Crawler robot and supporting platform
First Claim
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1. A crawler robot comprising:
- a first movement system configured to move the crawler robot and a the track system along a surface when the first movement system is in an extended state and transitions to a retracted state such that the first movement system is removed from the surface, wherein the crawler robot is configured to perform an operation on the surface; and
a second movement system configured to move the crawler robot along the track system on the surface when the first movement system is in the retracted state.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for installing a fastener in a surface of a structure. A crawler robot may comprise a first movement system and a second movement system. The first movement system may be configured to move the crawler robot and a track system along the surface. The second movement system may be configured to move the crawler robot along the track system on the surface.
102 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A crawler robot comprising:
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a first movement system configured to move the crawler robot and a the track system along a surface when the first movement system is in an extended state and transitions to a retracted state such that the first movement system is removed from the surface, wherein the crawler robot is configured to perform an operation on the surface; and a second movement system configured to move the crawler robot along the track system on the surface when the first movement system is in the retracted state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a track system; and a crawler robot comprising a first movement system configured to move the crawler robot and the track system along a surface of a structure when the first movement system is in an extended state and transitions to a retracted state such that the first movement system is removed from the surface and a second movement system is placed on the surface and is configured to move the crawler robot along the track system on the surface, wherein the crawler robot is configured to perform an operation on the surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for installing a fastener in a surface of a structure, the method comprising:
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moving a crawler robot and a track system along the surface to position the crawler robot within a selected region on the surface using a first movement system while the first movement system is in an extended state, wherein the crawler robot is configured to install the fastener in the surface of the structure; transitioning the first movement system to a retracted state such that the first movement system is removed from the surface and the track system is in contact with the surface; coupling the track system to the surface; and moving the crawler robot relative to the track system to precisely move the crawler robot to a desired position within the selected region. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for moving a crawler robot and a track system, the method comprising:
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moving the crawler robot and the track system along a surface using a first movement system of the crawler robot when the first movement system is in an extended state, wherein the crawler robot is configured to perform an operation on the surface; coupling the track system to the surface; retracting the first movement system of the crawler robot to a retracted state such that the first movement system is removed from the surface; and moving the crawler robot along the track system using a second movement system of the crawler robot. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification