CLAWAR highlights research progress on climbing and walking robots

Purpose - Aims to review the CLAWAR 2004 conference on climbing and walking robots. Design/methodology/approach - Selects key papers from the conference and presents a brief outline of the research undertaken and the conclusions reached. Findings - The CLAWAR conference covered every aspect of climbing and walking robots including design, locomotion, navigation, actuation and control, sensors, tele-operation and tele-presence. Researchers spoke of robots for applications ranging from de-mining, tank inspection and building cleaning to walking aids for the disabled. Research limitations/implications - Focuses only on part of the CLAWAR 2004 conference, which featured some 120 presentations. Practical implications - Climbing robots are starting to achieve practical applications such as cleaning building facades and windows. Originality/value - Outlines trends in the development of climbing and walking robots.