Patent ID: 8812154

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a plurality of mobile robotic machines configured to move to a plurality of locations in a maintenance area and configured to perform a plurality of maintenance operations on a structure in the maintenance area, wherein the plurality of mobile robotic machines are arranged to perform at least one maintenance operation on a structure in the maintenance area, including at least one of simultaneous and tiered inspection operations, to cover inspection of both of respective exterior and interior sections of the structure, and wherein a first portion of the plurality of mobile robotic machines are arranged on exterior sections of the structure and the second portion of the plurality of mobile robotic machines are arranged on interior sections of the structure, wherein the plurality of mobile robotic machines comprises at least one of an internal mobile robotic machine in a number of internal mobile robotic machines and an external mobile robotic machine in a number of external mobile robotic machines, wherein the number of external mobile robotic machines further comprise at least one of a level one machine in a number of level one machines and a level two machine in a number of level two machines, wherein the number of level one machines are configured to perform macro inspection of the structure, and wherein the number of level two machines are configured to perform micro inspection of the structure in order to identify or characterize a detected inconsistency; a wireless communications system configured to provide communication with the plurality of mobile robotic machines within the maintenance area; and a computer system configured to exchange information with the plurality of mobile robotic machines using the wireless communications system.