Patent ID: 8464815

Claim:
A climbing robot for travelling over adhesive surfaces along a travel plane, the climbing robot comprising: square running gear ( 11 ) having corner areas ( 18 ); a support plate ( 12 ) that is symmetrical around the center and has four holding lugs ( 16 ) extending out in a star shape; four foot plates ( 13 ) arranged in each of the four corners ( 18 ) of the running gear ( 11 ), and each of the foot plates ( 13 ) attached to the support plate ( 12 ) of the running gear ( 11 ) so that the foot plates are capable of tilting with respect to one another; a guide ( 17 ) coupled to and running around the edges of each foot plate ( 13 ); endless traction mechanisms ( 14 ) operatively coupled to each of the foot plates ( 13 ); controllable adhesive feet ( 21 ) fastened to and driven by the endless traction mechanisms ( 14 ) at a predetermined distance and which circulate with the endless traction mechanisms ( 14 ) along the guides ( 17 ) in the travel plane, the controllable adhesive feet ( 21 ) comprising; adhesive elements ( 15 ) having adhesive sides which always point towards the adhesive surface and wherein the adhesive elements ( 15 ) that support and move the climbing robot are switched ON and lowered onto the adhesive surface and all of the other adhesive elements ( 15 ) are switched “OFF” and raised from the adhesive surface, wherein all of the adhesive feet ( 21 ) are routed through the guides ( 17 ) and run respectively along each of the foot plates ( 13 ) at a right angle around one corner area ( 18 ) each of the square running gear ( 11 ) and along an arc ( 19 ) connecting the ends of this corner area ( 18 ); and wherein the arcs ( 19 ) are disposed along an inner circle enclosed by the square running gear ( 11 ) and the center of the support plate ( 12 ) coincides with the center of the inner circle.