User:Canadiansteve/ANATROLLER ARI-100

The ANATROLLER ARI-100 is a modular duct cleaning robot based on ANAT Technology created by Robotics Design. It was released to the market in 2003, and has been distributed mainly in Quebec since then. Most of the largest industrial Quebec duct cleaners now use the ARI-100 in their everyday work. A second generation of these robots was released in 2005, making the robot more durable and protecting key components such as wiring, by making them internal.

Description
The robot is composed of a main module constituting the central body, and a second module rotating around it with an angle varying from -90° to 90° which contains the lighting, camera and air pistol. This module allows the robot to remotely change its shape in order to climb slopes of 45° and obstacles of 5” and move on rough or uneven terrain. Each module is composed of a precision machined block of anodized aluminum or stainless steel.

The ARI-100 has an articulated arm attached to the front of the robot that can move in all directions and can support many types of accessories and add-ons, due to its modularity, which allows it to shift its shape to be able to grip accesories of all shapes and sizes. Weighing only 8kg, this robot is able to carry a maximum payload of 50kg and tow 45kg. The robot's center of gravity lies directly at the center of the robot, making flip-overs unlikely. The robot is connected to its power source and air intake by a single cable for increased maneuverability, and to prevent wires being tangled and ripped. The design of the ARI-100 is completely symmetrical, allowing it to continue driving after a flip-over. It also has a 0o turning axis, allowing making it even more maneuverable.

The modular architecture of the ARI-100 allows users to add or remove modules, accessories and arms to the central body. Maintenance is also simple and inexpensive, as individual modules can be repaired or replaced without disrupting the rest of the system.

Operation
A single joystick controls movement, and a second one manipulates accessories. Users have complete control of robot speed and lighting intensity; the farther the joystick is moved forward, the faster it goes, and a dimmer for light control. The arm’s orientation is controlled using a sensitive control that follows the exact operator hand-motion. The robot control system is user-friendly, and the incldued training manual allows duct cleaners to be fully trained in an hour to use this robot.

Models
In order to better suit the duct cleaning application that the ARI-100 had become popular for, several enhancements were made to the robot. Wiring connected from module 1 to module 2 was made internal in order to better protect it from the industrial environment. Gear and motor performance and durability were enhanced and all plastic components removed from the system, including the cable connector, which is now metallic. These changes made the ARI-100 more robust, but added 2kg to its total weight.

Accessories

 * Camera: High quality camera with 7 LED white lighting system integrated on front of robot with camera #2 360o rotatable on top of robot
 * Scissor accessory: Allows the robot to lift its tools vertically one meter high.
 * Brushes & Whips: attached to the arm, used for loosing dust on the duct surface. Carbon brushes may be attached for removal of insulation.
 * Rotary engine: Attached to the arm, rotates tools 360o