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How to Build an Inspection Robot

Revision as of 20:57, 4 March 2021 by Brent (talk | contribs)

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.

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

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 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.


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