查看更多>>摘要:News editors obtained the following quote from the background information suppli ed by the inventors: “The present disclosure relates to robotic inspection and t reatment of industrial surfaces.” As a supplement to the background information on this patent, NewsRx corresponde nts also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “Previousl y known inspection and treatment systems for industrial surfaces suffer from a n umber of drawbacks. Industrial surfaces are often required to be inspected to de termine whether a pipe wall, tank surface, or other industrial surface feature h as suffered from corrosion, degradation, loss of a coating, damage, wall thinnin g or wear, or other undesirable aspects. Industrial surfaces are often present w ithin a hazardous location-for example in an environment with heavy operating eq uipment, operating at high temperatures, in a confined environment, at a high el evation, in the presence of high voltage electricity, in the presence of toxic o r noxious gases, in the presence of corrosive liquids, and/or in the presence of operating equipment that is dangerous to personnel. Accordingly, presently know n systems require that a system be shutdown, that a system be operated at a redu ced capacity, that stringent safety procedures be followed (e.g., lockout/tagout , confined space entry procedures, harnessing, etc.), and/or that personnel are exposed to hazards even if proper procedures are followed. Additionally, the inc onvenience, hazards, and/or confined spaces of personnel entry into inspection a reas can result in inspections that are incomplete, of low resolution, that lack systematic coverage of the inspected area, and/or that are prone to human error and judgement in determining whether an area has been properly inspected.