HausBots impresses with revolutionary wall-climbing robot

Birmingham-based engineering firm HausBots has showcased its cutting-edge wall-climbing robot in a successful demonstration, marking the culmination of a 6-month proof of concept (PoC) project funded by Game Changers. The project, which aimed to explore the benefits of the 'HB2' vertical truck for the Sellafield nuclear site, has exceeded expectations, providing a safer and more efficient solution for the inspection of industrial assets.

HausBots specialises in the design and manufacture of robotic systems for inspection, focusing on de-risking the inspection of industrial storage tanks and concrete chimney stacks. These tasks are traditionally dangerous and costly, often requiring scaffolding, rope access, confined space access, or platforms for workers to reach the necessary heights. The company initially received feasibility funding to adapt its technology for the unique needs of the Sellafield site.

The PoC project concentrated on external inspections of non-ferrous tanks and chimney stacks – areas where existing state-of-the-art solutions either fall short or fail to operate altogether. To address this, HausBots redesigned its existing robot to meet the demands of the nuclear industry, incorporating its patented AEROGRIP technology. This innovative feature allows the robot to climb vertical or horizontal surfaces of any material, integrating advanced sensors and other custom payloads for remote access inspection.

The onsite demonstration, held at HausBots' facility for representatives from Sellafield and the Game Changers team, highlighted the robot's capabilities on various surfaces. The technology was tested on a 30-degree inclined wall, mild steel tanks, polished and rough concrete walls, and stainless steel tanks while equipped with non-destructive testing (NDT) payloads.

"The reason you need innovation in this area is that there’s a lot of wall climbers on the market that rely on magnets or suction cups, which require a very flat surface," said Jenna Luchak, Engineering Project Manager at HausBots. "The novel part of our tech is its superior ability to climb on all surface roughnesses, including over defects or asset parts like bolts."

The robot's new modular design offers increased payload capacity and universal attachments, allowing it to adapt to various client needs. This flexibility makes it a valuable tool for the nuclear industry and beyond.

Deon Bulman, ROV (remote operated vehicle) Lead at Sellafield Ltd, praised the technology, stating, "We identified challenges faced by our utilities team that the HausBots robot could help solve. By removing the need for scaffolding with innovative solutions like this, we are able to get data to our engineers quicker and more cost-effectively, helping them make informed decisions about maintenance and decommissioning. The improvements in capability delivered in the last 12 months is really impressive.”

Zeke Abry, COO and CPO of HausBots, acknowledged the role of Game Changers in their success, saying "Game Changers provided a gateway for us to be introduced to Sellafield, bridging the gap and allowing us to deliver our objectives through regular communication and updates."

As the technology continues to evolve, HausBots aims to reduce the need for humans working at height, supporting decommissioning efforts at Sellafield and across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) sites.