How to Build an Inspection Robot

No time to build your own? We sell Inspection Robots!

Introduction to DIY Inspection Robots

Do you need to be able to see in areas that are difficult or impossible access by a human? If so, then an inspection robot is just what you need. This page is dedicated to building a robot that has a wireless camera with a pan-and-tilt system that can be controlled remotely to reach these tight spaces.

The is page will walk you through the basics of how to make your very own inspection robot. Of course, if you are not comfortable with some of the assembly steps listed on this page, we can build a robot to your exact specifications. Since we specialize in building custom robots, our prices are very reasonable and the quality is unmatched. There are very few, if any, other robot manufacturers that offer this service. Request your custom robot here.

There are many uses for inspection robots. We have built robots for the following applications:

Inspection of pipes and culverts. See our pipe inspection robot page.
Inspection of mine shafts. See our mine inspection robot page.
Inspection of vent ducts.
Inspection of crawl spaces under houses.
Let us know your application! Post them on our forum.

Video of a Prebuilt Inspection Robot

We have built many inspection robots over the years. This page is for the DIYer, but to give a basic overview, check out the video below of one of our prebuilt robots, a dirt-simple inspection robot. The prebuilt robot in the video is listed here.

Building a DIY Inspection Robot

There are several things to consider when building an inspection robot. To start, you'll need a base for the robot to which you will add the controls, the camera system, pan and tilt system, lights (if you want them), wireless video transmission, video receiver and monitor, DVR (optional), sensors, etc. Putting all these parts together will take some time and a lot of foresight and knowledge. We have a lot of experience with this and we will try to pass some of this knowledge on to you with this support page. Please read through it and if you have any questions or comments, please post on our forums!. Thanks and Enjoy

Selecting the Robot Chassis

The first decision that generally needs to be made is which robot platform to use. Figure out what components and features you would like in your robot and that will give you an idea of which platform to use. Do you need something small and compact to maneuver in tight spaces? Do you need something that has extra room to mount electronics and sensors? Once you know answers to questions like these you are ready to select a chassis. We have many standard chassis/robot platforms to choose from. We also sell the parts if you would prefer to build a custom robot chassis. Please take a look at our DIY page on building a robot if you are interested in going down that road.

The The IG32-DM4 4WD ATR is a small, low cost robot and is the most affordable solution. Being such a small robot it can drive in tight spaces, however, its capacity is limited. This can be a positive or a negative depending on your application. See our DM ATR Support Page for more information on this platform.
The Standard SB ATR chassis is available with 32mm motors and 42mm motors. It is a versatile choice as it is still relatively small, is very maneuverable and is able to support higher payloads (up to 100lbs depending on selected options). There are also some optional accessories available for this platform including our Skid Guard, Bumper, Roll Cage Upper Deck and Sensor Mount. See our SB ATR Support Page for more information on this platform.
The Enclosed SB ATR is a great option if you need some of your components protected. It can be also be made water resistant or waterproof. It features an almost identical chassis as the Standard SB ATR, the only difference being that it is enclosed. Accessories available for this platform include our Bumper and Roll Cage. See our SB ATR Support Page for more information on this platform.
The Heavy Duty DB ATR chassis is available for 42mm motors and 52mm motors. This platform is great for applications requiring higher payloads as can carry up to 250lbs. depending on the selected options. Accessories available for this platform include our Skid Guard, Bumper, Roll Cage Upper Deck and Sensor Mount. See our DB ATR Support Page for more information on this platform.
The Heavy Duty DB Enclosed ATR offers the same enclosed chassis as the Enclosed SB ATR while also having the high payload support of the non-enclosed chassis (up to 250lbs). Accessories available for this platform include our Bumper and Roll Cage. See our DB ATR Support Page for more information on this platform.
The MLT-JR is another lightweight and highly maneuverable robot. It has tracks instead of wheels allowing it to drive on rougher terrain. See our MLT-JR Support Page for more information on this platform.
The LT2 and LT2-F are tracked platforms that can climb stairs but are still small enough to be able to maneuver in relatively tight spaces. See our LT2 Support Page for more information on this platform.
The HD2 is our largest tracked platform that can climb stairs and handle very large payloads. HD2 Support Page for more information on this platform.

Selecting Control System

There are several methods to control the robot. This section is just for sending data to the robot to control/drive it. The two main methods for the DIYer or hobbyist are RC (Remote/Radio Control) and WiFi. Both have their pros and cons. Other methods not discussed here include using wireless radios, like XBee radios and tethering the robot (which is beneficial if wireless will not work, but you have to drag a tether with the robot).

Remote Control (AKA Radio Control, AKA RC) is the simplest method but it will only control the robot, video has to be handled separately. See our RC Support Page for more details on how RC works and how to use it to control your inspection robot.
Wi-Fi control is a bit more involved but has the advantage of having two-way communications, so you can send video back using WiFi. With WiFi, you can also use your laptop as a controller as well as a screen to view the video which consolidates things a bit and saves money. Laptops can also be used to store video, pictures, etc. Please see our WiFi Support Page for more details.
Hybrid System??? - There is nothing wrong with using RC for driving the robot around and then using a WiFi camera. The 2.4GHz for controlling the robot typically works fine with the 2.4GHz WiFi cameras.

Selecting a Camera

Determining what kind of camera you need depends on lighting conditions and how much detail you need to see. Our fixed cameras are listed here. If you just need a general image but do not need a lot of detail an IR camera is the most inexpensive option. IR cameras work well in low-light conditions. They have IR illumination LEDs and when dark will illuminate IR light to help it see. The IR light will only go so far. Some of the IR cameras we sell have more LEDs in them for seeing greater distances in total darkness.

For a more detailed picture we recommend using a zoom camera. We offer a zoom camera with a 30X optical zoom with autofocus and manual focus. The disadvantage of the zoom camera is it requires a little more effort to control. A simple method is to use our double pole RC relay switch and send 12V to it and then attach the output of the relay switch to the zoom terminals (the reversing polarity will zoom the camera in and out). Typically the zoom cameras are not IR, because if you zoom in on something far away, the IR light will not be on the object so it will not see. The 27X zoom camera we sell sees very well in low light, but some light is needed (the better the lighting, the better the image quality).

Selecting the Pan-and-Tilt System

Pan and tilt systems give you to full control of your camera and allow you to easily look in any direction. Most of our robots have skid steering so you can always pan the camera by spinning the robot itself. We offer several different pan and tilt systems. The system you select depends mostly on the camera you select. If you select a system with bigger servos (HS-785 Sail Winch Servo) it will need a separate power supply. The 25 Watt adjustable regulator board kit is best for this. Just tune it in for 6V to power the servos. For lower power pan and tilts that use standard servos, the power from the receiver can be used to power the servos. In most cases the receiver is powered from the motor controller such as the Sabertooth's 5V 1A regulator. Refer to the schematic shown on the bottom of this page for more details on wiring the robot.

Another method of getting pan and tilt is to use a dome camera. These have the camera and pan and tilt built into one unit. If you get one with WiFi, you get the video transmission too. There are some major drawbacks to this, however. You will likely be mounting it upside down from its intended use, so the image will need to be flipped or you will have to dismantle the camera and physically flip the camera in the housing. Also, they will typically not tilt down any further than horizontal, making it hard to use as a driving camera (if you tilt the camera it will be fine when looking forward, but panning sideways will result in a tilted image. They are also typically designed to be mounted to something static so bouncing around on a robot may or may not present issues. Finally, the controls of the pan and tilt are typically a lot more involved if you want to do use your remote (the pan and tilt, and zoom if a PTZ dome is used, is done from the web interface of the camera). We typically will take the dome cameras apart and add stiffeners, flip the cameras, put silicone on all the hardware so nothing vibrates or rattles loose, and control the PTZ functions with RS485 controls, which is all beyond the DIY discussions on this page.

Selecting the Wireless Video

The video coming back from the robot to the operator is what makes this whole project an inspection robot. As with the method to control the robot, there are many ways you can transmit the video back from the robot to the operator. Here, Wifi is typically the easiest. There are a ton of WiFi cameras out there. We no longer sell them, but you can get a decent WiFi camera for less than $200 on eBay. The better WiFi cameras from companies like Axis, etc. will be much better quality, but will also cost a lot more. Please see the discussion of PTZ cameras above. These are the ways that we typically transmit the video:

If WiFi, then a laptop will get video, so no need for a monitor or DVR. The disadvantage is the hassle of getting everything set up. It is also typically more expensive to go this route.
The other method of sending the video is to use a video transmitter and receiver. This system is low cost and easy to hookup. We recommend using a separate battery for the video transmitter and camera so it is isolated from the motors. Also, the transmitters don't do well with voltages higher than 12V. A small 11.1V Lithium-Ion Battery is ideal. The same battery can power the camera and transmitter for a long time. Look at the schematic linked below for more details on how to wire up the 900MHz video transmitter.

Optional Lighting

You know what you are building the robot for, so you need to decide if you need lighting. If it's going to be dark, you can get away with using an IR camera as discussed above, but for the best picture quality good lighting is needed . We offer LED boards that are easy to use and give excellent light for lower power. They require 5VDC. If you want to remotely control them, then you can use an RC switch to turn them on and off. Keep in mind they do draw some power, so if you are driving servos, a receiver, and a bunch of lights all off the 5V regulator on your Sabertooth you might need a separate regulator. Another way of adding light is to simply strap a flashlight onto the robot. Refer to the links below for more details of possible products for the lighting system of your inspection robot.

Putting it all together

So, the above sections should get you most of the way. There are lots of things that can not be taught, but need to be experienced. Things like electrical noise, interference, ground loops, range, separation of the 2.4GHz RC and 900MHz transmitter resulting in better performance, and when and where ferrite beads. All these things are learned by trying different things and seeing what works best for you. For a high-quality result have SuperDroid Robots' experienced professionals help you with the selection of the robot and do the assembly for you!