A Collision Detection Algorithm of Inspection Robot for Steam Generator Heat Transfer Tubes

Ensuring the operational safety of inspection robot for steam generator heat transfer tubes necessitates continuous internal collision detection to prevent self-collision and external collision detection to avoid contact with the surrounding environment. However, current collision detection algorithms struggle to balance accuracy with computational efficiency and are not fully applicable to the unique conditions of a nuclear power plant. This paper introduces a novel collision detection algorithm specifically tailored for a crawler-type inspection robot for steam generator heat transfer tubes. By translating three-dimensional collision issues into two-dimensional intersection problems, the algorithm simplifies the complexity of collision detection while ensuring accuracy. Simulation results indicate that the algorithm achieves an average computation speed of 0.02 seconds per instance, which is sufficient to meet real-time planning requirements during autonomous operations. Furthermore, even in the presence of motion errors, the algorithm maintains a 100% safety rate, guaranteeing absolute safety of the robot's movement. These findings further validate the feasibility and practicality of the proposed algorithm for use within the nuclear power plant environment.