Patent ID: 7934467

Claim:
An apparatus for the automated treatment of the surface of a large structure which comprises: an unmanned computer controlled mobile platform adapted to move along a flexible and relative line adjacent to said structure, wherein the movement of said unmanned computer controlled mobile platform along said surface adjacent said large structure is dynamic and substantially continuous, and is not along a track; computer processor means for processing a plurality of spatial data of said unmanned computer controlled mobile platform in relation to a surface of a large structure being treated and flexibly adapting the course of said unmanned computer controlled mobile platform relative to said surface for treatment thereof and moving said unmanned computer controlled mobile platform along said flexible and relative line; an articulated computer controlled arm mounted on said platform with the extremity of said arm terminating in a wrist mechanism means onto which different surface treatment or measurement tools may be selectively mounted; and sensors operatively associated with each said tool so that the relationship of each said tool's disposition with regard to said surface is computer controlled.