FINITE ELEMENT MODELLING OF THE ADHESION SYSTEM OF A VORTEX BASED CLIMBING ROBOT

Vortex adhesion is one of the most promising techniques for the design of lightweight climbing robot. However the results presented up to now are mainly simple demonstrations of prototypes and do not give precise criteria for the design. In this paper we present our last results toward a better understanding of vortex technology and to the development of a simulation strategy based on finite element modelling. The vortexbased suction cup has been modelled and simulated by using finite element and the results are compared with experimental trials.