Stick & Scan: Perching Uncrewed Aerial System for Efficient In-Situ Non-Destructive Inspection of Transportation Infrastructure
This project aims to develop and demonstrate a perching-capable Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) for efficient, in-situ non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of transportation infrastructure, particularly in difficult-to-access locations such as the undersides of bridges. While UAS platforms are widely used for visual inspection, their application for contact-based NDE is rather limited due to challenges in stability, power consumption, and force control during flight. To address these challenges, the proposed UAS integrates a thermoplastic-based perching mechanism and a planar sensor positioning system, enabling stable attachment to structural surfaces and precise scanning using contact sensors. The research has two primary objectives: (1) to design and build a perching UAS platform, and (2) to demonstrate its feasibility for deploying contact-based NDE technologies in both lab and field settings. An external advisory board will guide feasibility testing and support technology transfer. This project addresses U.S. DOT goals related to infrastructure safety and resilience and is expected to advance automated inspection methods while reducing risks to human inspectors. Outcomes will be disseminated through workshops, webinars, and conference presentations targeting practitioners and industry stakeholders.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $178,000.00
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Contract Numbers:
69A3552348308
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota United States 58108-6050 -
Project Managers:
Tolliver, Denver
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Performing Organizations:
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Campus Delivery 1372
Fort Collins, CO United States 80523 -
Principal Investigators:
Guo, Yanlin
Zhao, Jianguo
Atadero, Rebecca
- Start Date: 20251028
- Expected Completion Date: 20271027
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
- Source Data: CTIPS-055
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Attachment hardware; Bridges; Drones; Feasibility analysis; Inspection; Nondestructive tests; Sensors
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01970833
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability
- Contract Numbers: 69A3552348308
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Nov 11 2025 3:06PM