The bearer cables and tethers of bridges, elevators, and
cable cars are exposed to high levels of stress. For this reason, their
functional reliability must be monitored on a regular basis. A new robot
recognizes fissures before they pose a danger.
Slowly, very slowly, the robot climbs up the wire cable. As
it crawls upward with caterpillar-like movements, it scans the steel surface
and detects whether it has any defects. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute
for Nondestructive Testing IZFP have named the system FluxCrawler. It is
designed to monitor the quality of stay cables and wire ropes on a regular
basis. Such cables are common features of bridges, elevators, cranes, cable
cars, and ski lifts. And these checks are vital, as the tension-induced strain,
wear, and corrosion that affect these steel cables mean that they are under
enormous stress.