Applying energy autonomous robots for dike inspection

This article presents an exploratory study of an energy-autonomous robot that can be deployed on the Dutch dykes. Based on theory in energy harvesting from sun and wind and the energy-cost of locomotion an analytic expression to determine the feasible daily operational time of such a vehicle is composed. The parameters in this expression are identified using lab results and weather statistics. After an evaluation of the “Energy autonomous robot in the Netherlands” case, the results are generalised by looking at the effects of varying the assumptions. Based on this work, three conclusions can be drawn. Firstly, it is realistic to have an energy-autonomous walking dyke robot in the Netherlands. Secondly, the use of solar panels is probably not feasible if the amount of solar energy that is available is much less than assumed in the study. Finally, in this case study, the inclusion of a wind turbine typically offers a slight benefit. Furthermore, it gives a significant benefit in the months where the incident power of the sun is low, thus allowing a reasonable operational time during the winter