a flip onto the wall.

Because it doesn't rely on suction like some other climbing robots, it doesn't require smooth, even wall surfaces with which to create a seal. This means it doesn't have a problem with walls made from brick and mortar, for example.

An onboard IMU (inertial measurement unit) and two infra-red distance sensors allow the robot to know whether it's oriented horizontally, vertically, or is about to transition between the two (i.e: when it's meeting up with the bottom of a wall), so its remotely-located human operator doesn't need to manually tilt the propellers.

The VertiGo can be seen in action, in the video below. You Might Also Like: Teamosa: Brew a Cup of Tea Using Technology.