Patent ID: 8713998

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an inspection vehicle including a movement system, the inspection vehicle being configured to move on a surface of an object; a sensor system associated with the inspection vehicle and configured to generate information about the object when the inspection vehicle is on the surface of the object; a positioning system including a global positioning system and receiver configured to generate at least one of coordinate information and orientation information about a location of the inspection vehicle on the object; a controller configured to control movement of the inspection vehicle using the positioning system and control operation of the sensor system; and a support system connected to the inspection vehicle and configured to support the inspection vehicle in response to an undesired release of the inspection vehicle from the surface of the object, wherein the support system comprises an elongate member, a line system connected to the elongate member and to the inspection vehicle, a reel configured to hold a line in the line system and supply a level of tension to the line, and a brake unit configured to reduce rotation of the reel when tension is present in the line.