Robohub.org
 

Sydney Harbor Bridge gets blasted by robot


by
18 February 2014



share this:
Sydney-Harbour-Bridge_1000_562_80

SABRE Autonomous Solutions, a spin-off from the University of Technology Sydney, is using two Schunk lightweight arms and blaster pistols to grit-blast the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

The bridge, which spans 503 meters and has a hight of 134 meters, must be continuously maintained and corrosion protected. This includes sandblasting and repainting 485,000 sq meters of steel. The two robots, named Sandy and Rosie, tirelessly blast dirt, rust and old paint from the steel girders.

“Due to the fatigue while sandblasting, even experienced workers are unable to achieve such consistent results [as has been the result of the robots doing the blasting],” said Greg Peters, SABRE Engineering Design Manager. “And operating the system could not be simpler: the lightweight robots are manually positioned on a simple rail system. They they automatically scan the steel structure generating a 3D map. Then the work begins.”

Bridge sandblasting used to require teams of up to three workers hanging and otherwise moving in ergonomically unfriendly postures. With the SABRE bridge blasting robot, one operator controls and monitors up to two robots. Once a robot finishes a segment, the control worker takes the blaster gun and completes any remaining detail work. Replaced workers perform other maintenance tasks thereby speeding up the overall project. The use of the robots during a 2013 test cycle reduced the number of accidents and downtime due to sickness and injury/rehab time.

SABRE is working on a variation of the bridge grit-blaster robot – a mobile blasting robot – which will be available later this year in Australia. It’s plug and play; weighs less than 65 kg; has embedded control systems; can be fitted to scissor lift or other mobile devices; works together with multiple robots; and is narrow enough to fit through a standard doorway.

SABRE plans to begin marketing their bridge-blasting and mobile blasting systems later this year in Australia and early 2015 in the U.S. and EU.



tags:


Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.
Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.





Related posts :



Robot Talk Episode 126 – Why are we building humanoid robots?

  20 Jun 2025
In this special live recording at Imperial College London, Claire chatted to Ben Russell, Maryam Banitalebi Dehkordi, and Petar Kormushev about humanoid robotics.

Gearing up for RoboCupJunior: Interview with Ana Patrícia Magalhães

and   18 Jun 2025
We hear from the organiser of RoboCupJunior 2025 and find out how the preparations are going for the event.

Robot Talk Episode 125 – Chatting with robots, with Gabriel Skantze

  13 Jun 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Gabriel Skantze from KTH Royal Institute of Technology about having natural face-to-face conversations with robots.

Preparing for kick-off at RoboCup2025: an interview with General Chair Marco Simões

and   12 Jun 2025
We caught up with Marco to find out what exciting events are in store at this year's RoboCup.

Interview with Amar Halilovic: Explainable AI for robotics

  10 Jun 2025
Find out about Amar's research investigating the generation of explanations for robot actions.

Robot Talk Episode 124 – Robots in the performing arts, with Amy LaViers

  06 Jun 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Amy LaViers from the Robotics, Automation, and Dance Lab about the creative relationship between humans and machines.

Robot Talk Episode 123 – Standardising robot programming, with Nick Thompson

  30 May 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Nick Thompson from BOW about software that makes robots easier to program.

Congratulations to the #AAMAS2025 best paper, best demo, and distinguished dissertation award winners

  29 May 2025
Find out who won the awards presented at the International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems last week.



 

Robohub is supported by:




Would you like to learn how to tell impactful stories about your robot or AI system?


scicomm
training the next generation of science communicators in robotics & AI


©2025.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence


 












©2025.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence