A snake-arm robot is a tool for our times; financial and environmental considerations are key drivers in the maintenance and life extension of assets. The capital invested in plant and equipment is huge and the cost of replacement is greater. Maximising up-time whilst reducing risk is critical for asset management and profitable life extension. By choosing different words, this maxim works equally well for nuclear reactors, oil platforms, bomb disposal and human surgery. Many situations will benefit from a minimally invasive approach. Our robots can also enable product (r)evolution by enabling new assembly and inspection philosophies.
Intuitive operation - We have designed robots for 24-7 operation working from pre-programmed motion sequences for repetitive tasks. Alternatively, many tasks require so called 'man-in-the-loop' real time control to navigate within unknown or variable spaces. For both types of application, our nose-following software allows the operator to fly-the-tip, in path-following or standard Cartesian modes with the computer taking care of the rest. RetractOne™ is provided as standard and allows the operator to back up safely with one thumb speed control. StopOnContact is coming as part of the SnakeSkin option pack, and more advanced capabilities, including automated search, will be possible in future.