APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF A MOVEABLE APPARATUS ON A SURFACE

摘要

A robotic navigation system using a combination of magnetic landmark recognition system (12) for the identification of surface and subsurface features of steel structures, and an optical dead reckoning system (14), which creates a two-dimensional map of the structure's surface being traversed by a robot is disclosed. The system can be employed as a navigational system for use onboard robotic inspection and maintenance vehicle (2) for the inspection, cleaning and general repair of large steel fabricated structures such as the hull of a ship (4).