The role of robotics in non-destructive testing

Purpose The paper aims to provide a review of the uses of robots in non-destructive testing (NDT). Design/methodology/approach Following a brief introduction, this paper considers the uses of robotic NDT, with an emphasis on applications in certain key industries. While some development activities are considered, the emphasis is on existing systems rather than research and reference is made to a selection of commercial products. Findings It is shown that robotic NDT finds limited uses in most of the industries using conventional NDT methodologies. These include oil and gas, offshore and shipping, petrochemicals, aerospace and power generation. In some instances, financial benefits arise from their use while in other cases the use reflects access difficulties or the hazards associated with testing. Research limitations/implications Applications in the nuclear power industry is not considered but will be covered in a subsequent article. Remotely operated vehicles, which are not considered to be true robots, are also excluded. Originality/value This paper provides details of NDT robots and their uses in a selection of key industries.