Development of Multifunctional Detection Robot for Roller Coaster Track

Recent advances in roller coasters accelerate the creation of complex tracks to provide stimulation and excitement for humans. As the main load-bearing component, tracks are prone to damage such as loose connecting bolts, paint peeling, corroded sleeper welds, corroded butt welds, reduced track wall thickness and surface cracks under complex environments and long-term alternating loads. However, inspection of the roller coaster tracks, especially the high-altitude rolling tracks, is a crucial problem that traditional manual detection methods have difficulty solving. In addition, traditional inspection is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and provides only discrete information. Here, a concept of the multifunctional detection robot with a mechanical structure, electrical control system, camera, electromagnetic ultrasonic probes and an array of eddy current probes for detecting large roller coaster tracks is reported. By optimizing the design layout, integrating multiple systems and completing machine testing, the multifunctional roller coaster track detection robot exhibits outstanding performance in track appearance, thickness and crack detection. This study provides great potential for intelligent detection in amusement equipment, railcar, train and so on.