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Suction Held Robots

International Climbing Machines 
We Make Climbing Robots
Inspection and Maintenance Robots

Faster Safer  Smarter  

Climbing Robots Dam Inspection and Maintenance.

ICM  Standard Climber

The World Leader in Suction Held Robots

ICM robots can climb on any surface. We have deployed on large concrete structures, stainless steel tanks, bridges, insulated vessels, wind turbine blades, fuselages of airplanes, hulls of ships and nuclear submarines, etc.. There truly is no limit to what ICM robots can climb on.  Very importantly, our robots can carry substantial payload. We have integrated many tools onto our climbing robots such as sandblasters and hydroblasters; paint sprayers; and also many NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) technologies. Some of these technologies include:

  • Acoustic Sensors

  • Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

  • Air-Coupled Echo Technology

  • Infrared Thermography

  • Cameras (Visual Inspection)

Held to the surface by suction force, the ICM Climber has been designed to adhere to essentially any hard surface. The patented, highly flexible seal ensures the machine is securely adhered as it moves the machine over surface obstacles such as bolt heads, plates, weld seams, and other surface irregularities. The suction chamber is surrounded by a rolling foam seal that guards against leakage and facilitates propulsion.

 

The Climber, which is essentially a remote-controlled climbing vehicle, now acts as a platform for automated inspection and advanced nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of major concrete structures at power plants. Integrated with onboard systems including simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology and advanced NDE instrumentation, the Climber can conduct automated, high-precision inspections and capture computer-encoded data and images.

This data supports real-time condition assessment and long-term monitoring of degradation and aging processes to guide maintenance decision-making and risk-informed management of hydro assets.

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- Excerpt from “Robotic Inspections,” International Water Power & Dam Construction.

Climbing Robots performing Inspection and Maintenance.

Applications For ICM Climbing Robots

  • Inspection and Maintenance

  • Removing Coatings

  • Applying Coatings

  • Performing NDT on Virtually Any Substrate

  • Visual Inspections

  • Cleaning Tanks & Ballasts

  • Sanding & Surfacing Prep

  • Epoxy or Caulk Injection

  • Weld Seam Repair

  • Non Skid Coating Removal
    Lining Removal or Repair

Advantages To Using ICM Climbing Robots

  • Reduces Accidents & Worker  Injury

  • Enhances Productivity

  • Working In Harsh Conditions

  • Eliminates Cranes, Scaffolding & Lifts

  • Saves Time & Money

Climbing Robot Inspecting Nuclear Cooling Tower

ICM Dual Climber

Versatility & Performance

The ICM dual climber is essentially two standard ICM climbing robots that have been integrated both mechanically and electrically. This gives the dual climber higher payload capacity than a single ICM robot.

Dual Climbing Robot

Because ICM robots will adhere to and climb on virtually any surface, the dual climber can be used in a vast array of applications within industries around the world.

Inspection and maintenance robots for US Navy submarine

The ICM dual climber has already found application for the US Navy, performing exceptionally challenging work to decommission submarines, etc.

Climbing Robot - Dual Climber
ICM Dual Climbing Robot

MINI Climbing Robot

New Climbing Robots & Expanded Applications

ICM has completed development of a brand new MINI Climbing Robot model that, at about 14” long by 15” wide, is substantially smaller than the standard model. The ICM MINI will be used by the US NAVY for internal submarine inspection and surface cleaning.

ICM Mini Climbing Robot

ICM's new MINI Climbing Robot

Mini Climbing Robots

Size comparison between ICM MINI and Standard Climbing Robots.

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