Design and Analysis of Propeller-Based Wall-Climbing Robot

Wall-climbing robots have been safer alternatives to humans in hazardous industrial tasks. Propeller-based wall-climbing robots have gained attention because of their ability to travel on a wall surface with an arbitrary angle. In this study, the mechanical structure and thrust analysis of the robot is introduced, considering lightweight, efficient movement, and driving stability based on conventional propeller-driven wall-climbing robots. Additionally, the thrust analysis of the propeller was conducted through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation to enhance operational efficiency. This analysis shows that the height of the propeller from a contacting wall surface is a significant design parameter for the thrust. Furthermore, a 3D-printed prototype robot based on the described contents is manufactured. This research is expected to provide insights for the structural design of propeller-based wall-climbing robots.