Aithon Robotics: Simple access where it matters most
Many bridges in Switzerland are reaching the end of their planned lifespan. Inspecting their condition is a time-consuming and dangerous task. Aithon Robotics develops drones that can inspect structures – even in hard-to-reach places – with precision and at low cost. This enables damage to be detected at an early stage and renovation work to be planned effectively.
Switzerland has over 40,000 bridges. Most were built in the 1960s and 1970s and designed to last between 50 and 70 years. This timeframe is now drawing to a close, which is why the cost of inspection and refurbishment is steadily increasing. The main cause is corrosion: it remains invisible from the outside for a long time, whilst slowly corroding the reinforcing steel inside. To detect damage at an early stage, experts must carry out extensive inspections of the structures. Drilling, scanning and conducting physical tests is often dangerous because the areas are difficult to access.
The ETH spin-off Aithon Robotics solves this access problem. Its drone flies directly to the structures, where it attaches itself to the concrete surface using a suction system. This enables it to carry out precise tasks: It maps the interior of the structure using ground-penetrating radar and ultrasound, takes concrete cores for material analysis or installs sensors for long-term monitoring. It is continuously supplied with power via a cable, enabling it to carry out even lengthy tasks without interruption. The Aithon drone is already in use on bridges and industrial structures across Europe.
At Scientifica, you can see the drone in action. At our booth, we’ll be giving live demonstrations every hour showing how the drone anchors itself to a structure and carries out precise tasks such as drilling. The team will also be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Aithon’s drone flies to hard-to-reach surfaces and locks into place using a powerful suction system (Video: Aithon Robotics).
