Duke University developed Wallter, a book-sized robot climbing robot able to roll to the foot of a metallic wall, rear up on its hind wheels, and use a “tornado in a cup” to hug the wall and start its ascent.

The “tornado” is generated by a patented device from Vortex HC. The device uses air currents swirling in a cylinder to exert suction on a wall or ceiling. An impeller in the cylinder spins like a propeller but recirculates captive air rather than sucking air in one end and blasting it out the other.

A microcontroller has been programmed to navigate following the information received from the ultrasonic and infrared sensors added across the front of the engine.

Wallter won a Madrid competition requiring robots to start on the metal competition wall and climb as high as possible; climb after the addition of randomly placed obstacles; cross a barrier placed on the wall; start from the floor and then climb; and stop after crossing the finish line.

According to Jason Janet who works on the project, “Robots that climb walls and cross ceilings can go where humans can’t.” “They can do security and safety jobs like looking for bombs or finding cracks in a support beam or the wing of a jumbo jet.”

Via PhysOrg and Duke News & Communications and Press release.

See also Lemur, a climbing robot taht can follow a human climber up an irregular surface without any guidance.